Marquez, Justin Cameron
Male
Verified U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Justin Cameron Marquez, 25, of Aberdeen, North Carolina, was killed in a hostile incident in Gardez, Afghanistan, on October 6, 2012.
Their Story
Staff Sergeant Justin Cameron Marquez was a 25-year-old soldier from Aberdeen, North Carolina. He served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. According to military records, his service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On October 6, 2012, Marquez was killed in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province in eastern Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of Defense stated his death was the result of a direct fire engagement with enemy forces. He was reportedly on a dismounted patrol when the incident occurred.
Marquez died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2012, the conflict was in its eleventh year, with U.S. and allied forces conducting counterinsurgency operations and training Afghan national security forces, particularly in volatile eastern provinces like Paktia.
Following his death, the Army posthumously awarded Marquez the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. He was survived by his parents and a sister. A memorial service was held at Fort Bragg.
Marquez is memorialized on the Special Forces Memorial Wall at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg. His name is also inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Museum of the Kansas National Guard.
Explore Further
SSG Justin Marquez was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
