Samuel Yoder is not a typical college freshman. For starters, he is the fifth of 13 siblings to attend Iowa State. His three older sisters – Sarah, Anna and Ester – are ISU alumni, and his younger sister Lydia is currently a junior in the music department.

Yoder, 21, is pursuing a double major in business management and accounting. In addition to his class load, he is also a member of the ISU wrestling team, a reserve for the Marine Corps and a full-time husband.

His wife, Ashley, said their busy schedules keep the two from seeing much of each other.

“We really don’t see each other during the week until eight o’clock at night,” Ashley said.

Yoder agreed that being married, going to school, being involved in wrestling and being a Marine Corps reserve can be a stretch.

“Having practice, homework, weekends in Des Moines and trying to spend time together can be tough,” Yoder said, “but we manage.”

His life at college may be complicated, but it pales in comparison to the path he took to get to Iowa State.

After graduating from high school, Yoder chose to join the Marine Corps. He planned to spend one year in training and then attend college the following year.

“The plan was to take the next year off of school and join the Marines,” Yoder said, “then come back and wrestle at Iowa State.”

As life would have it, college would wait. After returning from basic training in May 2004, Yoder checked into his unit in Des Moines. Two weeks later his unit was activated.

“It was unexpected,” Yoder said. “It really messed up my plans.”

The call to duty may have slowed down his pursuit of a college degree, but it would not slow down his life. The following week he proposed to Ashley.

Ashley was supportive of Yoder’s decision to join the Marine Corps.

“I was scared, but I was proud of him,” she said. “It was what he wanted.”

In early September of 2004, Yoder was deployed to Iraq.

“My unit was a grunt battalion – an infantry battalion,” Yoder said. “So I went out on a lot of patrols.”

Although he can not remember any specific moment in which he truly feared for his life, Yoder said living in Iraq took some getting used to.

“When you first get there, it’s strange,” Yoder said. “You’re not used to your surroundings or carrying a gun.”

His unit was involved in a firefight, and he received a combat action ribbon.

After seven months in Iraq, he found out he would be sent back to the United States to finish his time on duty at the Marines base in Des Moines. A few weeks went by doing paperwork at the base, but things were not going to get any easier for Yoder.

On his final day of active duty, Yoder was on his way to visit his fiancee in Ames when he received a phone call.

It was his father, calling to tell him that the youngest of 13 children, Joshua – who was four – had been struck by a car.

“My dad called me and told me that my brother had been hit by a car in front of our house,” Yoder said. “He was revived by paramedics and rushed to Iowa City.”

Yoder maintained a positive attitude regarding his brother’s condition. On his way to the hospital, however, he received a call from his father telling him Joshua had died.

By the time Yoder reached Iowa City, his brother Joshua was brain-dead and was being kept alive by life support.

“My parents kept him alive overnight just in case of a miracle,” Yoder said. “The next morning they let him go.”

Joshua died on May 4, 2005.

“It was devastating,” Yoder said. “It was a hit-and-run – [the police] never caught the driver.”

The case is still open. So is a chapter of Yoder’s life.

“I definitely feel like catching the person would bring a lot of closure,” Yoder stated. “But it wouldn’t change anything.”

That stress started to effect other aspects of his life.

“We contemplated not getting married,” Yoder said. “It was a really hard time.”

Yoder attributed his ability to cope with his brother’s death to his faith.

“If I didn’t have the faith that I was going to see him again someday, it would have been almost too much,” Yoder said. “Knowing that I will see him helps.”

However, he and Ashley were wed on July 16, 2005. Five weeks later, Yoder began classes at Iowa State. The following week he started preseason conditioning with the wrestling team.

Aron Scott met Yoder during preseason conditioning sessions, and heard Yoder was a member of the Marine Corps. Scott said it became obvious that he was in good shape.

“During our preseason when we did stadiums and long-distance running, Sam [Yoder] was always one of the first handful done.” Scott said.

Scott and Yoder have become friends and workout partners since the beginning of the season.

“As the season progressed I got to know him better,” Scott said. “He is a trustworthy and honorable guy.”

Assistant Coach Cael Sanderson, has similar things to say about Yoder.

“He is very mature and has experienced a lot for his age,” Sanderson said. “He’s very respectable.”

Although Yoder may not be on the starting lineup, he does his part to contribute to the Cyclones success.

“He’s a great training partner,” Sanderson said. “This is only his first year and a lot of our starters look for him to train with.”

Whether in the practice room or in life, Sanderson took his hat off to Yoder.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for soldiers and I really appreciate what they are doing for us,” Sanderson said.

“They are the ones who are out there scrapping for us so we can enjoy the freedoms that we have in this great country.”