Veteran of the Day graphic by Alexandra Craig.
Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Marc Alan Lee. Marc served during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Marc enlisted in the United States Navy SEAL program in May 2001 and began the Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea Air and Land training at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California. During the course of the program, Marc developed pneumonia and was forced to drop out. In 2004, after deploying as an aviation ordnance technician aboard an aircraft carrier, Marc returned to SEAL training. He went on to complete the program in November 2004 and was assigned to Charlie Platoon, Task Unit Bruiser of SEAL Team 3.
Marc and his platoon were deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2006, Marc and his fellow Navy SEALs joined U.S. and Iraqi soldiers in support of an offensive against an insurgent stronghold in Ramadi, Iraq. During one engagement, Marc and his team came under intense fire from heavily armed and aggressive insurgent forces. In an effort to protect his fellow teammates, Marc exposed himself to direct fire and engaged the enemy with his machine gun. During his efforts to protect his fellow service members, Marc was fatally wounded.
Marc was laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. He was the first Navy SEAL to be killed while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout his time with the U.S. Navy, Marc reached the rank of aviation ordnanceman petty officer 2nd class. In addition to the Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart, Marc was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions on that day.
We honor his service.
Memorial Day Awareness
This month, the VA’s National Cemetery Administration is partnering with Carry the Load, a nonprofit organization that connects Americans to the sacrifices made daily by the U.S. military, Veterans, first responders and their families to commemorate the “Memorial May” awareness campaign. The VA will share the stories of service members and Veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in “Veteran of the Day” posts leading up to Memorial Day 2019.
Contributors
Editor: Geoffrey Townsley
Fact checker: Jordan Gossett
Graphic design: Alexandra Craig
Topics in this story
More Stories
This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Navy Veteran Ken Mattingly, who served as a pilot during the 1950s and later became an astronaut during the Apollo missions.
This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Air Force Veteran Gavino Cavazos, who served from 1949 to 1973 during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Army Veteran Howard Brown, who served during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1969 and the Gulf War from 1969 to 1992.
We honor the service of Navy Veteran Marc Alan Lee.