Fallen Heroes; Fallen Brothers of 2/1

Marine Lance Corporal Brad S. Shuder 21, of El Dorado, California.Shuder died from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Died on April 12, 2004.

Marine Lance Cpl. Robert P. Zurheide, Jr.
20, of Tucson, Arizona.Zurheide died from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Died on April 12, 2004

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Aaron called me several hours after this happened. He sounded really bad. It was the only communication I had from him the entire time in which he sounded less than positive. He was deeply grieved about the loss ... he worried about the child of one of the Marines. I asked him over the phone, "Aaron, did you get the pillows?" He told me he had and that he was about to go get some sleep with them. About 3-4 hours later he called and told me he had gotten some sleep and was able to shake it off. He said he was good to go. And he did sound much better.

God be with us all, and especially our troops still fighting with all their might for all of us.