Honoring the Life of U.S. Marine Rodericka Antwan Youmans

HONORING THE LIFE OF U.S. MARINE RODERICKA ANTWAN YOUMANS -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 09, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. JOE WILSON
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2004

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this week South Carolina learned the sad news that a U.S. Marine, Private Rodericka Antwan Youmans from Allendale, S.C., was killed by terrorists while serving in Iraq.

Pvt. Youmans will be remembered for making the ultimate sacrifice to protect American families in the War on Terror. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Wilson family are with his friends and family.

I ask all of my colleagues to join me in expressing our deepest sympathies to Pvt. Youman's two children, fiancé, brother and parents.

I request that the following article from The State be added to the Record. [From The State, July 8, 2004]

ALLENDALE MARINE DIES IN IRAQ

(By Chuck Crumbo)

A bomb attack by Iraqi insurgents has killed a 22-year-old Marine from Allendale, the man's family said Wednesday.
Pvt. Rodericka Antwan Youmans was one of four Marines who died Tuesday near Fallujah in Iraq's Al-Anbar province, said his father, Johnny Youmans.

The elder Youmans said Marine Corps officials notified him of his son's death Tuesday.

"I was coming home, and I saw a government truck in front of the house. I knew it was nothing good," said Youmans, a 29-year military veteran.

The Marines had not released by late Wednesday the name of Pvt. Youmans as one of the fallen Leathernecks. The Marines said only that the troops were conducting security operations in the province.

Three Marines died Monday in a similar incident in An-Anbar.

Twenty-one other members of the armed services with ties to South Carolina have died in the Iraq war. He is the
second casualty from Allendale County.

Marine casualty officers notified the family of his son's death about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Youmans said.
The Marines first broke the news to Youmans' wife, Amanderlene. As he approached the house, his 17-year-old daughter, Sholanda, came out and told him Rodericka was dead, Johnny Youmans said.

Johnny Youmans, a staff sergeant in 163rd Support Battalion of the S.C. Army National Guard, has been on active duty for 1 ½ years. He is serving on a security detail at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. Youmans said his son called home last week to say he was doing fine and that "he loved all of us." On Monday, Rodericka Youmans called his 20-year-old fiancee, Stephanie Cuthbertson of Allendale. They were planning to marry in September when his unit was scheduled to return to Camp LeJeune, Cuthbertson said.

"I loved everything about him. His sense of humor and the way he treated me. He was very sweet and very giving," she said.

Rodericka Youmans, a graduate of Allendale-Fairfax High School, joined the Marines about a year ago and went through boot camp at Parris Island, Youmans said.

"He was almost 21 when he joined. He couldn't find a job and when he did, he'd get laid off because the economy was so bad. He had two kids (ages 4 and 1) and needed to support them."

Rodericka quickly fell in love with the Marines and wanted to make a career out of the military, Youmans said. "He liked the respect that he received. It changed his whole life. He wanted to do the right thing." Other survivors include his children, A-Miyah, 4, and Mekhi, 1; and a brother, Johnny Youmans Jr., 24. Cave Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.