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    SPMAGTF-SC camp named for Marine hero

    SPMAGTF-SC Camp named for Marine hero

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Frans Labranche | Early in the deployment, the Marines of the logistics element of the Special Purpose...... read more read more

    SOTO CANO AIR BASE, HONDURAS

    09.19.2018

    Story by Staff Sgt. Frans Labranche 

    U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

    For the last four years, Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command have deployed to a small compound of wooden huts tucked in the corner of Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras. This unassuming, semi-secluded area was recently renamed in honor of a Marine Corps hero.

    Dropping the penitentiary-sounding “Alpha Block”, the Marines of SPMAGTF-SC renamed their headquarters Camp Manion, after 1st Lt. Travis Manion, who earned a posthumous silver star for drawing fire away from wounded Marines in April 2007 in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

    Early in the deployment, the logistics element Marines built a new gateway into the compound, christening it Camp Manion in the bright red and yellow paint found on all Marine Corps bases.

    “This is the first SPMAGTF led by a logistics regiment, and 1st Lt. Manion was a logistics officer, so his role in his unit is near and dear to our mission here,” said Lt. Col. Erich Bergiel, the SPMAGTF-SC executive officer. “As Marines, we like to make things our own and we’ve done that here by honoring a very worthy hero of our own.”

    The Marine Corps is also known for its small size when compared to other services, and one officer with the SPMAGTF had the honor of crossing paths with Manion.

    “I replaced the good lieutenant as the motor transport officer at 1st Recon Bn when I was a young lieutenant, myself,” said Maj. Stephen Bartoszak, the SPMAGTF-SC logistics officer. “All of his Marines became my Marines, and I suggested we name the camp after him because of the lasting effect that he had on those Marines and on the Marine Corps as an institution.”

    Now, the example Manion set for his Marines will live on as part of the Marine Corps tradition for every Marine and sailor that serves as part of SPMAGTF-SC.

    “Manion embodied leadership,” Bartoszak said. “His methods and qualtiy of leadership makes him a great example for Marines of all grades and ranks to emulate. Having a whole camp named for him feels like a well-deserved recognition of a great Marine leader.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.19.2018
    Date Posted: 09.19.2018 18:08
    Story ID: 293598
    Location: SOTO CANO AIR BASE, HN

    Web Views: 164
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN