Army Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West, 36, of Conover, Wis.

SSgt. West was assigned to 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Aug. 30, 2010 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed in the attack were Army Pfc. Chad D. Clements, Army Capt. Dale A Goetz, Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Infante and Army Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Kessler.

Matthew J. West was a 1992 graduate of Gaylord High School in northern Michigan and received a bachelor’s degree in 1997 from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan.

West was trained in Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD), and was a bomb disposal expert assigned to the 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, which was based at Fort Carson, Colorado. He left for Afghanistan in late July, after serving earlier tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The military lists West's home as Conover, Wisconsin, evidently because his family moved from Michigan recently. His wife, Carolyn, and three children live in Colorado Springs, since the base is located near the Colorado city.

Staff Sergeant Matthew J. West died August 30th in the Arghandab River Valley region of Afghanistan when his Humvee was damaged by an insurgent’s bomb blast. He was killed a little more than a month after beginning a third tour in a war zone. He was 36 years old.

Awards received by West are the Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal – 2, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal – 2, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal – 2, Iraq Campaign Medal - w/Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon – 2, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, and a Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge.

Matthew West leaves behind his wife, Carolyn, and three children, 4-year-old Tyler, 3-year-old Joseph and 3 month old Annalise. The picture above and to the right is from last year, when West was coming home from a previous deployment to Iraq. Then, he was greeted by little Joseph wearing a shirt which read, "My Dad is My Hero." His parents appear to be John and Marsha of Odessa TX.

Army Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West was killed in action on 8/30/10.