ANDREW MARCKESANO
July 7, 2020
Name: MSG Andrew Marckesano
Hometown: San Luis Obispo, California
DOB: October 22, 1986 DOD: July 7, 2020
Entered Service: 2005
Deployments: Andrew had a total of six deployments with the 82nd Airborne Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Units: C Co 2/508 PIR 82nd Airborne Division; 75th Ranger Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Education: Basic Airborne Course, Modern Army Combatives level 1 and 2, Ranger Indoctrination Program, Small Unit Ranger Tactics Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Ranger Course, SERE (High Risk), Free Fall Parachutist Course and the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Qualification Course.
Awards and Decorations: Silver Star, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Valorous Unit award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal CS-5, Global War on Terrorism, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, NCO Professional Development ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, Parachute Badge, Military Freefall Parachutists Badge.
Survived By: His wife, Erin and children Riley, Andrew, and Madeline, his Father, Patrick, Mother, Kathryn, and Sister, Michele.
Erin Marckesano - Wife of Andrew comments on MSG Andrew Marckensano death:
“Andrew was going to a new job, leaving his family and kids. It was during COVID and you could see the stress,” Erin said. But, “You could ask his friends and family, he was the happiest they’d ever seen him. There was no downward shift or spiral. That’s the hardest part for all of us,” Erin shared. But there was a change. Three days after arriving in DC, Andy took his life.
Later, Erin went through Andy’s things and read his personal writings. The struggle of a man trying to reconcile his faith with the things he did in the war appeared to weigh heavily on Andy. “You see this internal conflict. He was trying to fit all of this into a puzzle and it doesn’t go neatly. He was very smart and very complex,” Erin said. “It’s okay to not be okay. No one has this puzzle put together. I think that’s what he was struggling with, all of these complexities. I know he felt loved… I just don’t know that it’s enough.”
