TALENT, OR, US
U. S. Marine Corps
SGT, 2D RECON BN, (1ST MAR DIV, I MEF FWD), CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
02/18/2011, HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
In the words of Tracie DeYoung, Tuesday February 22, 2011:
Matthew…..I love you. I miss you. I am so proud of you and the wonderful man you have become. The young family you left behind is a reflection of your goodness. Know that you are always going to be remembered not only as our nephew, son, father, husband, cousin, uncle, friend, etc….you will be remembered as OUR hero. OUR Matthew…..the one who made us laugh, the one who had this infectious personality. Know how much you have touched each one of our lives. There are not enough words to be written to describe how I feel. I wish I could find them….I wish I could tell you just how much you meant. I love you Matthew……Aunt Tracie
Sergeant DeYoung died in the arms of his best friend, Sergeant Lee Harris of Medford after he stepped on an IED during combat in Afghanistan.
DeYoung’s phone calls home never included talking about his own hardships and fears in Afghanistan,” explained Teddi DeYoung, Matthew’s mother. His worries centered on making sure everyone at home was taken care of, she said.”He was there for anybody,” Mrs. DeYoung said. “He was so unselfish.”
He would remind his 17-year-old sister, Taylor, of Phoenix to change the oil in her car or instruct Mandi on how to make a baby bottle for her 5-week-old daughter, Adelyn Wilkins. He would encourage his 19-year-old brother, Bryce of Klamath Falls, to keep plugging away at work.
“The world needs to know we lost a great Marine, a great son, husband, father and brother,” said his father, Bruce DeYoung of Ivyland, PA. Mr. DeYoung added that Matthew never hung up the phone without saying, “I love you.”
Remember with kindness in your hearts the wife, mother and friend left behind Aisha who will raise the child McKenzy. May she know the goodness of her father and the love shared by her parents.
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