Cody Watson collapses, dies

A young Marine based at Camp Lejeune died in Iraq last week after falling ill. The Pentagon announced his death Monday.

Lance Cpl. Cody G. Watson, 21, of Anniston, Ala., collapsed while in formation outside his living quarters Dec. 6, said his mother, Susan Watson.

He had talked to the family a few days earlier and mentioned that he was sick, she said in a telephone interview Monday night. The family hasn't been told of the exact cause of his death.

Watson graduated from Wellborn High School in Anniston, where his mother is a teacher.

A field radio operator, Watson had joined the Marines a year ago and was assigned to his unit --2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment -- in June. He was deployed in Anbar province west of Baghdad in September.

His death was under investigation, said Staff Sgt. Timothy Edwards, a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Division.

Watson loved the outdoors, boating and swimming and riding his mountain bike. He had spent "thousands of hours" hunting with his father, she said.

"He was never still," she said.

He was a spirited teenager, his mother said -- sometimes too spirited.

"If it was something he wanted to do, he'd do it and worry about the consequences later," she said.

After high school, Watson had taken a maintenance job with the school system but did not view it as permanent.

When he joined the Marines, he told his family that he wanted to do something that would make him proud of himself, that he wanted to join the best.

Watson embraced the Marines, even managing to enjoy boot camp, she said, and earned two promotions in just nine months. In Iraq, he loved going out on missions and complained whenever he was got stuck operating a radio back in camp.

"He was a follower until he joined the Marines," Susan Watson said. "Then he became a leader."

"He was a card, just loved to entertain," his mother said. "Everybody wanted to be where Cody was, that's the kind of teenager he was.

"Now I want to be where Cody is," she said.

Watson also is survived by his father, Brian Watson, and sister, Lacey Watson, 23.

From the Observer

Remembered for upbeat spirit

Cody Watson, a 21-year-old Anniston resident and Wellborn High School graduate serving in Iraq, died there Wednesday of unknown causes. Watson, who joined the Marine Corps last year, fell ill and collapsed Wednesday. A medical team was unable to revive him, according to several friends of the family.

Watson was known for his upbeat spirit.

"He was a playful little fellow," said Helon Herth, a counselor at Wellborn High School, where Watson graduated two years ago. "He was very polite. He was a typical kid enjoying life."

Watson's mother, Susan Watson, has taught science at Wellborn High for more than 15 years.

History teacher June Bentley taught Watson in her Government and Economics class when he was in 12th grade. As with all the students in her classes, she thought of him as one of her children, she said.

"If you knew Cody you would have loved him. He was all boy. He had a sweet spirit about him," she said. "When you teach a student for a year, and see them every day, they become yours."

Bentley said she was reminiscing just a few days ago about the time Watson performed in the ballet, The Nutcracker.

"Were all going to miss Cody. We loved him so much," she said.

Watson also is survived by his father, Brian Watson, who recently retired from the Anniston Police Department, and his sister, Lacey Watson.

From MSNBC