Colonel Tom Manion Recounts his son, 1stLt Travis Manion’s Ultimate Sacrifice

by Channing Capacchione | WeINSPIRE Contributor

It has been 20 years since the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001, but there is no one who has forgotten. Just like there is no one who has forgotten the legacy of 1st Lieutenant Travis Manion, who served two tours of duty in Iraq in the years following the 9/11 attacks. In April 2007, Marine Leader Travis Manion made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

The Story of a Fearless Leader: Travis Manion

1stLt Travis Manion of Doylestown, Pennsylvania grew up in a military family, but it was his own personal desire and natural born leadership skills that drew him to the Marines. An accomplished high school athlete and friend to many, Manion attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland after graduating from La Salle College High School. 

Before completing his degree, those in Manion’s naval cohort witnessed the devastation at the Twin Towers on 9/11. knowing they would graduate from the academy at a time much different than when they entered, going to combat zones almost immediately. In 2004, upon graduation, Manion became a Marine Corps officer, and shortly after began his first tour of Iraq in 2005.

Between deployments, Manion had the opportunity to visit New York City Fire Department Rescue Company 1, learning and hearing about their story of loss and perseverance on September 11, 2001. Full of gratitude, and a new understanding of his personal mission, Manion returned home to Doylestown, Pennsylvania with a fire hat from Rescue 1 and a fire lit beneath him to continue his service. 

As Manion returned to Iraq in December of 2006, the situation and climate were much darker and more intense than during his previous deployment. 

Leading his team of the 1st Recon Battalion, 1stLt Travis Manion and his team were ambushed as they searched a house in the Anbar Provice during his second Iraqi tour on April 29, 2007. While exposing himself to enemy fire multiple times to pull his wounded teammates to safety, Travis was fatally shot. Every other member of his team survived that day because of Travis’ bravery and sacrifice.  

The Manion Marines: A Father’s Story

Speaking with Col. Tom Manion, Travis’ father, it becomes clear that Manion’s mission was to protect and serve his country at all costs. As a proud father, and former Marine, Colonel Manion recounts the lasting memories of his son.

“We were all very concerned as a family,” says Col. Manion. “It was a very volatile time in Fallujah, Iraq. But a couple of things happened between those visits.”

“When he came back home, he wanted to travel a little bit. One of his friends suggested they go to New York City for a long weekend. They went to see shows, but what had the biggest impact on him was meeting the Rescue 1 Team in New York, which had lost almost all their members during 9/11.”

“He came back from that visit, and I expected to hear about the shows and bars, but he immediately went to the visit with Rescue 1,” Col. Manion recounts. “He went in there to thank those guys for what they did that day, but they couldn’t thank Travis enough for going back on his second tour. They gave him all this gear, including a hat I still have that says ‘Never Forget’.”

The impact this experience had on 1stLt Manion was clear. He said to his father, “This is 9/11 and this is what we’re doing. Wear this when I’m gone,” as he handed him the hat.

The Question of A Lifetime: “If Not Me, Then Who…” 

Before leaving for his second tour in Iraq, 1stLt Travis Manion said to his brother-in-law,  “If Not Me, Then Who,,,” This question will forever ring in the ears of his friends and family, who know Manion died protecting his Unit. 

Manion called home weekly to speak with his mother, Janet Manion, and father, Colonel Tom Manion, a retired Marine. 

The week before Manion’s death, he called home once again. For the first time, he was honest with his father about the conditions in Iraq and the seriousness of the environment. He noted that the media was not covering the heroic acts he was witnessing firsthand from American service members. 

While the phone call was disconnected multiple times, each time Manion called back. Before his father was able to say ‘I love you’ and goodbye, the phone disconnected abruptly for the final time.

Following Manion’s passing, a knock on the door from a Marine let the Manion family know Travis’ fate. “The Lieutenant said he had no doubt in his mind that Travis had saved everyone in the patrol that day. Travis was the only one who didn’t make it back,” notes Col. Manion. At this moment, Col. Manion realized the duty he owed to his son to alert the media of the gravity of the events in Iraq, protect returning veterans, and tell the stories of the heroes that had yet to be shared.

The Legacy That Lives On: Travis Manion Foundation

Friends and family founded Travis Manion Foundation after Travis’ death. With the community’s financial support, the foundation was built on the mission of empowering “veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations.” 

A few years after the passing of Travis’ mother Janet, Ryan Manion, Travis’ sister, took over as President of the foundation, growing the community on a national scale and empowering over 60,000 veterans and survivors.

Annually, Travis Manion Foundation hosts a 5K race series across the country and around the world each September, to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on 9/11 and to honor our veterans, military, and first responders who serve our country. What started out as a local race in Doylestown, PA, has turned into a national event across the U.S, with over 90 communities participating in the 9/11 Heroes Run to honor and remember service members. On this day, we remember those who have fallen, and those who have worked to protect us and our freedoms.

To learn more about Travis Manion and his incredible service, read Brothers Forever by Tom Manion, a story of two roommates from the United States Naval Academy. They both died in honor of their country. Manion’s roommate Navy LT(SEAL) Brendan Looney tragically died on September 21, 2010 when his helicopter crashed in Afghanistan. The heroes are buried side-by-side at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.