CHARLESTON, SC, USA U.S. Army SSG, CO A, 2D BN, 30TH INFANTRY, 4 BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, FORT POLK, LA BAGHDAD, IRAQ 09/21/2008
Specialist Mathew Taylor was born on July 7, 1986 in Carmichael, California. We moved to Cameron Park when Mathew was 5. He made friends very easy and kept them for life. There was never a lack of entertainment when Mathew was around.
When he was a teen he got involved in Martial Arts. He earned this Brown Belt in just six months. Mathew was a very dedicated student and helped teach the younger students. He taught himself to play the guitar and impressed everyone who heard him play. He was also an avid video gamer. Mathew received the nickname “Vash” by his friends for his uncanny resemblance to the character from the anime series, “Trigun”.
Mathew began his military career in April 2006. He attended boot camp, jump school and AIT training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was later stationed in Vicenza, Italy as an Airborne Infantry Soldier assigned to the 1st Airborne Battalion, 503 Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. Mathew was deployed to Afghanistan in May 2007.
From his parents:
“On July 23, 2007 the nightmare that we hoped would never come had arrived. The man on the other end of the phone had told us that Mathew had been injured in an IED earlier that day and was the only survivor of the Humvee. Mathew was the 50-cal gunner of this Humvee. Mathew was flown to Germany after a frightening trip back to the main base in Afghanistan. Mathew stayed in Germany for three days before he was stable enough to make the trip to Brooks Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio TX. Mathew had been burned over 85% of his body. Mathew endured approximately 15 surgeries during his two months at BAMC. He had many skin grafts and multiple amputations. Mathew fought through several infections and many hard days. Some days were good, but there were many days that we did not know if Mathew would make it. On September 26, 2007, with his mother Patty, sister Heather and best friend AZ2 Daniel Clark by his side, Mathew was taken home to be with GOD. We believed that God needed another Angel by his side, and who better Angel than Mathew. We believe in our hearts that Mathew is now in Heaven with his fallen comrades and his father, Richard Taylor, and we are certain that Mathew is finally at peace. Mathew is now our Guardian Angel. Mathew made the ultimate sacrifice for his Country. Please never forget what Mathew and the other soldiers have given for our Freedom.”
Comments