Thomasville native gains new experiences in southern Afghanistan

Photo By Master Sgt. John Jackson | Corporal Cameron Reed, a motor transport operator with Regimental Combat Team 7 and a native of Thomasville, Ga., left his small, southern town looking for a new experience. Two years after becoming a Marine, Reed is now supporting infantry battalions in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

12.03.2012

Story by Sgt. John Jackson 

Helmand Governor's Media Center

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Growing up in southern Georgia, Cpl. Cameron Reed enjoyed the outdoors. The avid hunter got a job shortly after graduating high school working on a plantation that grew a habitat designed to attract quail.

While Reed enjoyed working on the plantation and still enjoys hunting, the 24-year-old Marine wanted to try his hand at a different career outside the small town of Thomasville.

“I figured I would do something different for a while,” said Reed, a motor transport operator with Regimental Combat Team 7. “I really enjoyed working on the plantation, but I wanted to try something new.”

While his parents, Chuck and Julianne Reed, were hesitant at first of their son’s decision to enlist in the Marine Corps, they are supportive of his career move, said Reed.

Compared to small town life in Georgia, Reed now finds himself in a new situation and environment in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province, the country’s most hostile province.

The enemy’s weapon of choice has been, and continues to be, improvised explosive devices. Insurgents in Helmand province and throughout Afghanistan make the IEDs and bury them in dirt roads and paths, targeting U.S., coalition and Afghan forces while they are moving supplies and troops throughout the battlespace.

As a motor transport operator, Reed finds himself driving through the desert of Afghanistan avoiding these deadly obstacles while supporting the infantry battalions that fall under RCT-7’s command.

“We stay on (Camp) Leatherneck the majority of the time, but we do get out,” Reed said. “I am responsible for driving the trucks and making sure the battalions have what they need.”

Reed enjoys driving the different type of tactical vehicles in the Marine Corps’ arsenal, but most of all, he enjoys the brotherhood he has found in the Corps.

“I really enjoy what I do,” Reed said. “I enjoy being around all the Marines in my unit, and I am glad to have this opportunity to deploy.”

Reed’s staff noncommissioned officer considers him a standout NCO and a team player for their unit.

“Corporal Reed is one of my top Marines,” said Staff Sgt. Johnny Jimenez, RCT-7’s motor transport operations chief and licensing staff noncommissioned officer in charge. “He does was needs to get done. He is not a big talker, but he’s a tremendously hard worker, has a great work ethic and never complains about the task at hand.”

With approximately two months completed on his scheduled yearlong deployment, Reed looks forward to the remainder of his time in Afghanistan and the things he will learn.

“I truly do enjoy what I do,” he said. “I am happy to be here and get this experience. Although, I do look forward to getting home and doing some hunting once this deployment is over.”

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series wherein every week we recognize an individual Marine or sailor with Regimental Combat Team 7. The Marines and sailors of RCT-7 are dedicated, disciplined and driven to accomplish the mission, and the Marine in this article has earned special recognition for standing out among these professionals. Be sure to check every week to see who will be honored as the latest Marine of the Week.

• Date Taken: 12.03.2012
• Date Posted: 12.02.2012 22:30
• Story ID: 98633
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF