Marc R. Belo

1SG Marc Belo, 54, passed away peacefully in his home on May 15, 2024.  Born April 8, 1970, in Pittsburgh, PA, he attended Northgate High School, graduating in 1988.  He received a scholarship to Duquesne University and earned a BA in Political Science.  After graduating in 1992, Marc made a life-changing decision to enter military service where he served with distinction for the next 30 years.

In 1994, Marc enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and attended boot camp at Parris Island, NC.  He attended various aviation schools to train as a helicopter mechanic.  He was eventually assigned to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia where, for the next five years, he served with the elite Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) during the Clinton Administration.   He transported the President and Vice-President of the United States, various heads of state, Department of Defense officials, and various VIPs.  This assignment took him to places he could only imagine visiting, such as Australia, Italy, Germany, Spain, England, Ireland, and many, many more.   He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2000.  After leaving the Marines, Marc loved flying too much to leave the aviation field behind.   He reenlisted in the District of Columbia Army National Guard and served from 2000 to 2004 flying mainly on the UH-60 Blackhawks.  He performed various domestic missions, including being one of the first responders to the Pentagon on 9/11.

In 2004, Marc made a pivotal decision to transfer to the Colorado Army National Guard and serve with the 2-135^th Aviation Battalion (Blackjacks).  In 2005, Marc deployed for 18 months with A Co/2-135^th (Wolfpack) to Iraq, later in 2012, he deployed with the Wolfpack once again to Afghanistan and Jordan, and finally in 2020, he deployed one last time with the Wolfpack to Kosovo.

In between deployments, Marc was promoted many times and achieved the rank of 1SG in 2020. He was also instrumental in performing crucial domestic missions such as mountain search & rescues, fighting wildfires in Colorado & across the country, rescuing civilians & animals during devastating floods and blizzards.  Marc’s greatest accomplishments were being an integral part in creating the National Guard helicopter high-altitude rescue program, being part of numerous high-altitude rescues, training every UH-60 crew chief for the past twenty years, and being the First Sergeant of the finest headquarters company in the state.  At the time of his passing, Marc held the distinction of logging close to 10,000 flight hours in service to his country.

While Marc was an exceptional military leader & mentor, he was also the quintessential family man.  He met his wife, Jennifer, in 1986 and the high school sweethearts married in 1995.   Together they had two beautiful daughters, Danjela (Forever 18) and Nadija (15) as well as four German Shepherds – Mitzi, Zoja, Kaija, and Lienka.  Marc had a snarky sense of humor and loved nothing more than hanging out with friends, sharing a beer or cigar and laughing.  He had a love of all things history, cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins & Pittsburgh Steelers, microbrews, cigars, all types of music, grilling, horror movies and indulging Jennifer in her love of all things Christmas by putting up her Christmas Forest immediately after Halloween.  He was a humble man who had no idea of the impact he made on so many who met him.

Marc is survived by Jennifer, his wife of 29 years and his daughter Nadija.   He was preceded in death by his beautiful daughter, Danjela (August 15, 2023).  He is also survived by his mother, MaryAnn Belo, father, Robert Belo and brother Brian Belo (Julia).  He will be missed by his father-in-law (Joseph Jenco), brother-in-law (Matthew Jenco), nieces, nephews, many cousins, aunts, uncles, and the entire Aviation Community.  Marc’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he interacted with, as well as those he reached but never met.

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” 

~ Leonardo DaVinci ~