Action 340 - Honor Heroes (Mile 15).

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 340 - Honor Heroes (Mile 15). I will run mile fifteen in honor of Sgt Ian Tawney. This Marine was killed while on his fifth combat deployment. He was recognized for valiant service for his part in the rescue of another Marine.

Tawney, a squad leader who served just a few weeks in Afghanistan, was awarded the Achievement Medal posthumously for his leadership, especially for his actions leading a team on a mission to rescue another Marine.

I will run this mile in honor of this fallen warrior, husband and father.

Marine Sgt. Ian M. Tawney died October 16, 2010 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was 25 years old, of Dallas, Ore.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Oct. 16 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

(Photo and summary courtesy of militarytimes.com.)