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Honoring Our Heroes
Corporal Jason David Mileo
Insert: 1982-12-14
Extract: 2003-04-14
Corporal Jason David Mileo deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines in 2003. He fought alongside his Marine brothers during "Shock and Awe," the push on Baghdad, and was in the city square when the statue of Saddam Hussein fell.
On April 14, 2003, Corporal Mileo bravely crawled into an elevated position on a night patrol to provide security overwatch for his Marines. They were on a movement-to-contact patrol and had departed friendly lines with one thing in mind: contact. That evening, there was an elevation in activity. Gunfire was being exchanged directly outside the walls of the Marines' fortified position in downtown Baghdad. The gunfire continued intermittently throughout the late afternoon and into the dusk of night. Marine Scout Snipers (8541s) from an elite unit were manning the most elevated position of the Marines' stronghold.
"The tragic death of Corporal Mileo was the result of several significant breakdowns in discipline, coordination, and communication that set the stage for this horrific incident."
—Maj. Gen. J.N. Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division.
General Mattis also wrote, "Even though no one event or person was the catalyst for Corporal Mileo's death, one break in the chain of events may have spared his life." That night, Corporal Mileo was tragically mistaken for an enemy fighter and engaged by that Marine Scout Sniper Team. Everyone was doing what they were trained to do; believing he was an enemy target preparing a rooftop position, the snipers shot and killed him.
"The devastation on the faces of every Marine that was present at his memorial the following morning can never be embodied in words. I’ve wished I could go back and say something, or I think I did… I don’t remember. One second, the memory is clear; the next, it’s blank. But the faces, the faces of his Marine brothers… those will be burned into my mind. This moment redefined my entire life. The loss of that warrior will have catastrophic effects on me for the rest of my life. I’ll never be able to leave that rooftop in my mind; life sentence."
—Marine Scout Sniper (Spotter/Jamie Martin Guajardo)
SSgt Vincent Sabasteanski
SSgt David Galloway
SSgt Jeffrey Starling
Cpl Mark Baca
HM1 Jay Asis
GySgt James Paige
SSgt William Dame
Insert: 1775-11-10
Extract: 1999-12-09
On December 9, 1999, the 1st Force Reconnaissance Company suffered a major loss. A CH-46 was carrying 5th Platoon for a VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure). As the helicopter made its approach to the USNS Pecos, the pilot became tangled in the netting, causing it to flip upside down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Point Loma, CA. This was a joint operation with the Navy SEALs.
The SEALs had safety boats in the water and were able to rescue eleven survivors. The seven warriors who lost their lives that day paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. I still communicate with the families of the fallen warriors. As a platoon, we suffered mentally together and individually forever. The wives of the fallen warriors showed us immeasurable strength. A huge "Thank You" to the Navy SEALs for being so tactically proficient and bringing our brothers aboard in the time of crisis.
Sergeant Jason Maxwel
Insert: 1978-03-04
Extract: 2003-10-30
Sergeant Jason Maxwell was all heart and the epitome of a Force Recon Marine. I met him when we were standing by for the Iraq Invasion at Camp Commando in Kuwait. Our GP (general purpose) platoon-sized tents were right next to each other. Our platoons spent a lot of time together; it’s a small community anyway, so a lot of us knew each other from our time in the unit. They were deployed to Iraq from Kāné Ohe Bay, Hawai’i, with the 4th Force Reconnaissance Co. Our platoon was out of Camp Pendleton, CA, with the 1st Force Reconnaissance Co.
After combat operations in Iraq, our platoons returned to our respective bases. I went out to Yuma, AZ, to be an instructor at the Military Free Fall School, H.A.L.O. Shortly after becoming an instructor, I looked up one day with the biggest smile, and it was returned as Maxwell walked through the door to be a student. It was great to see him again; like I said, it's a small community. Maxwell did great, progressing through the course. Another Force Recon Marine and I were his instructors.
Maxwell lost his life training to defend this country, an already accomplished combat veteran. He had a full malfunction with his parachute and left this life way too early. He will never be forgotten. RIP Warrior. S/F. ML&R.
Sam Spicer
Insert: 1775-11-10
Extract: 2016-01-09
Honoring Sam Spicer (Gary). Another Marine taken way too early from the earth, January 9th, 2016. We were Snipers in the same platoon, 3/4 STA. He was the kind of Marine who made everything look easy. He quickly earned a spot in Sniper School and graduated with ease. Quickly back to the platoon, increasing mission capability operating as an 8541. Marine Scout Sniper. Stellar Marine.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice, Brother. Semper Fi. ⚡️⚡
Abraham David Vining
Insert: 1973-02-18
Extract: 2016-09-03
Abraham Vining is a legend in the 3/4 STA Platoon, mid-90s. He was the epitome of "Work hard, play hard." He was a senior scout when I came to the platoon in 1995. Abraham was a proud Native American. He loved being in the field and loved patrolling. He was a huge asset to the platoon, especially when it came to training up us new Marines to the Scout Sniper Platoon. He passed on his knowledge willfully and was a mentor to all of us. He pushed us hard, but never asked us to do anything that he was not doing right next to us. A huge loss for the world and for anyone who knew him. Unfortunately, Abe lost his life in a motorcycle accident. He lived on the edge, like all of us in that community. Warrior Status.
Until Valhalla, Brother.
Semper Fidelis
RIP Warrior
Maj. Alan B. Rowe
Insert: 1775-11-10
Extract: 2004-09-03
Major Rowe was a true leader of men. I supported his platoon while I was working in the S-3 recovering from breaking both of my legs in a parachuting accident. Major Rowe’s platoon responded to him with respect that he earned by his leadership and his unwavering limits of troop welfare.
Major Rowe made the ultimate sacrifice and lost his life on the battlefield taking the fight to the enemy.
A huge loss for our community.
RIP Warrior & Semper Fidelis
SSgt. Richard Abken
Insert: 1969-07-21
Extract: 1999-05-25
SSGT Richard L. Abken was a hard pipen Brother. Professional. As solid as they come. As Marines we all stuck together through the Military Free Fall course. It was a night jump, MFF class 99. We were both on “The big end” of the class. Heavyweights. It was 2 on 1’s. (Two students 1 Instructor).
He was in the stick behind our stick.
“Have a good jump..” “Have a good jump..”
Unfortunately, Abken had a parachute malfunction.
The loss of Abken was a devastating loss to our Force Recon Community and to our MFF/HALO class.
See you in Valhalla, Brother.
RIP Warrior & Semper Fi.
Jason Hamilin
Insert: 1775-11-10
Extract: 2025-09-18
Jason Hamilin was a Warrior to the bones. He was an Infantry Officer and Combat Veteran in the United States Marine Corps. I met Jason in the Traumatic Brain Injury Community. We instantly bonded as our TBI's & PTSD are similar in nature. We communicated daily through some months offering each other Brotherhood, love, and support. Unfortunately, Jason reached a point where he felt like his battle with PTSD & TBI was greater than his ability to carry it. And, I can relate to this. I always tell the families of those Warriors that lost them to suicide that "It's not that we don't love you guys, it’s that we can’t take it anymore." Jason was a righteous dude, a Brother, and loving husband and father.
RIP Warrior.
Verne Norman Martin Jr.
Insert: 1927-10-06
Extract: 1983-11-28
This is my Grandfather Verne Norman Martin Jr. He was a very proud United States Marine. He fought in WWII and Korea. Based on the stories I heard there is no doubt he battled PTSD. Back then they had no recognition of PTSD and there was no treatment. He was an amazing father to my mother, aunt, and uncle, as well as being a loving husband to my grandmother. I have only a couple memories of him and they are great.
RIP Warrior