Army Spc. Matthew D. Huston

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Matthew D. Huston, 24, of Athens, Ga.

Spc. Huston was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died March 1, 2010 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Also killed was Spc. Josiah D. Crumpler.

A soldier who once called Athens his home was killed Monday when his unit was attacked by insurgents in the Badghis province of Northwestern Afghanistan.

Spc. Matthew D. Huston, 24, was killed along with 27-year-old Spc. Josiah D. Crumpler, a native of Hillsborough, N.C. — both members of the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

This was Spc. Huston’s second deployment to Afghanistan; he first was there for five months, beginning in December 2007.

Matt Huston lived in Athens with his wife, Whitney, before he enlisted with the Army in February 2007, according to his father, Philip Huston of Henderson, Nev.

The soldier’s widow did not want publicity about her husband’s death, and the elder Huston respected her wish, declining to talk more about his son Wednesday.

Spc. Huston is the third person with Athens ties to have been killed in Afghanistan since 2005.

Huston and Crumpler were killed when their unit was attacked by insurgents using guns and rocket-propelled grenades in the village of Bala Murghab, a Taliban stronghold.

Soldiers with the 4th Brigade Combat Team remembered Huston and Crumpler as hardworking and dedicated.

“Spc. Huston was every bit as committed by going above and beyond to step up and take on the role of a team leader. They were both great soldiers and people, and our thoughts and prayers go out to their families.”

Matthew Huston enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in February 2007. He attended One Station Unit Training and Basic Airborne School at Ft. Benin, Georgia. After graduation of his training he reported to Ft. Bragg, N.C., where he was assigned to the 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He deployed to Afghanistan for five months in December 2007, and he deployed for a second time to Afghanistan with his 3,300 member brigade last August.

Spc. Huston was killed while conducting a dismounted patrol in Badghis province when his unit came under attack from small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Mahoney, a squad leader in Alpha Company, said Spc. Huston was going above and beyond to step up and take on the role of a team leader. Mahoney also called Huston a great soldier and a great person, and sent thoughts and prayers out to his family.

Huston’s awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Basic Parachutist Badge. A memorial in his honor will be held in Afghanistan.

He is survived by his wife, Whitney and his parents, Philip and Rhonda Huston. Matt Huston's widow has told reporters that she does not want publicity about her husband's death, so family members are not giving interviews at this time.

A memorial service was held in Afghanistan.

Army Spc. Matthew D. Huston was killed in action on 3/1/10/