Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West

 

August 30, 2010

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matt West died Monday during another deadly period for U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. The Associated Press reported that five more American troops were killed on Tuesday, and that recent attacks and fighting claimed the lives of 19 U.S. Service members over a 4-day period.

 

Army EOD Staff Sgt. Matthew West on his second tour in Afghanistan was killed during an IED explosion. West began his second tour on 25 July 2010, previous to this deployment; West completed a tour of duty in Iraq from March 2008-June 2009, as well as previous tour in Afghanistan from March 2006-September 2006. West served as an EOD specialist for the 62nd Ordnance Company, 71st EOD Group and based in Fort Carson, Colorado. He was 36-years old at the time of the incident. He leaves behind a wife and three children including a 4-year-old boy, a 3-year-old boy, and a 3 month old girl

 

West was trained in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and was a 1992 graduate of Gaylord High School, according to his sister, Kristine Willis, of Levering.

West is survived by a wife and three children, she said.