On 27 Nov 2006, Ginger Gilbert Ravella had the rug pulled out from under her and her world came crashing down. Her husband, Major Troy Gilbert, was an F16 pilot from the 309th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, in Arizona. He was deployed to Balad and during a close air-support mission to assist special operations forces about 40 miles north of Balad when his plane crashed. Insurgents took his body as a war trophy and it would be 10 years before he was found and brought back home. Ginger was left to raise 5 children, all under the age of 9, and rebuild their lives during this heart wrenching turn of events.

Jay and Donna sit down with Ginger as she tells her story on what it took to come back after having her world turned upside down; what she is doing now to give back; and what advice she has for those that have walked in similar shoes.

Ginger’s Bio

Ginger Gilbert Ravella is a military wife and widow, mother of five, stepmother of two, writer and international speaker. At 36 years old, she faced the sudden tragic loss of her college-sweetheart husband in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the horrors that quickly followed. Her late husband, Major Troy Gilbert, an Air Force F-16 pilot, gave his life while saving over twenty Special Operation soldiers, defining a true American war hero. His remains were tragically taken from the crash site by Iraqi insurgents, which ultimately led to the most unprecedented and captivating story of recovery in U.S. military history. Major Gilbert left behind five beautiful children, all under the age of 9 years old.

Ginger’s openly genuine testimony of wrestling with God in the midst of despair and depression resonates with those who question their faith and future in the face of tragedy. Their private pain became front-page news time and time again over the amazing ten-year journey of bringing Troy home to U.S. soil. She shares her heart-wrenching story of loss, perseverance and hope. Ginger has appeared in venues such as “The O’Reilly Factor”, “Fox and Friends News”, TIME Magazine, “CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper”, The Golf Channel, USA Today, Air Force Times, Gary Sinise documentary “Lt. Dan Band - For the Common Good”, Stars and Stripes, NRA TV documentary with Lee Brice “This is My Cause”, CMT News, NBC’s TODAY in Nashville, PGA Magazine, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, Pardon the Mess podcast, Treasured podcast, and numerous national radio interviews.

Ginger works tirelessly to minister to widows as the Co-Director of Never Alone Widows Retreats and Conferences, as well as supporting and raising

Donna’s Links
Website: www.rebel-llc.com
Book: Warrior to Patriot Citizen (2017)
Blog: Taking Off The Armor
IG: @thetransitioningwarrior
Twitter: @wtpc
FB: The Transitioning Warrior

Jay’s Links
Website: https://j2servantleadership.com/
Book: Breaking Average (2020)

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