Distinguished Flying Cross - "Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight"
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We Honor and Remember:
Staff Sgt. Vincent P. Marketta
Hometown: Brick, New Jersey. Died: August 27, 2020, in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in San Clemente, CA. Age: 33 Unit: 160th Special Ops Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Fort Campbell, KY. Vinnie was born in Old Bridge, NJ, on August 5, 1987, and resided in Gelnhausen, Germany for a brief period before moving to Brick in 1996. Vinnie played left wing and center for the Brick High School Dragons hockey team before graduating in 2005. He was an avid NJ Devils fan and enjoyed fishing, working on cars, riding motorcycles and, most of all, spending time with his family. Vinnie enlisted in the U.S. Army on 9/11/2011 and was currently a Staff Sergeant in Special Ops Aviation Regiment (SOAR) as 15T Crew Chief on the Black Hawk helicopter stationed in Fort Campbell, KY for the past 8 years. He received multiple awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with “V” for valor, the Army Achievement Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Vinnie is survived by his wife of 8 years, Danielle M. Marketta, daughter Gianna Marketta, his parents, Richard J. and Mary Marketta, his siblings, Nicholas A., Dominick A. and Anthony J. Marketta, paternal grandmother, Barbara Marketta, and maternal grandmother, Esther DeLeo; in-laws, Albert J. and Debbie Bonavita; sister-in-law, Janine Marley and husband, Thomas, and their two sons, Thomas and Aaron, and many other loving family, friends and comrades in service. Vinnie is predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Richard M. Marketta, and his maternal grandfather, Paul DeLeo. Interment at Brigadier Gen. William C. Doyle NJ Veterans Cemetery, Arneytown. “The loss of Staff Sgt. Marketta and Sgt. Shelton has left a scar in this Regiment that will never completely heal,” said Col. Andrew R. Graham, commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). “Their level of dedication to the 160th SOAR (A) and their exemplary service in the Army is the embodiment of what it means to be a Night Stalker and a Soldier. Our priority now is to ensure the Families of our fallen warriors receive our complete support as we work through this tragedy together. We ask that you keep Staff Sgt. Marketta, Sgt. Shelton, their Families and fellow Night Stalkers in your thoughts and prayers.” |
Staff Sergeant Vincent P. Marketta was born on 5 August 5 1987 and was a native of Brick, New Jersey. He was killed on 27 August 2020 while conducting aviation training on San Clemente Island, California, while assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).
SSG Marketta volunteered for service in the U.S. Army when he enlisted in 2011. He graduated from Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training as a 15T UH-60 Black Hawk Repairer. Upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and completed Enlisted Combat Skills (Green Platoon) training in 2012. Upon graduation from Green Platoon, SSG Marketta spent 18 months as an aircraft repairer in Foxtrot Company, 1st Battalion and in 2014, he was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, for service as an MH-60 DAP Crew Chief. While in Charlie Company, SSG Marketta served as a Fully Mission Qualified Crew Chief, Flight Instructor, Section Sergeant, and Platoon Sergeant.
While assigned to the 160th SOAR (Abn), SSG Marketta deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and multiple times to Iraq in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Over the course of his career, he flew over 1300 total flight hours in the MH-60L and MH-60M, including 600 hours under night-vision goggles, and 300 hours in combat.
SSG Marketta was a graduate of the Enlisted Combat Skills (Green Platoon), Combatives Level 1, MH-60 Maintainers Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School, MH-60 Non-Rated Crew Member Course, the Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Courses, and the MH-60 Flight Instructor Course.
SSG Marketta’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (w/V device), Air Medal (w/C device), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (w/C device and Numeral 2), Army Commendation Medal (w/OLC), Army Achievement Medal (w/OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (w/Numeral 2), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/1 Bronze Service Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (w/2 Bronze Service Star), INHERENT RESOLVE Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Second award), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, and the Basic Aviation Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
He is survived by his wife, Danielle; his daughter, Gianna; his parents, Richard and Mary; and his brothers, Anthony, Nicholas, and Dominic. He is laid to rest at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
SSG Marketta volunteered for service in the U.S. Army when he enlisted in 2011. He graduated from Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training as a 15T UH-60 Black Hawk Repairer. Upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and completed Enlisted Combat Skills (Green Platoon) training in 2012. Upon graduation from Green Platoon, SSG Marketta spent 18 months as an aircraft repairer in Foxtrot Company, 1st Battalion and in 2014, he was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, for service as an MH-60 DAP Crew Chief. While in Charlie Company, SSG Marketta served as a Fully Mission Qualified Crew Chief, Flight Instructor, Section Sergeant, and Platoon Sergeant.
While assigned to the 160th SOAR (Abn), SSG Marketta deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and multiple times to Iraq in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Over the course of his career, he flew over 1300 total flight hours in the MH-60L and MH-60M, including 600 hours under night-vision goggles, and 300 hours in combat.
SSG Marketta was a graduate of the Enlisted Combat Skills (Green Platoon), Combatives Level 1, MH-60 Maintainers Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School, MH-60 Non-Rated Crew Member Course, the Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Courses, and the MH-60 Flight Instructor Course.
SSG Marketta’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (w/V device), Air Medal (w/C device), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (w/C device and Numeral 2), Army Commendation Medal (w/OLC), Army Achievement Medal (w/OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (w/Numeral 2), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/1 Bronze Service Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (w/2 Bronze Service Star), INHERENT RESOLVE Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Second award), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, and the Basic Aviation Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
He is survived by his wife, Danielle; his daughter, Gianna; his parents, Richard and Mary; and his brothers, Anthony, Nicholas, and Dominic. He is laid to rest at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
New Jersey Run for the Fallen 2024 ~ Click photos below to enlarge...
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New Jersey Run for the Fallen 2023 ~ Click photos below to enlarge...
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