My son, CPL Evan Andrew Marshall, turned 18, graduated from high school and reported for basic training at Ft Benning, GA, within a period of 10 days in June, 2004. He was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and deployed to Iraq in December, 2005, where he earned his Combat Infantryman's Badge while his battalion was attached to the 101st Airborne Division operating out of a small FOB not far from Balad. He redeployed in December, 2007, and his battalion was assigned to Mosul, Iraq. He was a part of a combat patrol attempting to capture high value targets in Mosul, Iraq, when the Humvee which he was driving as part of a platoon sized operation was struck by a roadside bomb killing Evan and four other brothers in arms. The rest of the platoon was involved in a fire fight which lasted for a couple of hours before a Quick Reaction Force arrived and suppressed the fire that was coming from mosques and other buildings located in the area. The platoon refused to abandon their fallen comrades and lived the army values to the fullest that day. Evan was 21 years of age when he died. He took pride in his service to our country, never complained of hardship and danger, and was a beloved and loyal comrade to his fellow soldiers. He was much loved by his mother, sister and me and by all who knew him. There is a hole in our hearts which will never fully heal but we honor his service and sacrifice, and are filled with awe at the courage and devotion to duty which Evan exhibited.

Andrew Marshall, Father