Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino, 34, of Cockeysville, Md.

SSgt Pucino was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group of the Maryland Army National Guard, Glen Arm, Md.; died Nov. 23, 2009 in Pashay Kala, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

PLYMOUTH — Army Sgt. Dan Dosier used all of his Special Forces training to hold back tears when talking about his friend, Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino.

Dosier reflected on the time he was shot during a raid and how Pucino held his hand, kept him calm and told jokes during the helicopter ride back to base for medical attention.

Before Pucino hopped back on the helicopter to return to the war zone, he gave one more gift to his wounded friend: He donated two pints of blood.

"This left Matt pretty weak but that's the kind of friend he was," Dosier said. "He was the first person to call me and ask how I was doing."

Friends and family filled The New Testament Church last night to remember Pucino, a former Plymouth resident, at a memorial service that had almost as many laughs as tears.

Phil Haglof, Pucino's brother-in-law, told the large crowd about the time Pucino got caught trying to sneak his small knife into Walt Disney World. Pucino was asked to leave it in the car but tried to go through a different entrance before he was caught by a security guard with a gold Mickey Mouse badge. "We always made fun of him that this Green Beret was busted by a Mickey cop," Haglof said to loud laughter from the crowd.

Pucino, 34, a 1993 graduate of Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth who lived briefly in Bourne, died in Afghanistan Nov. 23 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an explosive device.

A private burial service with full military honors will be held for Pucino in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Yesterday, he was remembered as a loving, caring, humorous and fun-seeking uncle, brother, son and soldier who was quick to help anyone in need, take care of his family and have a lot of laughs along the way.

"He was just the best," said Tim Cicirelli, a classmate at Bishop Stang. "He was a great football player and a great friend. He could get along with anyone."

Cicirelli's older brother, A.J., didn't attend Stang with Pucino but that didn't stop the two from becoming friends. "He could put a smile on anyone's face," A.J. Cicirelli said. "Charismatic is the perfect word to describe him."

A large American flag hung from a fire engine ladder to mark the entrance to the church. Smaller flags and TV cameras lined the church's driveway off Long Pond Road. Army personnel served as ushers, helping the grieving family members and friends find seats in the crowded church.

Mark Chekares, a classmate at Stang who now teaches English at Somerset High School, had recently been in touch with Pucino on Facebook and was planning on getting together with his friend.

"I was really looking forward to reconnecting with him and thanking him (for his service)," Chekares said.

Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino was killed in action on 11/23/09.