Marcus S. Bawol

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Staff Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

March 28, 1988 – March 10, 2015

Age – 26

Warren, Michigan

Operation Enduring Freedom

Marine Corps Forces, Special Operation Command,

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Killed in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crash during a night

training exercise in Florida

Seven Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operation Command died when a U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter crashed near Eglin, Florida, March 10, 2015.

Staff Sergeant Marcus Bawol served as a critical skills operator 2D Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

​Staff Sergeant Bawol was born in Detroit, Mich., and was raised in Warren, Mich., until the age of 18. He graduated from Warren Mott High School in 2006. Upon completion of High School, Bawol attended Olivet College to play baseball. After his freshman year of college, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 19 and attended basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC. Upon completion of basic training in October 2007, he attended Marine Combat Training and military occupation school where he became a field radio operator.

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In April 2008, then PFC Bawol received orders to his first duty station, Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he was assigned to 2nd Intelligence Battalion, Headquarters Co. During this three year tour, he supported the battalion in a number of training exercises and was assigned to C/I Humint Co. He was then deployed with Humint Exploitation Team Four as the team’s communications subject matter expert until April 2009. Sergeant Bawol finished his first tour and attended Assessment & Selection. Upon being selected he re-enlisted with orders to the Individual Training Course.

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After graduating from ITC in May 2012 Sgt. Bawol became a critical skills operator and received orders to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to serve with 2D Marine Special Operations Battalion and was as the team communications chief. Sergeant Bawol deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom as a communication chief from October 2013 to June 2014. On December 1, 2014, following his deployment with Hotel Company, he was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.

​Staff Sergeant Bawol’s decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action, and Good Conduct Medal.