Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Stottlemyer

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Stottlemyer, 20, of Hatfield, Pa.

LCpl. Stottlemyer was assigned to the 3rd Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company, Marine Corps Security Forces, Norfolk, Va.; died Aug. 17, 2008 in Manama, Bahrain, as a result of a non-hostile incident.

Hatfield Marine Cpl. Travis Stottlemyer dies in Bahrain
By: Bradley Schlegel 08/20/2008

Lyndsay Oscar first met Travis Stottlemyer as a 4-year-old when they both lived in Hatfield Village. Oscar said the happy-go-lucky child always tried to follow her and his older sister to the park, pool or store.

"Travis was always there," Oscar said. "He was an adorable little boy."

Stottlemyer, 20, a lance corporal with the U.S. Marines, died Sunday in Manama, Bahrain. Stottlemyer, assigned to the 3rd Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company, died as a result of a non-hostile incident, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

The incident remains under investigation by the D.O.D. No further details have been provided.

Oscar, who said she learned of Stottlemyer's death Monday from a friend, said the soldier's family is handling the news as well as possible.

"I'm still in shock," said Oscar, who now lives in Lansdale. "From what I remember, Travis was quite a little boy."

News of Stottlemyer's passing spread quickly. By late Thursday afternoon, 65 well-wishers posted a remark on a Facebook tribute page.

"I can't believe I have to do this for you because you should not be gone," read one of the posts. "You touched so many lives that you have no idea what an inspiration you were to some and an envy to others. Your smile is infectious and you could make anyone laugh ... We all miss you so deeply that words can not describe. We will do you proud in honoring you."

A 2006 graduate of North Penn High School, Stottlemyer joined the Marine Corps on Oct. 16 and was trained as an infantryman and Marine Corps security force guard. The next year he was assigned to the 3rd FAST Co., based in Norfolk.

On July 1, he accepted a promotion to lance corporal. Stottlemyer's decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Stottlemyer was killed in a non-hostile incident on 8/17/08.