Wednesday Hero ~ Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc A Lee

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marc A. Lee
28 years old from Hood River, Oregon
Navy SEAL
August 2, 2006


"Marc was amazing. He was my best friend, my love," his widow, Maya, said.

Petty Officer Marc A. Lee joined the Navy in 2001 and became an AO after completing Naval Air Technical Training. Later that year he attempted to complete the grueling BUD/S program but caught pneumonia and had to drop out. He tried again in 2004 and completed the course. He joined a SEAL team and deployed in 2005

On August 2, 2006, Marc A. Lee became the first SEAL to be killed in combat in Iraq when he was fatally wounded in a firefight in Ramadi, Iraq. The following is from the award citation for the Silver Star he received postumously:

"During the operation, one element member was wounded by enemy fire. The element completed the casualty evacuation, regrouped and returned onto the battlefield to continue the fight. Petty Officer Lee and his SEAL element maneuvered to assault an unidentified enemy position. He, his teammates, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks engaged enemy positions with suppressive fire from an adjacent building to the north.

"To protect the lives of his teammates, he fearlessly exposed himself to direct enemy fire by engaging the enemy with his machine gun and was mortally wounded in the engagement. His brave actions in the line of fire saved the lives of many of his teammates"

"It was so like Marc to give up his life to save his friends," his mother, Debbie Lee, told the Hood River News. "I am so proud of him. He is my hero."

Petty Officer Lee was posthumously awarded a Silver Star and Bronze Star with combat "V" for his actions in Iraq during his team’s combat tour and the Purple Heart medal.

Source: MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives
so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday.
For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

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Editors Note:
PO2 Marc A Lee was from my state of Oregon. His loss affected all of us very deeply. My previous pieces on Marc are here:

Farewell, Marc Lee - http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/2006/08/farewell-mark-lee.html

Memorial for Marc Lee - http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/2006/08/memorial-for-navy-seal-mark-lee.html

A piece on his service and the protesters who didn't get to spoil it is here and the video is very moving - http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august272006/hatemongers_82706.php

And, finally, his Mom, Debbie Lee, who has been a public face and constant advocate for our troops - http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/2008/02/gold-star-mom-standing-up-for-troops.html