The Marietta Times January 03, 2005
Caldwell soldier back home after being hurt
By Jessica Burchard
U.S. Army Reservist Eric Marshall returned to the United States in early December from his service in Iraq, and he immediately was treated at the Fort Knox medical unit in Kentucky.
Since then, Marshall, 26, has returned to Caldwell to recover from injuries received on Dec. 8. He was hurt when a roadside bomb detonated next to the truck he was riding in. He served as a gunner who assisted with fuel delivery throughout Iraq. The bomb caused a piece of shrapnel to become lodged in Marshall's upper arm bone, breaking it.
"I've gone through six surgeries," Marshall said during an interview last week. "I've had two major surgeries. The first one to try to fix the bone and the other to fix the break. The others were to clean the area."
During one of the major surgeries doctors implanted screws in Marshall's arm to encourage the bone to grow back together.
"We're just happy he's alive," said Suzanne Bach, a family friend. "It could have been a lot worse."
Marshall joined the Reserves in 1998. He served in Iraq from January until he was injured in December.
Thousands of other soldiers have suffered similar injuries, according to www.globalsecurity.org, a non-profit Web site researching the United States military. The site estimates nearly 30,000 soldiers have been injured in the Iraq war. The site counts casualties due to wounds, injury or disease.
Most have been able to return home like Marshall.
Marshall now is undergoing physical therapy for his injuries.
"It's just normal shoulder therapy at Marietta Memorial Hospital," said Marshall. "I go there three times a week. I try to get it stretched out."
The therapy is scheduled to last until through January. Marshall plans to return to Fort Knox Jan. 23 to have his recovery evaluated. Doctors will decide then if he's fit to return to the Reserves.
Since coming home, Marshall and his fiancee Emma Archer have encountered plenty of feelings of good will.
"It's been really nice. It's really nice to be home," said Marshall. "People stop in to talk with me. They've wished me well many times."
Archer also has maintained a positive outlook on the future.
Archer said she's committed to him no matter what happens.
"I wouldn't plan to leave him for anything," said Archer. "We're planning on getting married in October."
The couple have dated for three years and have been engaged for a year. They rescheduled the wedding to assure Marshall will be fully recovered for the big event.
Marshall has a plan if the recovery can't be completed.
"If my arm is not fully recovered, I'll leave active duty," said Marshall. "Then I plan on returning to my job. I work at a factory in Cambridge."
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