Marine Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck

Died December 22, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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23, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 22, as a result of a noncombat-related incident in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

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‘My son continues to shine even in death’

The Associated Press

Omar Roebuck, who grew up in a house with a single father, loved boxing, stunt bikes and his family, including a next door neighbor he called “Mom.”

“Omar was wonderful, funny, smart,” said neighbor Connie Tatum. “He always had a smile on his face. He loved my enchiladas. He was like another son to me.”

Tatum, who has three sons of her own with her husband, Pat, said she tried to discourage Roebuck from enlisting in 2008. But he told her, “ ‘Mom, the Marine Corps will give me an education and a better life.’ And he loved it.”

Roebuck, of Moreno Valley, Calif., died Dec. 22 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Roebuck’s father said the 23-year-old Marine, a diesel mechanic, was crushed while working on a new assault tank.

“This is so hard,” said John Roebuck, 54. “The only way to look at it is that God wanted Omar in his presence.”

Omar Roebuck enlisted in November 2008 and was promoted to lance corporal June 2. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C.

“My son continues to shine even in death,” John Roebuck said. “I don’t have the words to say how proud I am of him.”

Roebuck is survived by his father and sister, Eboni, 27.