John Wayne Marcum

Senior Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy

September 25, 1973 – September 12, 2008
Age – 34
Flushing, MI

Operation Enduring Freedom
Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Dam Neck, VA

Died September 12 from injuries sustained while conducting combat operations in Bagram, Afghanistan

Navy Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Marcum was assigned to Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Dam Neck, Virginia. He died Sept. 12 from injuries sustained Sept. 11 during a battle with heavily armed militants. John was a graduate of Flushing Senior High School in Flushing, Michigan.

In 1991, he enlisted in the Navy, joined the SEALs after completing basic training, and then transferred to the Special Warfare Development Group in 2000. His long list of awards includes four Bronze Stars with combat “V,” a Joint Service Commendation and Achievement medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medals, an Army Commendation medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, four Combat Action ribbons, a Silver Star for combat valor plus a multitude of personal, unit and campaign decorations. As a fun-loving high schooler, John always wanted to have a military career.

John Wayne Marcum was destined to go into the military, according to one of his high school administrators. The two had many conversations about his chosen career path.

“He wanted to have some active role in some branch of the military,” said Archie Bailey. “I believe it offered something that met his needs. He was a patriot.”

Marcum, 34, of Flushing, Mich., died Sept. 12 after being shot in battle. He was temporarily forward deployed from his assignment at Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

Marcum was “the kind of kid that could light up your day,” said Bailey, now Genesee County commissioner. “What a loss. He was a wonderful, wonderful kid.”

His military career included multiple combat deployments in support of joint U.S. Army and NATO operations, according to a statement from the military.