Army Pfc. Matthew C. Colin

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. Matthew C. Colin, 22, of Navarre, Fla.

Pfc Colin was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Nov. 16, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army Spc. James R. Burnett Jr.

Pfc Colin graduated from 2007 Navarre High School in 2007. He joined the Army in February 2010, following in the footsteps of his father who served in the Army from 1978-85.

This was Pfc Colin's first deplyment. He was scheduled to come home in January for a two-week break from his year-long deployment.

Pfc Colin is described as soft spoken, a great athlete, a class act.

"This is a very difficult situation," said Diane Borgsteede, friend and neighbor of the family. "It has knocked the breath out of many of us, obviously his parents the most."

Father, Kenneth, wrote on his Facebook page that 19 members of his son's unit have been killed in action since April.

Dottie Thomas, branch director of the Pullum Family YMCA, where Kenneth works, said Kenneth's greatest fear was something tragic happening to his son in Afghanistan.

"They are right on the front lines," Thomas said. "They are ground forces in the worst part of Afghanistan."

Matthew worked as a fitness specialist at the YMCA one summer.

"Matt was kind of quiet but extremely friendly," she said. "He was a great help to people here at the Y. He was well-liked. You would call him a refreshing young man."

Amanda Bishop, Mattew's former teacher at Navarre High said, "He was just a very genuine, sincere, kind of guy. He was very honorable. His parents raised him right. He had a strong sense of values and morals."

"I imagine that being the genuine and honorable kid he was in school, I can only imagine the honorable, courageous young man that he has become serving his country."

Family friend, Mike McHenry, said "This is a tragic loss." He described Colin as an exceptional athlete in high school who likely was going to make a career of his military service.

“He loved every minute of it,” he said. “He thought he was making a difference.”

Pfc Colin's awards and decorations include:
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
Combat Infantry Badge
NATO Medal

Pfc Colin is survived by his parents, Kathy and Kenneth; brother, Michael.

Army Pfc. Matthew C. Colin was killed in action on 11/16/11.