The two causalities, Lt. Travis Manion & Lt. Brendan Looney, met several years ago at their time attending the United States Naval Academy where they became best friends. Their friendship was sadly cut short in 2007 when Lt. Manion was killed in Iraq in an ambush while completing his second tour. Lt. Looney died last month in a black hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Upon the news of the passing of Lt. Looney, the Manion Family had his body exhumed from his burial location near his home in Pennsylvania and relocated to Arlington to be buried next to his friend.
After the passing of Lt. Manion, his family founded the Travis Manion Foundation making their apperance as “Team Travis” in Marathons. Lt. Looney stayed in touch with the family and foundation even through his own extensive training and deployments. This year “Team Travis” will be dedicated to Lt. Looney.
These gentlemen exemplify the close bonds that each soldier develops with one another during their time in the service. Their passing is a loss to us all. We wish the best to the families of Lt. Manion & Lt. Looney.