BASE NEWS: Fallen Marine brave at early age

First Lt. Travis Manion was a born leader. It likely ran in the genes, because his father served for 30 years as a Marine before retiring recently. Lt. Manion’s mother, Janet Manion, recalls that her son had a commanding presence at an early age.

According to Mrs. Manion, her son displayed courage and integrity even during his childhood. In one instance, she says, she was particularly proud of him. One of his best friends as a young boy was Steve Brown, the only black male student in their school. Their town, Doylestown, Pa. was mostly white.

When the boys were about 9 years old, they went to a small pizza shop for a snack. The store owner ignored Steve, refusing to take his order. Young Travis went to the counter, ordered a slice of pizza and handed it to Steve. When the store owner asked the boy why he had done that, he responded: “Because it’s the right thing to do.” He then told the man he would never shop there again and he walked out.

He would demonstrate similar selflessness on the battlefield later in life.

Lt. Manion excelled in both academics and sports in high school. He was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 2004. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

In 2005, he was deployed to Iraq for his first tour of duty. He and his unit worked to secure the country for the national elections and help transition control to the Iraqis. He distinguished himself throughout the tour as a leader and as a Marine dedicated to completing the mission successfully, according to his colleagues. Eventually, he was pulled from his reconnaissance battalion to serve a second tour as an adviser to an Iraqi army battalion in Fallujah in late 2006.

Fallujah had long been a trouble spot. Terrorists, insurgents and die-hard jihadists had flocked there in 2004, eager for an opportunity to fight the Americans. This led to Operation Phantom Fury in November and December 2004; it marked an effort to clear Fallujah of insurgents after they had turned it into a major base of operations.

It is often regarded as the most intense battle of the Iraq war so far.

Despite a coalition victory, the situation in Fallujah continued to fester over the next two years. In late 2006, during the “Sunni Awakening,” the Iraqi population of Anbar province turned against the al Qaeda-led insurgency. Coalition forces made a final effort to secure the city.

Lt. Manion played a major part in this effort. According to his mother, he had a passion for the overall mission of the war in Iraq and worked hard to develop a close bond with his Iraqi comrades. On missions, his peers say, he was the first man in and the last one out, and he always led from the front, taking the fight to the enemy. Throughout the early months of 2007, Lt. Manion repeatedly put himself in harm’s way to protect his men and help Iraqi troops.

His final mission was on April 29, 2007. His patrol was leading the search of an area suspected to be holding several insurgents when it came under fire. Lt. Manion rallied his men in a counterattack, personally taking out an enemy position. He left his more secure position on at least two occasions to help others who were wounded.

Iraqi army reinforcements were delayed by an improvised explosive device, or IED, as they advanced on the flank of the insurgents, and Lt. Manion and his patrol were taking fire from three sides. Determined to gain a better position from which to fight and to draw fire away from the wounded, Lt. Manion moved to an exposed position: He held the insurgents at bay with his rifle and grenade launcher. The insurgents moved to the rooftops. A sniper aimed at him, fired and hit him in the side, just above his body armor. Despite the best efforts of his fellow Marines, he died on the battlefield.

“The American people must know we, too, lost a close friend and brother this day,” said Iraqi Army Col. Ali Jaffar at the memorial service.

“If not me, then who?” Lt. Manion said to his mother before leaving for his second deployment.

Lt. Manion was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor for his actions in Iraq on Dec. 5.

Story Continues →