Military

Camp Geiger Marines Mourn Pfc. Dylan B. Covington

November 10, 2022Carl Prine
Camp Geiger Pfc. Dylan B. Covington

US Marine Corps Pfc. Dylan B. Covington died in Alta Vista, Virginia, on Sept. 30, 2022, while driving through a storm sparked by the remnants of Hurricane Ian. He was 19 and a motor vehicle operator assigned to the School of Infantry East. Coffee or Die Magazine composite.

On the 247th birthday of the Corps, troops at Camp Geiger continue to mourn the loss of one of their newest Marines, killed when a tree fell on his automobile.

Pfc. Dylan B. Covington died in Alta Vista, Virginia, on Sept. 30 while driving through a storm sparked by the remnants of Hurricane Ian. He was 19 and a motor vehicle operator assigned to the School of Infantry-East.

"Dylan was a valued member of our permanent personnel here at School of Infantry-East and we will all miss him dearly," said Lt. Col. Christie Everett, the commanding officer of the school’s Headquarters and Support Battalion, in a prepared statement emailed to Coffee or Die Magazine. "Any death within the command is always difficult. We will continue to honor his memory and provide support to those close to him."

Covington enlisted in the Corps on Sept. 7, 2021, shortly after graduating from Virginia’s Rockbridge County High School. Following Marine Combat Training and Motor T Operator School at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he was assigned to the infantry school’s Headquarters and Support Battalion in June.

Camp Geiger

US Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jacob Gingham, a combat instructor with School of Infantry-East, shouts commands during a live-fire exercise at range SR-7, on Camp Geiger, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Dec. 8, 2021. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Antonino Mazzamuto.

Covington was born Aug. 22, 2003, in Horry County, South Carolina, but was raised in Lexington, Virginia.

“Dylan had a big heart and loved every member of his large and extended family,” read his obituary. “He loved freely, without judgment, and was fiercely loyal, to his family, friends, and his country. Dylan’s greatest pride was in being a Marine.”

Covington’s funeral was held Oct. 8 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lexington, with Bishop James Lambert officiating. Burial with full Marine Corps honors followed at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Covington was preceded in death by his parents, Allen “Bo” and Darlyl Covington; and his brother, Bobby Parker, according to his obituary.

He’s survived by his parents, Jared and Michele Huntsman; his siblings, Alyssa, Belle, and Zac Huntsman; his mother, Stacey Stull; and his siblings Skyla, Alora, Gabriel, and Gavin.

Read Next: Commandant’s Birthday Message to Marines: Prepare for Uncertainty

Carl Prine
Carl Prine

Carl Prine is a former senior editor at Coffee or Die Magazine. He has worked at Navy Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He served in the Marine Corps and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. His awards include the Joseph Galloway Award for Distinguished Reporting on the military, a first prize from Investigative Reporters & Editors, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

Ouija Board aircraft carrier
Low-Tech ‘Ouija Boards’ Have Helped Aircraft Carriers Operate for Decades

Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.

Army vs. Navy mascot
The Navy Goat vs. the Army Mule: Mascot Origin Stories

For nearly as long as the Army-Navy football rivalry, the academies’ hoofed mascots have stared each other down from the sidelines. Here are their stories.

ukraine long-range weapon
Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Has Developed a Long-Range Weapon, a Day After Strike Deep Inside Russia

Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel the weapon was produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries but gave no other details.

ambush
7 of the Best Movie Ambush Scenes of All Time

Ambushes make for great action scenes. Here are seven of the best to ever grace the big screen.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, with his daughter, center right, reportedly named Ju Ae, review the honor guard during their visit to the navy headquarter in North Korea
North Korea Launches Missile Toward Sea After US Flies Bomber During Drills

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the launch occurred Wednesday but gave no further details, such as how far the missile flew.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved