Til’ Valhalla, Gunnery Sgt. Diego Pongo and Capt. Moises Navas
TIL’ VALHALLA | Lance Cpl. Kolby Leger31st Marine Expeditionary Unit All features, photos DOD
Capt. Moises A. Navas, a special operations officer from Germantown, Md., suffered fatal wounds while accompanying Iraqi Security Forces during a mission to eliminate an ISIS stronghold in a mountainous area of north central Iraq. He was 34 years old and assigned to 2nd Marine Raider Battalion.
An intense unit workout aboard the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America on the morning of March 14th served as more than just the average physical training session for the Marines of Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The workout, referred to as a ‘Murph,’ afforded the Marines the opportunity to honor their fallen brothers and sisters – in this case, specifically in memory of two recently deceased Marine Corps Special Operations Command Marine Raiders, Gunnery Sgt. Diego
Pongo and Capt. Moises Navas.
Pongo, who served as a sniper team leader with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment on deployment to Afghanistan in 2004, joined the Corps in 2004 as a rifleman before earning the title of Marine Raider in 2011. Navas also enlisted in 2004, achieving the rank of sergeant before commissioning through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. After rigorous training, Navas was selected to become a Marine Raider in 2016, and spent the last four years as a team commander and company executive officer in 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion.
“Nothing is about the individual. I wanted my Marines and Sailors to know that a blow to one of us is a blow to all of us.”
Staff Sgt. Michael Staten, platoon sergeant with 1/5
The two Marine Raiders died on March 8th, 2020 after being mortally wounded by enemy small-arms fire during a mission to eliminate an Islamic State stronghold in Ninewah Province, Iraq. Their valiant sacrifice in combat inspired the BLT Marines to dedicate their morning several days later to completing the challenge in their honor.
For Staff Sgt. Michael Staten, the challenge had an added significance. Staten, a platoon sergeant with 1/5, previously served at 2nd Marine Raider Battalion and personally knew both Marines.
“The entire Raider community is inspiring,” Staten said. “Capt. Navas and Gunnery Sgt. Pongo were no exception. Raiders do leadership right.”
The challenge, which is named after Lt. Michael Murphy, a Navy SEAL who gave the ultimate sacrifice during a mission in Afghanistan, required the Marines to run a mile, followed by 100 pullups, 200 pushups, and 300 squats, prior to running a final mile to finish the workout.
“The MURPH CHALLENGE is a HERO WORKOUT consisting of a 1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and ending with another 1 mile run. It was the favorite workout of Naval Special Warfare Operator, Mike Murphy, killed in action during Operation Red Wings (Afghanistan 2005), as part of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
As a kid I had heroes like Batman who fought to protect Gotham from the sinister architects of chaos and destruction. And then I grew up and learned the world had real villains and real heroes — heroes like Navy SEAL, Mike Murphy, who represent a special breed of men that run towards and not away from danger; men who are willing to bring the fight to the enemy’s doorstep before they can bring it to mine or yours.
I wish the general public could understand the sacrifice and dedication it takes just to qualify to be the man who is at the tip of the spear; the man who is then tasked to hunt down the bad guys of the world — to break down a door and confront a man with a gun who has trained his entire life to kill you.
I don’t know Batman’s favorite workout but this is Murph’s. And it’s an honor to work out in the shadow of a true badass like Mike Murphy. Go out and GET SOME y’all.” – Mencius Hicks