Graham Ragsdale was born on 28 June 1969 in
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. He joined the
Canadian Forces in 1988 after graduating from
secondary school. Ragsdale began his military career with the 2nd Commando of the
Canadian Airborne Regiment before transitioning to the 3rd Battalion PPCLI. In 1991, after his initial three-year service contract, he chose to be released from the regular force and joined a
Canadian Rangers patrol group.
Afghanistan and Operation Anaconda Ragsdale was assigned to
Canada's involvement in the Afghanistan War, particularly during
Operation Anaconda in 2002. As part of the sniper detachment, Ragsdale and his team were embedded with U.S. forces in the
Shah-i-Kot Valley, a region controlled by
Taliban and
al-Qaeda forces. During this mission, within a few days in March 2002, Ragsdale's five-person unit set new records for the longest combat sniper kills in history. Master Corporal
Arron Perry's shot of broke the 34-year-old record set in the
Vietnam War by a
US Marine,
Carlos Hathcock, in 1967; days later, Corporal
Rob Furlong's shot of broke Perry's record for longest combat sniper kill. Furlong's record would stand for seven and a half years.
Post-military career He worked many years as a designated defensive marksman in a counter-sniper role for various
private military companies throughout
Afghanistan and the
Maghreb region of North Africa. After serving in military, Ragsdale was, , working for
Rob Furlong's Marksmanship Academy as an instructor. ==Medals and decorations==