8/10/2012
Staff Sergeant Sky Mote was born on June 6, 1985 in Bishop, CA. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 2003. After completion of boot camp and Marine Combat Training, SSgt Mote was assigned to Fort Lee, Virginia to attend Bulk Fuel Specialist School. SSgt Mote then reported to Bulk Fuel Co., 7th Engineer Support Bn, Camp Pendleton, CA. He deployed with 7th ESB in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the summer of 2006. During his deployment Sky was assigned as part of a security element attached to 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company. After this tour, SSgt Mote applied and was accepted for a lateral move to the EOD career field. SSgt Mote successfully completed EOD School in December 2007 and then reported to the EOD team at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twenty Nine Palms, CA. In August 2009, SSgt Mote was selected for and reported for duty at 1st Marine Special Operations Bn. Camp Pendleton CA and was subsequently assigned to Marine Special Operations Company (MSOC) C, Team 3 and deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility in August of 2010. SSgt Mote then returned to the U.S. in March of 2011, remained with MSOC C, and deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2012.
Staff Sergeant Mote received the following awards: posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (3), Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2), Meritorious Mast, a Certificate of Appreciation.
Staff Sergeant Mote is survived by his father Russell Mote, and his mother Cindy Menshall.
Sky was an awesome classmate and friend during EOD school. He was a warrior and he’s missed and thought of every day.
My husband went through EOD school with Sky. Sky was one of the most selfless and caring young men I have ever met. He adopted our young family as his own, and became a member of our family. After EOD school ended, our 2 year old would ask to call Sky. Whenever Sky answered, he would talk to our son, Mayhem, until Mayhem was done talking.
Our youngest son was born 9 months after Sky’s death, and is named in honor of him. Our Sky loves telling everyone who asks about his name, all about the hero he was named for.