First Lieutenant Travis Manion graduated from the Naval Academy in 2004 and was assigned to 1^st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1^st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton following training at The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.  He first deployed to Iraq in 2005.  In December 2006 he started his second deployment in Fallujah, Iraq.  When asked why he had to return to Iraq for a second time is answer included “If Not Me, Then Who…”

On April 29, 2007, he volunteered to join Marines and Iraqi soldiers from another unit on a patrol in the Andaloos district of Fallujah. The group was ambushed mid-afternoon with the Navy Corpsman being the first casualty.  Lt. Manion immediately exposed himself to enemy fire as he helped pull the corpsman to safety.  He did this a second time to save another wounded Marine.  When the insurgents surrounded the unit, Lt. Manion took a firing position which exposed him to enemy fire from two directions.  His suppressing fire permitted his unit to find covering positions.  He was hit in the chest and was killed.  All of his unit survived due to his covering fire prior to being hit; his action to place himself in personal danger saved his unit.

His peers and his seniors said that Lt. Manion had a “way about him” that separated him from others.  He established a reputation as a humble, professional, and tenacious warrior who inspired all those who served beside him.  He led by example. To learn even more about First Lieutenant Travis Manion, click HERE.

The Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, has opened a file for a U.S. Navy ship to be named the USS Travis Manion.  The next step is to demonstrate grassroot support.

Naming a U. S. Navy Ship

The procedures and practices involved in Navy ship naming are the products of evolution and tradition than of legislation. The names for new ships are personally decided by the Secretary of the Navy and ship name recommendations are conditioned by such factors as the name categories for ship types now being built, as approved by the Secretary of the Navy; the distribution of geographic names of ships of the Fleet; names borne by previous ships which distinguished themselves in service; names recommended by individuals and groups; and names of naval leaders, national figures, and deceased members of the Navy and Marine Corps who have been honored for heroism in war or for extraordinary achievement in peace.

If you are interested in supporting a ship being named the USS Travis Manion we ask that you send a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, and your Congressional Representative. A sample letter of each can be viewed by clicking one of the options below:

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY SAMPLE LETTER
Letters can be sent directly to the Secretary of the Navy at:
The Honorable Ray Mabus
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Room 4E686
Washington DC 20350-1000

A copy of your letter to the Secretary of the Navy should also be sent to the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Navy at:
CDR Tamara Lawrence USN
Special Assistant for Public Affairs to the Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Room 4E686
Washington DC 20350-1000

CONGRESSIONAL SAMPLE LETTER
Letters can be sent directly to your Congressman or Senator at:
The Honorable ________
United States House of Representatives (or United States Senate)
Washington D.C. 20515

To find your local Congressman, click HERE.