Teamwork on and off the field: Tyndall firefighter fulfills dreams

  • Published
  • By Ashley M. Wright
  • 325th Fighter Wing
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In less than two minutes, the firefighting professionals of Tyndall can be in their gear rushing to save lives. Whether medical emergencies or battling flames, these Airmen live or die by their teamwork. For one of them, these teamwork skills were honed in a unique arena-the professional baseball circuit.

Airman 1st Class Cody Marshall, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, spent several years playing baseball and battling back from serious injuries before deciding to trade in his baseball bat for a fire ax.

"I felt fortunate that I got to live one of my dreams already as a professional baseball player and being a college head coach," the Jacksonville, Illinois native said. "I always wanted to be a fireman. I gave baseball quite a few years of my life and I was just really looking for a new start doing something different."

A baseball career that included playing at the Junior College World Series, a pre-season All-American ranking and being considered by Major League Baseball's Arizona Cardinals for the next level was almost ended when Marshall was told he would never play again.

"The first surgery was pretty extensive. [The doctor] told me to think of another career because you don't come back from something like this," he said. "Me being stubborn and kind of young, I rehabbed and came back. I hit a home run six months later."

After playing at Delta State University and Louisiana State University-Shreveport in college, Marshall started his professional time with the Shreveport Captains in 2008.
His career on the ball field changed directions at age 26 while playing for the Sheboygan A's. After recovering from seven surgeries and a number of years on the college and professional level,  Marshall produced an impressive .392 batting average and won the league's all-star home run derby. However, he concluded that it was time for a change.

"I figured it was my time," the centerfielder said. "You have to see what is put out in front of you... It made it tough. For a long time, I beat myself up. Looking back, I didn't know why I was dealt that hand. It gave me some trials and tribulations. In my playing career, they told me I would never play again and I played three years longer after they told me that. It keeps me going. It makes me realize you can't have regrets. You take what you can from your past and mold that into your future."

What came next to Marshall was a chance to teach and coach others after completing his bachelor's degree.

"When I was teaching, I enjoyed it, but it was not giving me that satisfaction that going to a fire department or playing baseball did," Marshall said.

After going from serving as counselor and physical education and psychology teacher, Marshall found himself as the head coach of a baseball team at MacMurray State College in Illinois. In his off time, he would work at local fire departments.

"I tried the fire departments on the civilian side for about a year or so while I was teaching and coaching," Marshall said. "A lot of people have their different reason for getting in the military, but for me it was me chasing a dream of wanting to be a fireman. I knew the military was going to give me a good shot of not only getting not only the education and training I needed, but setting a path for me in the direction I wanted to go as a fireman."

Despite only being in the Air Force for 14 months,  Marshall has made an impression on his fellow firefighters.

"Airman Marshall is knowledgeable, hardworking and the first to volunteer," said Master Sergeant Daniel Blair,Tyndall Fire Department Assistant Operations chief . "He is always willing to help anybody. He is fun to work with and a huge part of the squadron." 

Blair recognized Marshall's skill and helped nominate him for Airman of the Quarter, which he won at the Team Tyndall level.

In his current job,Marshall is charged with saving lives, preserving property and protecting the environment. He helps maintain three rescue vehicles worth more than 1 million in taxpayer dollars.

"I feel like this is a job where you could be having the worst day ever, but you get a call where you help someone out and it changes your whole perception," he said. "The other part is I love the camaraderie. It makes it easy to go to work when you get to hang out with some of your best friends. We train hard and at the same time we enjoy being around each other."

His teamwork efforts extend off the field as Marshall serves on the Civil Engineer Squadron Booster Club and plays on the squadron softball team. His skills on the diamond are still noticeable as he will soon join the Air Force Softball Team.

"It makes it easy to get up at five in the morning when you know you are around a bunch of individuals you care about and you do something you love," he said.

The next major step for  Marshall will be submitting an application for Officer Training School and earning his master's degree. However, he is quick to remind everyone that even if this goal goes unfilled he is still living his dream.

"I learn something every day," he said. "I could not ask for better individuals to work under. If OTS is not in my route, I have learned to adapt. I love being a fireman."