Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"On 9/8/23, we honored Ryan at the 2nd annual Lake Villa VFW Post 4308 golf outing to raise money for veteran programs. A flag with his name, picture, and service information was posted at the entrance to the event. I met Ryan at SIU-Carbondale and we soon became great friends. Ryan was a genuine person that you could always count on. I cherish the times we had together and think of him often."
Brandon F. of Lake Villa, IL

"I think of Ryan and his family often. I was a friend of his from the aviation program a SIU. Ryan had a great smile and always so friendly. I always hold you all in my prayers. Thinking of you all on this Memorial Day."
Katie of Il

"To the parents of Lt. Ryan Leduc,
Your son Ryan was being trained by our son Allen II as our son's replacement when Ryan lost his life. We want to decorate and pray at your son's grave site on Memorial Day this year, 2014. If you receive this message, please contact us.
Allen & Sandy Laughlin
964 Woodglen Court
Lexington, Kentucky 40515
A.laughlin@twc.com"
Allen Laughlin of Lexington, KY

"To Ryans family
My son served with Ryan and as I relayed to Ryans Mom I met him the day they deployed. Not many days in a row go by without me thinking of him. We thank you for his service and we thank himand his family for your sacrifices. The men who served under Ryan have a deep respect and bond with him and I am thankful for the impact he has made on my son. May God bless your family and we will never forget."
Joe Rombola of New York

"To the family of:Ryan Leduc
I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015.
Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga""

"I was cleaning out my garage the other day going through old pictures and items and I came across some pictures from not only TBS but from Ft. Sill OBC. Not a day goes by that I do not think about what a good friend you were and the good time we shared and how close we were. For the Family of Ryan I want to let you know that even after all these years when I saw those pictures they still had a profound impact on me and I remember what a kind, compassionate and warm person he was and how he would give you his shirt without hesitation. I still remember and he will not be forgoten."
Capt Chris Kuehne of Washington, D.C.

"Hey LT. your never far from my thoughts. Rest in Peace
Semper Fi"
Sgt Neve

"Ryan,
It has been a long time since college and not a day passes without my thinking of you. You were always a great friend and of the rarest type. Someone solid, dependable, and always willing to do what it took to get things done. I know you loved being a Marine, and I will always cherish the time we had. Semper Fi buddy....you were one of the greats."
LPN of Chicago

"We use to Ham Ball It Up since Jr. High....To many good memories to post, One of the funniest, kind heartest, true friend, I've ever had. Miss ya Bro! and the Ryan & Ryan Show lives forever! ;)"
Tracy Kennedy of Pana, IL

"August 3, 2008
To the family of 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc:
Ryan gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org"
Peggy Childers of Carson City, NV

"My name is Cameron Schilling and I have started “Portrait of a Soldier” which donates a portrait sketch of every Illinois soldier who has fallen in Iraq or Afghanistan. All 122 sketches will be on display for a Memorial Day Presentation in Chicago, Illinois on May 26-31 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. After the ceremony the sketches will be given to the immediate families of the Illinois soldiers. I would invite any friends or family members to come and honor these men and women from Illinois who have given their lives to our country. For more information please contact OperationHomeFront.org at 866-417-8889 which is an organization headed by the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois who is in charge of the Memorial Day Presentation. Thank You.

Please check out www.portraitofasoldier.org
To contact Cameron email cameronschilling84@hotmail.com
To contact Operation Home Front call 866-417-8889"
Cameron Schilling of Charleston, Illinois

"Ryan-
I remember shooting with you on the range at TBS. I always thought you were a great guy and a great shot. You will not be forgotten."
J. Minerick of Camp Pendleton, CA

"My name is Cameron Schilling. I am a college student from central Illinois. I am the first generation of my family not to serve his country. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice you and your loved one has given for the United States. I am disappointed by the way the news media has covered this war and the deaths of our youth. The media has stopped listing the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq and people only talk about the soldiers when we reach a specific milestone in deaths. If you just started watching the news today you would not even know there is a war going on. Partisan politics have replaced coverage of our young generation who have traveled to a foreign land in the name of the United States. Whether you believe the war in Iraq is wrong, right, justified or not everyone should pay even just a little more attention to what these young men and women are sacrificing. This is what I would like to do. I want to do my part in honoring these soldiers and their memories. Along with being a college student I am also a budding artist. I draw pencil portraits of local people in my community. I want to offer a pencil portrait sketch to the immediate family of every Illinois soldier killed in Iraq. Please contact me at cameronschilling84@hotmail.com."
Cameron of Illinois

"I had the privilege to meet ryan a few years back and I must say he was a good person and a caring soul, being a veteran myself I feel the loss for his Family and friends. May he rest in peace.

A MARINES POEM...

AND WHEN HE GETS TO HEAVEN
TO SAINT PETER HE WILL TELL
ONE MORE MARINE REPORTING SIR
I'VE SERVED MY TIME IN HELL

GOD BLESS YOUR RYAN"
RW of illinois

"It has been almost a year since Ryan's passing and yet it still seems like yesterday he was here with us. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers as I know they have helped through this time of sorrow. This september 25 please bow your heads with us one more time to remember Ryan and all the Armed Forces for what they are doing and have done for our great country."
Family Member of Pana,Illinois/USA

"Ryan was a great man taken way too early. Keep an eye on P and me from up there, man."
Terence O'Rourke of Fort Bragg,NC

"To the Family of 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc:

My friends and I have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq which includes, as of 7/12/05, 112 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put Ryan's name on one of them.
We have called our display "Arlington Midwest" and it is located in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
It is our expression of mourning for the indescribable loss you have suffered for our country.

If you would like us to do this, please email me at ArlingtonMidwest@yahoo.com.

We invite you to visit Arlington Midwest. I can send you directions and some pictures by email.

"As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them."
Marty Preston of Wisconsin Dells, WI

"Brother,
You are one of my dearest friends. We grew very tight while at TBS and continued to remain in touch once in the FMF. My heart goes out to you and your loved ones. You will never be forgotten... Marines don't allow ourselves to forget..."
1st Lt "Coonass" Ohlenforst of Camp Pendleton, CA

"lt leduc, you are greatly missed here at fox, may you continue to watch over us"
corporal castro of camp lejeune nc usa

"ottawa"
kelly of leduc

"ryan... you were taken much too soon.
we will always love and miss you-
you made this world a better place for
everyone who had the benefit of knowing you. peace to you and your family."
tereasa surratt of chicago illinois

"This soldier was my cousin. I miss him a lot!!! He was a good man. He treated everyone with kindness. Even if he didn't like you. Please rest in peace!! and I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Katie LeDuc of Pana Illinois United States

"I was one of Ryan's roommates at TBS. I remember him as a dedicated, intelligent, patriotic man. I will be there very soon to finish what you started. Semper Fi."
2nd Lt Shaheed Shabazz of Milton, FL

"Brother- I will miss you for the rest of my days. But I will carry your spirit with me into battle. Your death will not be in vain.
1st Mar Div, 2/11, G Bat, 1st Plt"
Lt. Chris Kuehne of Fallujah, Iraq

"Lieutenant Leduc, goodbye soldier and thank you. You are my hero."
Bill of Houston, Texas

"Leduc family:

I didn't know Ryan as well as I would have liked, but I did live a few rooms down from him at TBS, and I was at Camp Johnson while he was there. I was shocked to read of his passing in Iraq. My heart goes out to the loved ones of this truely great American."
A. Smith of Kaneohe, HI

"To Ryan's Family and Friends:

On behalf of the Blanco-Caldas family, we send our sincerest condolences. We share the same loss ... the same pain. Our prayers are with you in this most difficult time and we thank you for your soldier's bravery and sacrifice.

Sincerely,

The Family of Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco-Caldas, 82nd Airborne
KIA Iraq 12/28/2003.
Gloria Caldas (The Big Ern's Mom) of San Antonio, TX
gloria.caldas@banksterling.com"

"so very sorry for your loss my son is with the 2-10 also we will never forget what all these brave young people are doing"
christy of seligman missouri

"We Will NEVER FORGET !"
Please KNOW so many people share your sadness, and we are remembering your family in your loss and your deep grief. Your HERO, Ryan, will be remembered by name. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you. Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"To the family of Ryan,
Our sincerest condolences for your loss. Ryan is a true American hero and will always be remembered for his bravery and sacrifice he gave to our country. May God bless you during this difficult time."
Vic and Tammy McClain--azquail@att.net of Tucson, AZ

"My deepest sympathy, our family has also suffered the loss of a precious life in this battle for freedom. May God bless you and help you through this time. Forever in our hearts a HERO Ryan Leduc"
Amy & Aaron Monier of Waterford, MI.

"To the family and friends of 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc,

Those we hold most dear, never truly leave us. May you find comfort in love's everlasting connection.

In the Support section of this web site you will find links to many groups that support you at this crucial time. The Marine Comfort Quilt group would be honored to send a quilt to the next of kin. There are many, loving and caring Americans from all over the United States that will never forget the sacrifice that your loved one has made for our Freedom. Please register so we can send you our "Love Stitched Together."

Proud Marine Mom and Proud Member of Marine Comfort Quilts"
Sandra Moudy of Placentia, Ca

"To Ryan's Family:
There are no words to express the sorrow we feel for your loss. May God bless you and help you through this time."
Dan and Meg Manninen of San Antonio, Texas

"Thank you Ryan Leduc, you will not be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my prayers and deep condolences in your loss. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless you all. A very appreciative fellow American,"
Leo Titus of Grayslake, Illinios

"To the family and friends of 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc:
May God's grace be with you during your time of grief. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your loss and share in your sorrow. Bless Ryan for the sacrifice he has made to make a better life for the rest of us."
The Ford Family of Wells, Nevada

"To the family and friends of 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc:
I am saddened by the loss of your loved one. He will always be remembered as a hero for fighting for freedom. I hope that this website will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you during this difficult time, and in the future as you recall the memories of Ryan, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia