Marine Running 50-Miles to Honor Fallen Brothers
Tax deductible
Marine Cpl. Josh Schumacker is running 50-mile Monument Valley Ultra-Marathon and raising money for a veterans charity to honor the 25 Fallen Brothers that were killed during his Iraq deployments, with a special dedication to his friend, LCpl. Robert T. Mininger who was killed-in-action on June 6, 2005, in Fallujah, Iraq.
Josh served with 3rd Battalion 8 Marine Regiment (3/8), Weapons Company as a Machine-Gunner, from 2004 to 2008, and deployed to Iraq to Fallujah in 2005 and Ramadi in 2006. During his deployments, 3/8 lost 25 Marines and Sailors, who were killed during combat operations. Josh decided to run the 50-mile ultra-marathon on February 29, 2020, and raise money for a veterans charity to honor those who paid the ultimate price.
In Josh’s own words:
“I am running the race because of two main reasons.
The first reason is for the men who I fought with me in Fallujah and Ramadi. I want to honor my brothers, who did not make it home by living life to my fullest and finding out what I am truly capable of. I am here today because of the courageous men I had the honor of fighting beside.
I often remember the times I went to the gym with Robert Mininger before we deployed to Fallujah. He would make sure I was giving my all, and he would push me to give more. Robert gave 100% in everything he did and was extremely driven in life. I still think about those past moments when I work out or run. I’ve realized that one has to suffer to grow.
This leads to my second reason for running a 50-mile race. I don’t want to leave anything on the table during my lifetime. My brothers, who died oversees, gave me an opportunity to live the best life possible. I am going to make the best of this opportunity in life. Through this race, I hope to physically and mentally push past my own “perceived” limits.”
Josh is being sponsored by 3/8 OIF & OEF Veterans , a 501(c)3 veteran charity, and wants to raise $5,000, or $100 per each mile, that would be directly donated to them. Please help Josh reach his goal. All donations are tax-deductible.
3/8 OIF & OEF Veterans is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that provides financial and lifetime support and assistance to Post-9/11 Wounded Veterans and their families. Many of these veterans are still suffering from physical, mental, and emotional wounds that they sustained from combat. They want to ensure that these vets have the resources needed for their emotional, physical, and economic recovery and transition back to their civilian lives. 3/8 OIF & OEF Veterans team is made up of volunteers who served with 3/8 during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. For more information go to www.38oifoef.org
3rd Battalion 8th Marines OIF KIAs Josh is Honoring:
Fallujah, Iraq 2005:
Cpl John T. Olson
LCpl Michael V. Postal
LCpl Taylor E. Prazynski
LCpl Marcus Mahdee
PFC Stephen P. Baldwyn
LCpl John T. Schmidt III
LCpl Robert T. Mininger
GySgt Terry W. Ball
Ramadi, Iraq 2006:
LCpl Jacob W. Beisel
SSgt Eric A. McIntosh
Cpl Scott J. Procopio
LCpl Kun Y. Kim
HM Geovani R Padilla
PFC Chase A. Edwards
LCpl Justin D. Sims
LCpl Richard Z. James
LCpl Kevin A. Lucas
LCpl Nicholas J. Whyte
Cpl Riley E. Baker
Cpl Julian A. Ramon
Cpl Timothy D. Roos
LCpl Adam R. Murray
PFC Enrique C. Sanchez
Cpl Joseph A. Tomci
Cpl Christopher T. Warndorf
About LCpl. Mininger:
LCpl Robert T. Mininger – February 26, 1984 – June 6, 2005
21, of Sellersville, PA.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Weapons Company, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed June 6, in an explosion while he was conducting combat operations in Karmah, outside of Fallujah, Iraq. Robert graduated from Pennridge High School in 2002, where he played football. He continued his education at Montgomery County College, where he studied computer engineering and criminal justice, with the hopes of becoming a federal agent. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion 8th Marines and deployed on his first tour to Fallujah, Iraq, in January 2005. On June 6th, Bob’s platoon was conducting combat operations outside of Fallujah in Karmah, Iraq, when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. Bob died from the injuries sustained in the explosion. He proudly earned the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the Purple Heart. He is survived by his mother, Paula Zwillinger, and step-father, Larry Zwillinger.
Burial Site:
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia, USA
Plot: Sec 60 Site 8189
Josh served with 3rd Battalion 8 Marine Regiment (3/8), Weapons Company as a Machine-Gunner, from 2004 to 2008, and deployed to Iraq to Fallujah in 2005 and Ramadi in 2006. During his deployments, 3/8 lost 25 Marines and Sailors, who were killed during combat operations. Josh decided to run the 50-mile ultra-marathon on February 29, 2020, and raise money for a veterans charity to honor those who paid the ultimate price.
In Josh’s own words:
“I am running the race because of two main reasons.
The first reason is for the men who I fought with me in Fallujah and Ramadi. I want to honor my brothers, who did not make it home by living life to my fullest and finding out what I am truly capable of. I am here today because of the courageous men I had the honor of fighting beside.
I often remember the times I went to the gym with Robert Mininger before we deployed to Fallujah. He would make sure I was giving my all, and he would push me to give more. Robert gave 100% in everything he did and was extremely driven in life. I still think about those past moments when I work out or run. I’ve realized that one has to suffer to grow.
This leads to my second reason for running a 50-mile race. I don’t want to leave anything on the table during my lifetime. My brothers, who died oversees, gave me an opportunity to live the best life possible. I am going to make the best of this opportunity in life. Through this race, I hope to physically and mentally push past my own “perceived” limits.”
Josh is being sponsored by 3/8 OIF & OEF Veterans , a 501(c)3 veteran charity, and wants to raise $5,000, or $100 per each mile, that would be directly donated to them. Please help Josh reach his goal. All donations are tax-deductible.
3/8 OIF & OEF Veterans is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that provides financial and lifetime support and assistance to Post-9/11 Wounded Veterans and their families. Many of these veterans are still suffering from physical, mental, and emotional wounds that they sustained from combat. They want to ensure that these vets have the resources needed for their emotional, physical, and economic recovery and transition back to their civilian lives. 3/8 OIF & OEF Veterans team is made up of volunteers who served with 3/8 during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. For more information go to www.38oifoef.org
3rd Battalion 8th Marines OIF KIAs Josh is Honoring:
Fallujah, Iraq 2005:
Cpl John T. Olson
LCpl Michael V. Postal
LCpl Taylor E. Prazynski
LCpl Marcus Mahdee
PFC Stephen P. Baldwyn
LCpl John T. Schmidt III
LCpl Robert T. Mininger
GySgt Terry W. Ball
Ramadi, Iraq 2006:
LCpl Jacob W. Beisel
SSgt Eric A. McIntosh
Cpl Scott J. Procopio
LCpl Kun Y. Kim
HM Geovani R Padilla
PFC Chase A. Edwards
LCpl Justin D. Sims
LCpl Richard Z. James
LCpl Kevin A. Lucas
LCpl Nicholas J. Whyte
Cpl Riley E. Baker
Cpl Julian A. Ramon
Cpl Timothy D. Roos
LCpl Adam R. Murray
PFC Enrique C. Sanchez
Cpl Joseph A. Tomci
Cpl Christopher T. Warndorf
About LCpl. Mininger:
LCpl Robert T. Mininger – February 26, 1984 – June 6, 2005
21, of Sellersville, PA.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Weapons Company, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed June 6, in an explosion while he was conducting combat operations in Karmah, outside of Fallujah, Iraq. Robert graduated from Pennridge High School in 2002, where he played football. He continued his education at Montgomery County College, where he studied computer engineering and criminal justice, with the hopes of becoming a federal agent. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion 8th Marines and deployed on his first tour to Fallujah, Iraq, in January 2005. On June 6th, Bob’s platoon was conducting combat operations outside of Fallujah in Karmah, Iraq, when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. Bob died from the injuries sustained in the explosion. He proudly earned the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the Purple Heart. He is survived by his mother, Paula Zwillinger, and step-father, Larry Zwillinger.
Burial Site:
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia, USA
Plot: Sec 60 Site 8189
Organizer
3/8 OIF&OEF Veterans
Organizer
Arlington, VA
3/8 OIF & OEF Veterans Foundation
Beneficiary