03/29/2024
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By: Erin Smith

One Bladen County veteran is planning to spend his Memorial Day marching in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. Lt. Col. retired Rusty Marsh said that he is marching on Monday, May 30, to call attention to the veterans who served in Operation Desert Storm and obtain funding to build a national Desert Storm War Memorial.

Marsh said more than 500 veterans representing Operation Desert Storm are expected to take part in the march.  US Congress adopted legislation in 2014 authorizing the construction of the war memorial and the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association has been working diligently to raise the millions of dollars to construct the monument.

He added that besides building the war memorial, many Desert Storm veterans are now faced with illnesses due to their time in service and he hopes to call attention to that, as well.

“A lot of Desert Storm veterans have died and a number of them are sick and unable to walk in the parade even if they wanted to,” said Marsh.

It has been 25 years since more than 600,000 service men and women deployed to the Persian Gulf. Marsh said that so many Desert Storm veterans are suffering with war-related illnesses and the Veterans Administration is struggling to help with research and treatments.

Marsh said he deployed with the US Army 30th Engineer Battalion to Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield in 1990 as an S-4 logistics. His job while deployed was to make sure the logistical needs were met.

Marsh said some of the units that made up the battalion included a heavy equipment company, a bridge company, water well drillers, surveyors, firefighters, and terrain analysis.

Marsh said of his deployment, “It was miserable. The only positive spot about it, I was surrounded by really good soldiers.”

He added that the memories he treasures the most are those of the men with whom he served.

Marsh said that many soldiers who served in Operation Desert Storm are now battling a myriad of health problems including the mystery “Gulf War Illness.” He said that during his deployment his health began to change.

“I deployed in perfect health. After I received the second experimental anthrax vaccine is when my health changed,” said Marsh.

He said that veterans have to fight Congress each year to continue funding for much needed testing to try to learn the cause of the illnesses veterans are experiencing. 

Marsh graduated from NC State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He served in the Army Reserve/National Guard from 1981-1984 and then served in the US Army from 1985 until 1992. Marsh served in the US Army Reserve until his retirement in 2004.

Marsh also serves as Civil Engineer with the NC Department of Transportation and is also an emergency medical technician and a member of the Clarkton Fire Department.

He is married to Gayle McKee Marsh and they have three children — Kelly Mize, Billie Marsh and Allie Marsh.

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