Marine 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc

Died September 24, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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28, of Pana, Ill.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed Sept. 24 in a non-combat-related vehicle accident in Rutbah, Iraq.

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Marine from Pana killed in Iraq

Associated Press

PANA, Ill. — A 28-year-old Marine was killed as a result of a non-combat vehicle accident in Rutbah, Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Sept. 25.

Second Lt. Ryan Leduc of Pana was killed Sept. 24 when the Humvee he was riding in crashed, throwing him out and landing on top of him, according to his father, David Leduc.

Ryan Leduc, a graduate of Pana High School and Southern Illinois University, was assigned to the Second Battalion, 10th Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Leduc graduated from Southern Illinois in May 2002 with a degree in aircraft engineering with the intent of pursuing a career in commercial aircraft maintenance, according to his father. However, his goal was stymied by the downturn in the airline industry.

He joined the Marines in January 2003.

David Leduc said his son, who he described as easygoing and always smiling, was not motivated by the Sept. 11 terror attacks to join the Marines, adding it was just an opportunity that presented itself.

“When he became a Marine, he knew that it was what he was looking for,” Leduc said. “He loved his job. He believed in the mission and he knew the risks, and still felt it was the right thing to do.”

Leduc said his son was engaged to be married to a woman he met at Southern Illinois.

In addition to his father, Leduc is survived by his mother, Nola Hector, brothers Dennis Radcliff, Kyle Hector, Matthew Leduc, and sisters Katie Hector and Hannah Leduc.