He was the first SEAL to lose his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom when he was killed in a fierce firefight while on patrol against insurgents in Ramadi.

[citation needed] Lee completed United States Navy basic training at RTC Great Lakes, Illinois in July 2001, followed by Aviation Ordnanceman School at NATTC Pensacola, Florida in October 2001.

Lee then reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea, Air, Land (BUD/S) training at Coronado, California, but dropped from the program and was reassigned to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) from 2002 to March 2004.

His Silver Star citation reads: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class Marc Alan Lee, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Assaulter and Automatic Weapons Gunner in Sea, Air, Land Team THREE (SEAL-3), Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 2 August 2006.

Petty Officer Lee conducted clearance operations in South-Central Ramadi as a member of a Naval Special Warfare Combat Advisory element for the Iraqi Army.

Petty Officer Lee's courageous leadership, operational skill, and selfless dedication to duty, reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[citation needed] The fourth episode of the History Channel's The Warfighters is about Lee, portrayed by actor Trevor Fox, and his Platoon during the Battle of Ramadi.