SHAMOKIN, PA, USA
U.S. Army
SGT, A COMPANY, 82ND FORWARD SUPPORT BATTALION, FORT BRAGG NC 28310
FALLUJAH, IRAQ 03/20/2004
Specialist Matthew J. Sandri was from Shamokin, Pa. Friends refer to “Matt” as a sincere, honest and genuine person willing to go out of his way to help a friend in need. He had completed three years of study at Bloomsburg (Pa.) University with a concentration in biology.
When he was very young, he would wave his hands hypnotically in your face like Svengarlic in the Three Stooges and would chant, “I’m going to make you crazy.” It was hilarious. He would always lag behind and hide, mainly to entertain himself, but sometimes he would drive us crazy. When he was young, he was quiet and shy, when he got older, some people actually thought he was quiet and shy.
His Mom always came first, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. He was his Dad’s little buddy, then #1 son, then dude, brother and hero. He came from a big close family and sometimes not everyone got along, but everyone got along with Matt, no matter what. Both his grandmothers fussed over him shamelessly. Matt’s sisters and brother meant the world to him. There’s an old saying, “Treat your family like friends and your friends like family.” Matt lived that one to the hilt. It seems like he had a million. Not one to get excited about the “little stuff,” he knew how to unwind. He could sleep anytime, anywhere, even on his feet,of course, he preferred the rack.
Survivors include his parents Bob and Annette, and his sisters, Julie and Lydia, and his brother, Blake.