Marie Rossi

Marie Therese Rossi Cayton (January 3, 1959 – March 1, 1991), was a United States Army officer, best known for being the first woman in American military history to serve as an Aviation Commander during combat, and the first woman pilot in United States history to fly combat missions, during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. She was killed when the CH-47 Chinook she was piloting crashed in Saudi Arabia, on March 1, 1991.

Early life and education
Rossi was born in Oradell, New Jersey on January 3, 1959, the third of four children born to Paul and Gertrude Rossi. Her father was a book bindery treasurer, and her mother was a secretary for a Wall Street firm. In 1976, she graduated from River Dell Regional High School and began attending Dickinson College, where she also joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Rossi graduated in 1980, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Career
What I'm doing is no greater or less than the man who is flying next to me or in back of me... Rossi served as a CH-47 Chinook pilot with the 18th Aviation Brigade, commanding B Company, 2d Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. Her company deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield in 1990. Rossi was interviewed by CNN prior to the ground assault by Coalition forces. She said, "Sometimes, you have to disassociate how you feel personally about the prospect of going into war and, you know, possibly see the death that's going to be out there. But personally, as an aviator and a soldier, this is the moment that everybody trains for -- that I've trained for -- so I feel ready to meet a challenge."

Rossi led a flight of her company's CH-47 Chinook helicopters 50 miles (80 km) into Iraq on 24 February 1991, ferrying fuel and ammunition during the very first hours of the ground assault by the Coalition Forces. Her company would be involved in supply missions throughout the war. Rossi was killed when her helicopter crashed into an unlit microwave tower in Northern Saudi Arabia on March 1, 1991, the day after the ceasefire agreement. She was buried in Section 8 of Arlington National Cemetery on 11 March 1991.

Personal life
Rossi was married to Chief Warrant Officer 4 John Anderson Cayton Sr. in Savannah, GA 1990.