Action 382 - Honor Heroes (Mile 19).

I am dedicating each mile that I run in the Pasadena Marathon to another Marine Corps hero who has made the ultimate sacrifice, so that in my own small way, they may be honored, acknowledged, and remembered.

Action 382 - Honor Heroes (Mile 19). I will run mile nineteen in honor of 1st Lt. Travis Manion. His brave service and ultimate sacrifice saved the lives of other Marines under his command and turned the tide of of a must-win battle. I will run this mile in honor of this fallen Spartan warrior.

During his final patrol mission on Sunday, April 29, 2007, Travis was killed by enemy sniper fire while fighting courageously to defend against an enemy ambush. At his memorial service in Fallujah, an Iraqi Colonel spoke and shared that Travis was his brother, “a brave warrior who never feared the death.” Travis’ mark remains in Iraq and in the hearts of all who honor freedom and service. As a testament to his strong character and leadership, the Iraqis named their operating base Combat Outpost (COB) Manion, one of only a few Iraqi facilities named for an American service member. Travis was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star w/ Valor for his actions in Iraq.

Marine 1st Lt. Travis L. Manion, died April 29, 2007 at age 26, of Doylestown, Pa.; assigned to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died April 29 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq.

I run this mile, too, in memory of the founder of the Travis Manion Foundation, Janet Manion, who passed on April 24th, 2012, after a valiant battle with cancer. She is again reunited with with her son.

(Photo and summary courtesy of militarytimes.com.)