Cameron Michael Arnold

Aviation Technician, United States Navy

April 25, 1992 – September 30, 2014
Age – 22
Fremont, MI

Naval Air Station, Lemoore, CA

Died from pancreatic cancer

United States Navy Aviation Electronics Technician Cameron “Cam” Arnold was born in Fremont, MI and was a fighter. As he was without oxygen in the womb, he was immediately put in a helicopter to take him to a neonatal unit in Grand Rapids. He was strong and determined and was able to go when he was just five days old. He grew up in White Cloud, MI – a one stoplight town where everyone knew everyone.

Cameron rode dirt bikes, four wheelers, and was always outside with the other kids. He played baseball and football when he was young and continued through his senior year. He became a teacher and coach for his younger brother. Cam graduated from high school in 2010 and started Muskegon Community College. He quickly decided that college wasn’t for him and went to work in construction. He became interested in cage fighting and continued that sport until he passed.

Cam enlisted in the Navy and left for recruit training on May 1, 2012 when he was 20. He never liked being told what to do so going into the military was a major step for him. He began his service at the Ceremonial Guard in Naval District Washington D.C. Following the Guard, he left for the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL for Aviation Tech Training. After completing training, he was sent to the Naval Air Station in Lemoore, CA, where he worked on electronics in the fighter jets.

From his service, AT Arnold was given a Challenge Coin from Admiral Jonathan Greenert, which he was extremely proud of. Posthumously, AT Arnold was given a Presidential Memorial Certificate and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

In December 2013, Cam was diagnosed with an ulcer. In February 2014, on his dad’s birthday, he found out he had a tumor on his liver. When he arrived to receive a liver transplant, he was told he had stage four liver cancer and a transplant was not an option. He returned to begin chemo in Michigan, where during surgery, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. On September 30, 2014, at 22 years old, AT Cameron Arnold died from his illness.