Vincent served in the armed forces. We honor that service here.
Life story
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.
I drove out to the Night Stalker Trail to sit with you today and bring you a rock Noah painted for you. As soon as I walked up so many memories came flooding in. From the times we were deployed together to the late nights into early mornings in VA beach. We would stay up drinking till the sun came up just talking about life, the future, and talking crap about everyone else. Those nights are the ones I miss the most. Solving all the worlds problems but to drunk to remember what we talked about. The late night Taco Bell runs after flying were the best. It’s 2am and we just got done flying. We would get a car and head to Taco Bell rapping to Biggie the entire way. The food always made me sick but you loved some Taco Bell. I’m so happy I got to spend so much time with you. I miss you everyday. I love you dude! Until we meet again!
DRMF NSDF
We have been without you for 6 years and they have been the hardest 6 years. I don’t understand time anymore. It seems like it moves so slow day to day but when you step back and look it moves so fast. As I sit here on the trail and look at your picture and read the plaque that I have read a hundred times it still just hurts. Loosing you has been so hard and it never gets easier. I tell stories of our times together. Sometimes they are easy to tell and other times they destroy me. Regardless of they make me feel, I’ll never stop sharing my best friend with the world. You will live forever with me! I hope you found peace. I love you my brother. I miss you so much. NSDF
Came out to see you today. Walked the entire trail with the boys. They are so big. You would have loved them. Noah talks about you all the time. He picked some flowers and brought them out to you. I love you brother. I miss you everyday.
NSDQ NSDF DRMF
I have your bike now. I ride it almost everyday. I listen to songs we both listened to together on deployments. It makes me feel close to you. A few months back I drove it all the way down the trail to your plaque and sat out here for a while. I wish I would have bought one when you were here. I know we would have gotten in trouble but it would have been so much fun to ride with you. And don’t worry, I take great care of the bike. I even got a key chain for it with your name on it. NSDF!
I love you dude. I miss you so much!
I remember we would leave work and not even 2 mins after leaving, I’d call you or you would call me to talk about the stupidity of the day. Didn’t matter if it was 6 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning after a flight. Dude I miss those calls so much. We would talk the entire way home and it was such a stress relief. I could really use a phone call with you man. I miss you so much. I love you my brother.
Happy Birthday meatball! Today you are 38 years old! Feels like yesterday we were young kids running around C co. as BMQs trying not to mess up racing each other in progression to FMQ. I wish I could go back to those days. There is a quote and it goes “I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them”. Those years with you were my good old days. I wish I could relive those days on loop with you. From ranges almost everyday to drinking beer in hotel rooms complaining about everything. I miss you everyday my brother. The memories I have of you will live in my heart for the rest of my life! I love you dude!
Next month will be 5 years. Not a day goes by I don’t think about you. About the times we had both good and the not so good. I miss you more and more each day. I just want you to know I love you my brother and I’ll carry your memory with me each and every day!
Everyday is hard, but today is especially hard. Came out to see your plaque on the NS Trail. I put out a non-alcoholic blue moon for you and Tyler. Sorry, I know it wouldn’t be your first choice but I’m sober right now lol.
I love you so much and I miss you everyday!!!
This picture is taken from a video I took of you rapping a song by Notorious BIG. We were in Iraq. You made that deployment so much better! Thanks for always being you. I love you!
