RELATED: Joe Biden Attends Dignified Transfer After Honoring Service Members Killed in Afghanistan as 'Heroes' Gee was promoted to Sergeant earlier this month, an Instagram post shows. Her passing weighs heavy on our entire battalion." Patrick Williams, the commanding officer of Gee's battalion, said in his own statement that she was "a shining example of what a Sergeant of Marines should be - mature, enthusiastic, and courageous. She was the most loving and caring individual I've ever met, she was the 'mom' of any group she was a part of and had a knack for brightening anyone's day." Landon Workman, said in a statement sent to PEOPLE by the Marines: "In Afghanistan Sergeant Gee would work multiple shifts a day just to be around the children and families being evacuated. RELATED: What Happens to the Military Equipment Left Behind in Afghanistan to the Taliban?Īnother one of Gee's friends, Sgt. I find peace knowing that she left this world doing what she loved," Gee's dear friend concluded. How her last breath was taken doing what she loved-helping people-at HKIA in Afghanistan. Harrison continued, "I can't quite describe the feeling I get when I force myself to come back to reality & think about how I'm never going to see her again. We've been attached at the hip from the beginning." "Roommates for over 3 years now, from the barracks at MOS school to our house here. We were boots together, Corporals together, & then Sergeants together," she wrote on Facebook. "My very best friend, my person, my sister forever. Mallory Harrison, posted a tribute on Aug. Gee was remembered by several colleagues and friends across social media. Plane Leaves After 20 Years - and Evacuation of 120,000 RELATED: The Afghanistan War Ends: Last U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sergeant Mark E Morrow Jr Nicole Gee national security interests in Europe and Africa. 6th fleet area of operations in support of U.S. 24th MEU, embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is forward deployed in the U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Nicole Gee (left middle), a maintenance technician with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), awaits the launch of an MV-22B Osprey during an en route care exercise aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), April 5, 2021. Visit The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) at Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.2100405-M-GJ479-122, Atlantic Ocean, April 5, 2021- U.S. (c)2021 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) Help and support this family of Nicole as they go through this tragic time." "So my challenge to you, is lead a good life. Bob Hipwell of Placer Veterans Stand Down, said to the crowd. "She did not take the easy path in life," retired Army Brig. "She was proud to be a Marine, and she was proud of what she was doing in Afghanistan," she said.Īs the ceremony came to a close, people from the audience crowded around Gee's family, hugging them, shaking their hands and handing them flowers.
She shared a memory of when Gee wrote home shortly after arriving at boot camp, saying that she had lost 12 lbs of muscle mass in bootcamp and complained she wasn't getting "enough" of a workout while there, Fuoco said, laughing. "She was an amazing sister, daughter, wife, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, and she was one pretty bad ass Marine," she said, her voice thick. Gee's Sister, Misty Fuoco, called Gee "best friend since the day she was born," and her "role model." 'Proud of what she was doing in Afghanistan' "She was joyful in her hard work, the hardest worker in the room," Libolt said. In them, she stands beaming with a wide grin. She was promoted to sergeant while deployed in Kuwait in early August, posting photos of the ceremony to her Instagram account. Marine Corps officials said in a news release that Gee was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, providing ground electronics transmission systems maintenance. Gee graduated as a squad leader and was promoted to sergeant within four years, an uncommonly fast pace. She spent months training and preparing for boot camp before she enlisted, her friend and fellow Marine, Erin Libolt said. Her husband, Jarod Gee, is also a graduate of Oakmont High School and a Marine. She stayed in contact with some of her teachers, who said in comments read at the ceremony it came as no surprise to them that Gee enlisted in the Marine Corps. While there, she danced and played sports. Gee graduated Oakmont High School in 2016 with a 4.1 GPA.