Nicholas Manoukian
Corporal, United States Marine Corps
August 31, 1984 – October 21, 2006
Age – 22
Lathrup Village, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejuene, NC
Killed in Ramadi Iraq while out on patrol during his second deployment.
Nick…His Marine brothers called him “Manny” … Born in Westland Michigan on August 31st 1984 and resided in Lathrup Village ,Michigan. Nick was the only child of Mary and the late Isaac Manoukian. Nick was a vibrant and loving husband ,stepdad and son who was deeply loyal and devoted to his family and friends. His bright spirit ,humor and great hugs linger on in everyone who knew and loved him. Nick was a courageous warrior but also a kind, generous and soulful spirit who touched many hearts with his poetry, art, music and drums.
After 9-11 Nick wanted to join the Marines and be a part of the “few and the proud” .He told me that “One day I want to tell my children and grandchildren that I went to war to help protect them”. Of course I tried to talk him out of it as I was very concerned being that Nick’s father died when he was only 12 years old and Nick being my only child.
He told me he was planning on college afterward and one day having his own business.
Nick graduated from Royal Oak Kimball High school in 2003 and left for Parris Island in June 2004.He would finish his training for communications out in 29 Palms California in December 2004. His first deployment came shortly afterward. In March 2005 he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq with the 1/6 Marines H&S Co. Upon returning in October 2005 he reconnected with his high school sweetheart and they married in July 2006.Nick proposed to her by trying to celebrate all the Holidays that they would be apart from one another while he was in Iraq. He set up decorated stations around our house starting with Halloween and ending with sending his wife to be on an Easter Egg hunt in July to find her engagement ring. He was a very creative, romantic warrior.
They would only have a precious couple months together as Nick was redeployed to Ramadi Iraq in Sept 2006.On this deployment Nick would serve as his Lt’s radio-man with Weapons Co. Upon arrival his unit would immediately encounter numerous firefights, ambushes and roadside bombs in Ramadi, Iraq. On October 9th 2006 Nick’s humvee was hit by an IED and Nick was knocked unconscious suffering a level 3 concussion. He was given 2 days rest and put back out on patrol. On October 21,2006 (shortly after midnight Iraqi time) Nick’s platoon was out on patrol doing a route clearing mission and his unit was attacked with an IED (improvised explosive device. Nick and two of his Marine brothers in the Humvee all lost their precious lives that night.
Some of Nick’s decorations and awards include The Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V for Valor, Purple Heart with gold star in lieu of 2 Purple Hearts, Good Conduct Medal, War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal , Combat Action Ribbon, War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Medal.
Manny was remembered by fellow Marines with the following words.
It has been a while since I have wrote anything. I was in the Philippines on Oct 21, 2010 aiding with humanitarian for the typhoon that hit. I am sorry that I was unable to post on that day. I have had several thoughts and memories. I have left Camp Lejeune and now I’m in Okinawa. New line of Marines, could not and will not ever compare to you. You were the Marine and friend that all would love to have.
Semper Fi Brother
SSgt Hasbargen, Okinawa, Japan, October 25, 2010 | Okinawa
Manny,
I am sitting here in Ramadi, Iraq on this day 21 Oct 2009 assigned to a Military Transition Team training the Iraqi Army. I sit here and think about you everyday and those that you left behind. You were without a doubt the smartest and best Marine that walked into the Communications Platoon. Not many Marines would do what was asked of you. You didn’t complain when we said we had to send someone to Weapons Company. We ended up giving a Marine that we knew we could handle the job. You will be missed and never forgotten.
Semper Fi SSgt Fredrick T. Hasbargen, 1st BN 6th Marines Communications Platoon
NICK
HEY BUDDY WHATS GOIN ON? WELL AS FOR ME NOT FEELING TO HAPPY TO KNOW IM NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO LAUGH WITH U ANYMORE. WHEN WE WERE IN IRAQ TOGETHER WAKING UP KNOWING I WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU AND JOKE AROUND WITH YOU IS WHAT KEPT ME GOING STRONG. I REMEMBER WHEN I BOUGHT THE NINTENDO DS CAUSE U HAD ONE AN WE WOULD SEND MESSAGES AND DRAW FUNNY STUFF BACK AND FORTH TO EACH OTHER. I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE SEPARATED AND WHEN WE SAW EACH OTHER AGAIN HOW HAPPY WE WAS TO CHILL WITH EACH OTHER.YOU WERE A ME IN YOUR BODY AN I WAS A U IN MINE. ILL NEVER FORGET HOW WHEN WE GOT BACK U TRIED TO BE STRONG MAN AN CARRY ALL THOSE BAGS THEN TRIPPED OVER YOURSELF IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE,LOL WE WERE ALL LAUGHING. NICK IM SORRY THAT WHEN WE CAME BACK I DIDNT GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU AS MUCH BUT I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND I WAS TRYING TO MAKE UP TIME I MISSED WITH MY WIFE. I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE YOU ARE GONE AND EVERYDAY IM REMINDED OF YOU BY WHEN I STEP IN MY CAR AN SEE YOUR PICTURE ON MY DASH, AND THE CAR’S NAME IS NICK SO I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE IT.TO BE HONEST WITH YOU BRO YOU WERE THE ONLY FRIEND I COULD PROBABLY TRUST WITH MY LIFE AND I DID. YOU WERE A BROTHER TO ME AND ILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU LIKE ONE. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN AND ARE ABLE TO SAY,”QUE ONDA” TO EACH OTHER MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. LOVE YOU BRO BE SAFE & PROTECT YOUR WINGS.
CHRISTOPHER TORRES, January 17, 2007 | JACKSONVILLE, NC