Navy Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (Petty Officer 2nd Class) Marc A. Lee, 28, of Hood River, Ore.; a member of a West Coast-based SEAL Team; killed Aug. 2 during combat operations while on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq.
“Navy SEAL From Hood River Died Saving His Team Members”
Marc Alan Lee, 28, was killed while on active duty in Ramadi. His mother, Debbie Lee, said her son staged an offensive diversion in a moment of crisis. He reportedly made the decision to sacrifice his life after another SEAL was hit by sniper fire and several men were trapped inside a building.
“It was so like Marc to give up his life to save his friends. I am so proud of him — he is my hero,” said Lee.
She said Marc lived with a strong Christian belief that he was here to make a difference for the good. It was that commitment to God that led her son into the military. And then gave him strength during the grueling training to become a member of the elite Special Forces team.
“He’s up in heaven now and I can get through this because I know that I will see him again. It’s the here and now that’s hard,” said Lee.
Marc was home schooled for much of his education. But also attended Horizon Christian School and played soccer with the Hood River Valley High School team. Four years ago he married Maya Elbaum and they made their home in New York.
Debbie, who moved to Arizona in December, said a local memorial service could be planned once all of the details of her son’s burial are decided upon.
“Marc touched lives everywhere he went because of the person that he was. He will be missed,” she said.
Lee said in spite of coping with the grief of losing a beloved son, she still believes that America needs to be engaged in the war on terrorism. She said it was his patriotic desire to defend his countrymen that led Marc into the fatal battle. Out of respect for him, and other military members making the ultimate sacrifice, Lee said the job needs to be finished and not abandoned.
“I still believe it is right for us to be there. I wish the media would do a better job of reporting on the good things that are happening for the Iraq people because of us,” Lee said.
Until recently, Lee’s oldest son, Kris, 32, was also on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. Her son-in-law, Chris Wells, is an Army veteran.
“Gov. Kulongoski Writes About The Service For Marc Lee”
Gov. Kulongoski, who went to San Diego on Saturday to attend the service for Navy SEAL Marc Lee of Hood River, sent the following note about the experience:
"I wanted to let you know about the memorial service for Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Marc A. Lee this past Saturday at the Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. I flew down to San Diego early Saturday morning on military transportation. I was assigned a Navy Commander named Roger Meek. He is the nephew of John Meek who served in the Oregon Legislature in, I think, the late 80's and early 90's from Hillsboro. They are descendants of the Meeks who came to the Oregon Territory in the 1840's.
"The Commander grew up in Tacoma but knows a great deal about his family and Oregon. He has been in the Navy about 26 years and is the Commanding Officer, Naval Special Warfare Operational Support Team One out of San Diego. He was an enlisted man for the first ten years of his Navy career and then got his B.A. and became an officer. A very interesting person and I njoyed him very much.
"I was told that there are about 2,000 Navy SEAL's in the U.S. Navy and Petty Officer Lee was the first to die in Iraq. They have lost 16 SEAL's in Afghanistan including another Oregonian, Petty Officer First Class Jeffery Lucas. He died in June of 2005.
"Half of them must have been in the Base Chapel for the service. They are a very professional and proud group of sailors. The camaraderie and esprit de corps was overwhelming. The service lasted for about an hour and 45 minutes and was very moving. A number of SEALs spoke, including three of his teammates who were flown home from Iraq for the service. A lot of shaved heads and they all sat ramrod straight throughout the service. I have never een so many Admirals in one room in my life. I sat in a pew next to two Lieutenant Admirals who flew in from Washington D.C. Petty Officer Lee's mother spoke and is a very religious person. I understand Marc was very religious. He had been married for about 4 years to a woman from upstate New York who is a fashion designer. I spent some time with her and found her a wonderful person. They did not have any children.
"Petty Officer Lee was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and numerous other decorations. He was a real hero. He was the SAW gunner for his team and was very well respected by his teammates. He was an outstanding SEAL and human being. They said he was first in his class at Navy SEAL School. They read some letters he had written to his family and they were very moving.
"I am glad I went....”
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