Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Veteran Mark Stillion, who served two deployments as a tank crewman and turret gunner in Iraq.
Mark Stillion was born in July 1987 and grew up in Sebring, Ohio. After graduating from high school at the age of 17, he left for the U.S. Marine Corps training facility in Parris Island. He enlisted into the Marines in 2005.
Stillion served in Camp Fallujah, Iraq and deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2007 and 2008. He has served as an 1812 tank crewman and M1A1 tank crewman, as well as a turret gunner on a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. He received a combat meritorious promotion to lance corporal during his first deployment. In his second deployment, he led a platoon of 12 junior Marines as a noncommissioned officer.
When he returned home after his first deployment in November 2007, the Sebring mayor bestowed Stillion a plaque of proclamation his service to the country. A certified Combat Lifesaver, he received the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Combat Action Ribbon, Service Deployment Ribbon 2nd Award and National Defense Service Medal. He also earned the Rifle Qualification Badge Expert 2nd Award and Pistol Qualification Badge Sharpshooter.
Stillion completed his service in 2010. He has since served as a special operations intelligence analyst and an unmanned aerial vehicle operator in Afghanistan. He also served as a guards supervisor in Baghdad. Recently, Stillion started up his own drone business for aerial cinematography. He currently resides in Houston, Texas.
Thank you for your service!
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It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
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Writer: Adelaide Choi
Editor: Barbie Carranza
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We need to be thankful of our veterans who risk there lives so we can live in freedom in our own lives. Thank you Mark Stillion
I have to add that everyone that volunteers to join the military during times of war should be considered a hero. When you joined any branch of service in my day (!964-1968) you had no idea where you would be sent after training. Many were sent to other duty assignments and not war zones but that was by chance not choice.
Thank you for your service – Mark Stillion!
Very helpful article.