[Dean's World] Dave Price: Hero

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Posted by Dave Price:
Hero
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1190385966.shtml


   At INDCJournal, Bill Ardolino has the story of Travis Manion:

     On a Sunday afternoon in late April, 1st Lt. Travis Manion spoke to
     his father via satellite phone from a dusty Iraqi Army barracks in
     downtown Fallujah. Manion and his fellow Marines with Military
     Transition Team (MiTT) 30 - advisors to the 3-2-1 Iraqi Army - had
     recently watched a DVD of the movie "300," and it made an
     impression. He told his dad that for the Spartans, there was "no
     greater honor" than to die fighting for one's country and its
     freedoms. He expressed frustration that many Americans didn't
     understand that's what he and his Marines were doing in Iraq. The
     satellite phone kept cutting out and, unusually, Travis kept
     calling his father back. He lingered on the phone. He spoke of the
     importance of honor, strength and courage. He expressed kinship
     with the Spartans.
     A week later, Travis Manion died a Spartan's death.
     ...
     Iraqi soldiers have since named a combat outpost after Manion.
     "The advisors on a MiTT team are very different from the other
     American forces in Iraq. They are choosing to live with us, in our
     ways, share the same hardships and dangers, and choose to fight
     alongside of us. Many days. Every day," said Jafar. "Their blood is
     spilled alongside of ours on the battlefield. It mixes with ours.
     This is why Mulazam (lieutenant) Manion was, and will always be,
     our brother."

   Read the whole thing. I can't add much, except to say this was a
   better man than I'll ever be. If you'd like to contribute to his
   memorial fund, [1]you can do so here.

References

   1. http://www.travismanion.com/memorialfund.php