Sgt. Richard Marshall passed away after being wounded in Iraq

Soldier, Oklahoma Native Dies Of Heart Attack Years After Injury In Iraq
News On 6
Tess Maune
Posted: Jul 25, 2013

OKMULGEE, Oklahoma - Sgt. Richard Marshall was severely injured by a roadside bomb in 2007.

The bomb had killed three of his fellow soldiers, but Marshall somehow managed to kick open the door of his humvee to let the other survivors know he was alive.

He'd show the same fighting spirit for the next six years.

Marshall was born to be a soldier.

"It's our family duty, it seems, to serve our country," said Marshall's cousin, William Lowe.

Lowe said Marshall was serving his country proudly during his third tour of duty in Iraq, when he volunteered to go on a routine patrol.

That's when Marshall's humvee was hit by a roadside bomb.

"My mother calls me and says, 'Hey, Richard has been severely hurt,'" Lowe said.

Marshall needed open heart surgery immediately after the explosion in Baghdad. He survived the attack and was eventually sent back to his home in Alabama, still ready to fight.

"He was pretty adamant about staying in the Army, and I know he gave it his best efforts to even serve after he was injured, but his health just wore him," Lowe said.

So, instead of the military life, Marshall settled into his most important roles: that of Dad, to Autumn and Jalen, and husband to Brittany.
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