Marc Alan Lee
Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Navy

Marc Alan Lee entered the U.S. Navy in 2001 with a plan to become a SEAL. He completed U.S Navy basic training at Great Lakes, IL, in July 2001 followed by Aviation Ordnanceman School at Pensacola, FL, in October 2001. Lee reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea, Air, Land (BUD/S) training at Coronado, CA, but dropped from the program and was reassigned to the aircraft carrier USSDwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) from 2002 to March 2004. After attempting BUD/S again in 2004, Lee successfully graduated in Class 251. After completing SEAL Qualification training in May 2005, Lee was assigned to SEAL Team 3. Lee deployed to Iraq with Charlie Platoon, Task Unit Bruiser, in May 2006.

On 2 August 2006, Marc Alan Lee was serving as an Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class as Assaulter and Automatic Weapons Gunner in Sea, Air, Land Team Three (SEAL-3), Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On that date, PO2 Lee was conducting clearance operations in South-Central Ramadi as a member of a Naval Special Warfare Combat Advisory element for the Iraqi Army. 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. PO2 Lee and his SEAL element maneuvered to assault an identified enemy position. PO2 Lee, his teammates, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks engaged enemy positions with suppressive fire. During the assault, PO2 Lee's team came under heavy enemy fire from an adjacent building to the north. To protect the lives of his teammates, PO2 Lee fearlessly exposed himself to direct enemy fire by engaging the enemy with his machine gun and was mortally wounded in the engagement. PO2 Lee's brave actions in the line of fire saved the lives of many of his teammates. PO2 Lee's courageous leadership, operational skill and dedication to duty that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Navy's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

When fellow SEAL Ryan "Biggles" Job, was critically injured by a sniper, PO2 Lee single-handedly provided cover fire while other team members prepared Job for medical evacuation. After Job's evacuation, the team re-engaged the enemy force and PO2 Lee was mortally wounded when he exposed himself a 3rd time to draw enemy fire away from his teammates. PO2 Lee was the first Navy SEAL killed in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device
Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Special Warfare Operator Insignia
Navy Parachutist Badge

Silver Star Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class SEAL), Marc Alan Lee, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Assaulter and Automatic Weapons Gunner in Sea, Air, Land Team THREE (SEAL-3), Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 2 August 2006. Petty Officer Lee conducted clearance operations in South-Central Ramadi as a member of a Naval Special Warfare Combat Advisory element for the Iraqi Army. 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 identified enemy position. He, his teammates, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks engaged enemy positions with suppressive fire. During the assault, his team came under heavy enemy 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. Petty Officer Lee's courageous leadership, operational skill, and selfless dedication to duty, reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Burial

Petty Officer Second Class Marc Alan Lee is buried at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, San Diego County, CA, in Section U, Site 1255.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15151042/marc-alan-lee