Our Family
Jim and Ginger Ravella
James J. Ravella Col USAF (Ret)
Col Ravella is a 1983 graduate of Texas A&M and served over 26 years in the USAF as an F-15E pilot with over 3700 hours and command at the Squadron and Group levels. Jim is a father of seven children, a writer and a speaker. Jim married Andrea Fuller in 1983; they had two wonderful sons, Nic and Anthony. They lost Andrea in 2007 after a four-year battle with breast cancer. During their fight with cancer, Jim documented their journey in a blog, Journey to Healing, that touched many lives around the world. Jim and Andrea spoke to cancer groups and churches, offering hope to those facing life's challenges. Their faith, grace and courage was an inspiration to all who knew them and, through Jim's writing, continues to change the lives of those who read their story. Jim has appeared in numerous print venues and radio interviews.
Jim joined the Gary Sinise Foundation in May 2019 as the Vice President of Outreach. Jim is responsible for leading and implementing strategic and tactical plans for the Foundation’s expanded outreach efforts.
Jim is married to Ginger Gilbert Ravella who currently serves as an Ambassador for the Foundation and speaks nationally raising awareness for veterans and their families as well as speaking for women's groups and churches.
Ginger Gilbert Ravella
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 stolen by the enemy but led to a captivating story of recovery unprecedented in U.S. military history. He left behind five beautiful children, all under the age of 9 years. Ginger’s openly genuine testimony of wrestling with God in the midst of despair and depression resonates with those who question their faith in the face of tragedy. Her private pain became front-page news time and time again over an amazing ten-year journey. Ginger has shared her heart-wrenching story of loss, perseverance and hope 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, PGA Magazine and numerous national radio interviews.
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 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, PGA Magazine, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, and numerous national radio interviews.
Ginger works tirelessly to support and raise funds to help fallen and disabled veterans and their families. She is an international speaker and author devoted to her God, her family and her country. She is remarried to another widower and USAF fighter pilot, Colonel (Ret) Jim Ravella, who lost his wife to breast cancer. Their profound inspirational memoir titled “Hope Found”, published by WestBow Press, is beautifully woven together with real-life struggles, vulnerable faith, and unshakable patriotism. They document their stories of suffering, the lessons they learned, and the path to finding joy again. Their personal mission is to encourage anyone who seeks reconciliation and peace when life hurts the most and to continue to serve their nation by serving others. A portion of the proceeds of their book goes to helping fallen military families and breast cancer patients. Ginger and Jim currently reside in Nashville, TN with their children.
Ginger is currently serves as an Ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation and speaks nationally raising awareness for veterans and their families as well as speaking for women's groups and churches. She is also a speaker and leader for Never Alone Widow Retreats. Never Alone Retreats are 3-day healing and comfort weekends created and led by Be Still Ministries. Where Christian widows who have known the pain of untimely death can find a place of community. https://www.neveralonewidows.com/about
