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 During
a Celebration of Life ceremony, family, friends and fellow Raiders
gathered to honor the life and legacy of retired Master Sgt. Eden M.
Pearl (photo left - Afghanistan 2009) at the Base Theater at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.,
Feb. 19, 2016. Master Sgt. Pearl succumbed to his wounds on Dec. 20,
2015, more than six years after his vehicle was hit by an improvised
explosive device while deployed to Herat Province, Afghanistan in
2009.
“He was one of those guys the Marines tell stories
about in the Marine Corps, so I couldn't wait to meet (him)” said
Phillip Noblin, who met Pearl in 2002, when Pearl was his team
leader at 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, II Marine Expeditionary
Force. “Just off the stories, I had built up this picture of this
battle-ax swinging Viking of a beast of a man.”
By 2002,
Pearl had already built himself a reputation as a force to be
reckoned with in the reconnaissance community. He had deployed with
the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, completed Amphibious
Reconnaissance School, Scout Sniper School, and the Rigid-hull
Inflatable Boat Coxswain's Course.
“He was a very consummate
professional, and commanded respect everywhere he went,” said Noblin,
who described Pearl as a leader who always took the time to teach
and train younger Marines. “(On his team) you always wanted to make
sure you did the right thing because Eden was your team leader and
you didn't want to let him down.”
Pearl completed four more
deployments with II MEF, in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom I
and Iraqi Freedom II. It was shortly before his fifth deployment
that Pearl was introduced to his wife, Alicia, a U.S. Navy corpsman
stationed in Virginia. After a long-distance relationship, the two
received orders to deploy with the same unit, but two months from
deployment, Alicia found out she was expecting.
“He had a plan, to be together for some time, engaged for some
time,” said Alicia, “but we both knew we were right for each other
and we wanted to be together, so he was just so excited when he
found out.”
The couple married days before his deployment and
their daughter was born just two weeks before his return in 2005.
“(She) was his joy,” said Don Hoemann, long-time friend of
Pearl. “He had this carrier that he bragged about continuously and
did so much in-depth research on, and he'd carry her absolutely
everywhere. He'd be up to his knees in muck, and she'd be on his
back, hiking with him.”
In April 2005, Pearl then received
orders to 2nd Special Operations Training Group, Special Missions
Branch, as a Dynamic Assault/Entry Instructor.
“(When I
arrived) Eden was kind of in charge over there, which was funny
because on paper there was probably a (gunnery sergeant) over him,”
said Noblin, founder of Brothers in Arms Foundation. “But he had
that about him, you could be in a room with majors and captains, but
if Eden was talking they were listening. He was the guy who had been
there and knew all the skills, and at the time, that was with only
10 years in.”
Pearl was with the Special Missions Branch in
2006 when the unit was reassigned and re-designated at Marine
Special Operations School (MSOS), U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special
Operations Command. At MSOS, Pearl was assigned as Lead Instructor
and was integral in the development of the Individual Training
Course (ITC).
An explosive ordinance disposal technician
with 3rd Marine Raider Support Battalion, who met Pearl in 2006
described Pearl as a very intense individual.
“His
reputation as a recon Marine was already legendary with all of us,
so in a way it was hard not to be in some kind of ‘awe' when you
first met the guy,” said the EOD tech. In 2008, he was assigned to
Marine Special Operations Team 8211, Fox Company, 2nd Marine Raider
Battalion, with Pearl as his team chief.
“Eden was (the team's)
anchor, our go-to guy with anything,” said the EOD tech. “We all
would have followed him anywhere because we knew without a doubt
that he would do the same for any of us.”
In 2009, MSOT 8211
deployed to Herat Province, Afghanistan. While on a routine convoy,
Pearl's team was ambushed and an IED was detonated directly under
his vehicle. Two service members were ejected from the vehicle and
survived, three others, including Pearl, were caught inside. Pearl
was the only service member from inside the vehicle to survive.
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Master Sergeant Eden M. Pearl deployed with Fox Company, 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, to Herat Province, Afghanistan, in 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo)
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“I don't pray often, but that night I prayed it wasn't one of
our vehicles, and more specifically not his,” said the EOD tech. “As
you can imagine, the entire team was caught pretty off guard to that
kind of a blow; having that anchor, brother, leader and friend taken
from you.”
Pearl suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 97
percent of his body. He was medically evacuated from country and
only days later to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas,
where he underwent multiple surgeries and skin grafts. After a
couple of months, Pearl had a severe stroke that put him into a
temporary vegetative state, but after 16 months he was transferred
to a facility in Florida, that catered to his cognitive care needs.
In 2013, the Brothers in Arms Foundation, together with the Gary
Sinise Foundation, helped build a home in San Antonio that was
accessible to care for Pearl in a home setting.
“I don't
think most people would have survived those initial injuries to
begin with and the fact that he made it out of (Brook Army Medical
Center) after 16 months is amazing, and the fact that he was even
able to come home and spend more time with us here, is kind of
miraculous,” said Alicia. “He truly was an incredible man, father
and husband.”
Pearl's wounds and recovery not only led to the
development of multiple medicines but also several procedures that
will help future burn victims. His survival was the leading factor
for the Brothers in Arms foundation, which continues to support
wounded and fallen special operations Marines. Alicia and Hoemann
attribute his survival to his ceaseless warrior spirit.
“(Eden)
was the epitome of a fighter, he was not going to give up,” said
Hoemann. “Even with family and work it wasn't an option to give up
and not give 110 percent. He fought every day ... for what he thought
was best for his Marines and his family.”
Pearl was retired
in September 2014, where he continued to live in San Antonio with
his family, until his passing on Dec. 20, 2015. He is survived by
his wife Alicia, daughter Avery, and a community of Raiders with an
example to live up to.
“I only wish that more guys coming up
through MARSOC could have been influenced by him,” said the EOD
tech. “(Eden) was a full package deal that could do it all. I will
never forget the moments that I had with him, to know him, and have
the honor to work beside him.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lia Gamero
Marine Corps News
Copyright 2016
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