Our Side of the Mountain

Update on Cameron

I just received the following email from Cameron's parents:

Hi everybody--it's 2:41 am Friday and we just got off the phone with Cam.
He had been at a forward communications facility with his squad running a
security detail so we hadn't heard from him for two weeks. While they were
there they came under very heavy enemy fire and Cam had to coordinate the
firefight with his squad plus their support people--several heavy machine guns
and I think some mortar guys. When it was all over the batallion commander,
LtCol Mundy, came out, told Cam that he had done an outstanding job, and
promoted him to Sgt on the spot! We (and he) are VERY thankful for your
continued prayers, which as you can see are being effective. Cam said he
had no casualties at all during the whole firefight which lasted quite a while.

Thank God for His faithfulness!!! Love you all--R&B

Cpl. Richard Cameron Marshall

My cousin, Cameron Marshall, is a U.S. marine, serving presently in Iraq. He has been accepted into the Naval Academy and, Lord willing, will begin his schooling this summer. In the meantime, he is a squad leader in his platoon in Iraq. Please pray for his safety and the safety of his platoon and for wisdom as he leads his squad. Also pray that he will continue to walk closely with the Lord under difficult circumstances.

The following article featured in a publication of the Marines quotes Cameron:

Kilo 3/2 captures known insurgents
Submitted by: 2nd Marine Division
Story Identification #: 2005450458
Story by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel
SADAH, Iraq (March 04, 2005)

-- In the early morning hours, Marines with 1st Platoon, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, took seven detainees during a raid here April 3.

The raid was conducted in order to detain individuals considered high value targets for questioning. "There were a couple of high value targets that needed to be taken in for questioning. We gathered intelligence on them, the houses they occupied and we had pretty large files on a lot of them," explained Cpl. Richard C. Marshall, the 1st squad leader with 1st Platoon.

First squad was a part of the main effort in the raid, taking down and detaining the missions top priority high value target.

"The main individual we were going after was a known explosives expert and was also teaching others how to build them," continued the 21-year-old Denver native. "Bringing him in was important to cut down the number of improvised explosive devices and attacks on U.S. forces in the local area."

K Co. had support from explosive ordnance disposal technicians, combat engineers, amphibious assault vehicles and a combined anti-armor team with Weapons Co.

Marshall knew what he wanted to have happen and felt confident during the raid. "I wanted to make sure that my Marines were aggressive enough and that none of them got hit during the mission," the 2002 Broomfield High School graduate said. "I felt confident that the Marines knew how to perform their assignments."

With the successful capture of his main target during the raid, Marshall hopes his unit continues to contribute to the success of capture of other known terrorist and insurgents continues. "Overall, I want us to get rid of all the local and foreign fighters that are making it difficult on the Iraqi people to live peaceful and secure lives," he said. "Today's mission was definitely a successful one."

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq - Cpl. Richard C. Marshall, the 1st squad leader with 1st Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment leads his squad in rehearsals for the raid that took place in Sadah, Iraq April 4. The Marines of Kilo Co. took seven detainees during the raid including their main target, who was a known explosives expert. Marshall, a native of Denver, considered the mission to be a complete success. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel
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CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq - Marines with 1st Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment conduct rehearsals for a raid that took place in Sadah, Iraq April 4. The Marines of Kilo Co. took seven detainees during the raid including their main target, who was a known explosives expert. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel
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Here is another picture of Cameron with his brother, John Marshall, who works for Governor Owens of CO (center):

The Measures We Take to Protect Our Kids

James took all three kids to work today (a once per year event). They aren't home yet, but he sent me this picture of the boys (Sophie did not want to dress up):