2nd Lt. Ryan LeDuc, U.S.M.C (NCD)

Benton family and friends mourning Marine killed in Iraq

By Mona Sandefur

Staff writer

mona@neondsl.com

Though Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Ryan LeDuc did not grow up in Benton, family and friends consider him one of their own and are grieving his loss.

"He loved anything to do with the outdoors, including four-wheeling and camping," said Tommy Hammond, who considered LeDuc a brother. "He just showed up at our door one day because he saw the four-wheelers in the yard and asked if there was a place nearby to ride. He was staying with his brother, who worked for Mariah Boats at the time. My brother, Billy, Ryan and I immediately became friends. We were inseparable, like the three amigos."

LeDuc, a native of Pana, lost his life Saturday, Sept. 28, in a non-combat vehicle accident, two weeks after deploying to Iraq. His grieving family said news reports and other sources claimed Ryan was killed when his Humvee was blown up by a roadside bomb in the town of Rutbah in Anbar Province, the scene of fierce combat recently.

LeDuc, who lived with the Hammond family from 1996 to 1997, graduated from Pana High School and received a degree in aircraft engineering from Southern Illinois University. He joined the Marines in January 2003 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

"Ryan took me into his confidence about everything," Hammond said. "He talked to me about getting engaged to his fianc/, Megan McCabe. He said, 'Megan told me she loved me. What should I do?' I asked him if he loved her and he said, 'I don't know, I've never been in love before.' I told him a good woman was hard to find and if he thought he loved her he had better let her know."

Hammond said he has lost his best and only friend. "He valued my opinion and was the nicest person you would ever want to meet," Hammond said. "He loved scuba diving, was a certified welder and worked with us paving asphalt. He loved cutting up, practical jokes and just hanging out with my brother and I. He loved trees and climbing them He even raised turkeys from eggs.

"Even when he lived in Buckner and worked in Christopher, he stayed with us and considered us his family," Hammond said. "The last day I saw him we went out and shot guns and talked about old times. Even when he was visiting his fianc/ in Carbondale, he called me and asked me to either come to Carbondale or if he could come to Benton to visit us. He left me two books to read and Marine bumper stickers. I told him not to be a hero and get himself killed. I told him I wanted him to come home safe. He hugged me and told me he loved me and I told him I loved him."

Hammond said LeDuc had a prized possession, a German dagger, left to him by his grandfather. "He asked me to hold it for him. That meant so much to him because his grandfather left it to him. He was so much more than just a Marine, he had such a great spirit and was so full of life."

Hammond said he talked to LeDuc's mother, Nola Hector, who said she had received notification of LeDuc's promotion to 1st Lieutenant on Sept. 9, the day he left for Iraq.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, with LeDuc's funeral being held Saturday in Pana. Hammond said LeDuc is receiving a police escort from St. Louis to Pana.

The flag located outside Benton City Hall will be lowered to half-staff Saturday in honor of the fallen hero.