How does one person go from Rocklin High baseball star to being on the frontline in Iraq? Not even Cody Eisenbarth, Rocklin Alumni, knows how he got there. Cody Eisenbarth, 21, graduated from Rocklin High School in 2002.

Cody played baseball all four of his high school years. He was very passionate about baseball, even considering it to be his career. As he was getting ready to graduate he was set up to get a scholarship for baseball, but his dreams ended too soon.

“I didn’t even plan on doing anything else but play baseball.” Cody explains.

Cody started playing baseball ever since he was five. Ever since then that has been his infatuation. Although he did not try to do his best academically at Rocklin High, he worked overtime on baseball. His mom and step-dad did not support him 100 percent, but his coach defiantly did.

His parents got divorced when he was three. His mom, Lee Ann, remarried a very demanding and abusive man, David. Cody and his younger brother Drew, from Lee Ann’s first marriage as well, were not David’s favorite. Cody has been abused physically and verbally by David one too many times. Cody’s only escape was baseball.

“Being in high school was a great experience, especially being at Rocklin High. Their baseball teams have always been great.” Cody mentioned.

However, after high school Cody’s life went in a completely different direction. It seemed that after he graduated, David got on Cody’s case more and more. David had told Cody over and over he would never amount to anything.

David even started a fist fight with Cody. After that, Cody realized he needed to make a big gesture in his life. Cody would catch himself running to his girlfriend’s house to get away from all the chaos his dad would start.

“I never thought I would follow through on joining the Marines.” Cody said.

Cody joined the Marines in Spring of 2004. He was shipped off to San Diego for boot camp shortly after joining the Marines. He had never experienced so much pain, mentally.

Cody was challenged numerous times while in boot camp. On top of dealing with the foul instructors, he had to deal with being away from his fiancée and high school sweetheart, Jenny, for a few months.

“It was defiantly hard leaving my fiancée and her family. I consider Jenny’s family mine as well they have always been there when I needed them.” Cody explained.

After getting out of boot camp he came straight back to Rocklin while he was on leave. While he was staying in Rocklin he had found out he would be training for infantry to prepare to go to the Iraq War. Cody departed San Diego’s Marine Base in March to head to Iraq. His experience there was once in a lifetime.

“You prepare yourself for anything that could go wrong. When you prepare yourself, nothing happens. It’s when you are not prepared, that’s when something goes wrong.” Said Cody.

When he got back from the war he felt he did not change one bit. He says his view on Iraq is different that what he originally pictured. Cody explained how even though there are several Iraqis that do not want American soldiers there, there are people there that were a lot of thankful Iraqis there that appreciate the soldiers fearless hearts.

“It’s hard to say where I would be right now if I had not joined the Marines. Even though baseball is still a big part of my life, being a Marine is certainly the most rewarding and life changing job anyone could have.”