Manion Hall dedicated in hero's honor

Family, friends, staff and students gathered at The Basic School, the Marine Officer Training School in Quantico, on Oct. 23 for the dedication ceremony of the recently completed Manion Hall. The student officer quarters was named in honor of 1st Lt. Travis Manion.
Manion was serving as company advisor to an Iraqi Army Battalion’s Military Transition Team when he was killed by enemy sniper fire in Al Anbar Province on April 29, 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“What a day,” said Col. Thomas Manion, Travis’ father. “Travis was a dedicated Marine and knew his mission. He knew that he was a part of something bigger than himself.
After returning from his first tour to Iraq in March 2006, Manion was selected to be part of a military transition team. In September 2006, he was reassigned from First Reconnaissance Battalion to train with 10 other Marines who would be attached to an Iraqi Army battalion in Fallujah.
“The Marine Officer is dedicated to one’s Marine 24/7,” said Commanding Officer, Col. George W. Smith, Jr. “The responsibility of the officer is to be both physically and mentally tough — and simply, that was Travis.”
Manion was awarded the Silver Star Medal for “his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire and utmost devotion to duty.”
“There is one word that best describes my friend Travis and that is selflessness,” said Capt. Roberto Scribner. “Travis put others above himself. He was the best example of what officers should strive to be.”
Marion Hall is the first of eight new student officer quarters being constructed by Harkins Builders of Marriotsville, Md. The $21 million student officer quarter (SOQ) has a 220-student capacity, 100 sleeping modules and a conference room.
“With this new Manion Hall, we are moving in the right direction,” said Brig. Gen. Richard Simcock II said. “We don’t go to Congress and ask for much. If we need a dollar, we ask for a dime.”
The second SOQ is currently in progress and is scheduled to be finished in 2010. It will have a 276-student capacity and five company staff offices. According to officials, the next three phases of construction are estimated to cost $67 million and will include two new student officer quarters and a Headquarters/Instructional facility. All student officer quarters should be completed between 2010 and 2012.
“This generation of patriots and warriors are my inspiration — they are heroes,” Col. Thomas Manion said. “Manion Hall will be known as the ’Hall of Brothers’ and I thank Travis for leading by example.”