Freedom Remembered

Spc. Marc Paul Decoteau, 19, of Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, was a standout student and athlete growing up in New England. He never got into any kind of trouble and was always there if anyone needed anything. Marc helped lead his high school football team to a state championship and also played lacrosse. He graduated from Plymouth High School in 2008 and immediately entered the Army. His service to his country energized by the words love, life and honor, he put great emphasis on relationships over personal achievements. Serving his country was a relationship with his idea of what duty was all about. Marc was soft-spoken, had an infectious laugh and smile and never gave up trying tasks until he got them right. Marc deployed to Afghanistan in early January 2010, assigned to the 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), from Fort Bragg, N.C. He was killed three weeks later while supporting combat operations. His military education includes: Psychological Operations Advanced Individual Training, Army Airborne School, the United States JFK Special Warfare Center and School Language Course (French). Marc’s awards and decorations include: the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and the NATO Medal. Marc would not have wished for people to grieve for him. The life, suffering and death he witnessed in Afghanistan was troubling to him, but he felt God sent him a message in the Bible to put what he felt was his duty into perspective, it was from Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Burial is at Waterville Valley Cemetery in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire