Doctor Ho Yinsen was a renowned scientist and surgeon, hailing from the village of Gulmira, Afghanistan. After his family was killed during a surge in local terrorist activity, Yinsen was abducted and held captive by the Ten Rings in the Afghan mountains. When Tony Stark was also kidnapped, Yinsen was charged with attending to Stark's medical needs after he was brought in injured from an explosive. After several months in captivity, Yinsen helped Stark escape the cave by developing a suit of armor, but willingly sacrificed himself in the process to the terrorists, telling Stark not to waste his life before he died of his injuries.