Action 284 - Honor Heroes (Mile 10).

I am dedicating each mile that I run in the Pasadena Marathon to another Marine Corps hero who has made the ultimate sacrifice, so that in my own small way, they may be honored, acknowledged, and remembered.

Action 284 - Honor Heroes (Mile 10). I will run mile ten in honor of LCpl John Sparks. He served as a machine gunner with Dark Horse 3/5. He is remembered as a mentor and friend to all who knew him. I will run this mile in honor of this fallen brother.

Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks, 23, of Chicago;

Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Oct. 8, 2010, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

(Photo and summary courtesy of militarytimes.com.)