Marc Ian Nieto was born on 25 July 1976, in Champaign, Illinois, to Jesse Nieto and Sharon Priepke. He graduated from an alternative program run by Fond du Lac Goodrich High School one year ahead of his class and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 7 December 1994.

After completing Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, on 23 February 1995, Nieto was a student at Surface Warfare
Enlisted Schools Command, also at Great Lakes, completing training on 5 July 1995. He completed precommissioning training in San Diego, California, on 22 November 1995, and reported to USS Cole’s (DDG-67) precommissioning unit four days later.

Nieto was killed in the line of duty when a terrorist bomb was detonated along the port side of the ship while it was refueling in Aden, Yemen, on 12 October 2000.

Engineman Second Class (Surface Warfare Specialist) Nieto was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and Navy Unit Commendation. He held numerous awards, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, letters of commendation, letters of appreciation, designation as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, and Junior “Determined Warrior” of the Quarter from October to December 1998