Matthew J. Emerson
 |
| Age: |
|
20 |
| Hometown: |
Grandview, WA |
| Date of Death: |
9/18/07 |
| Incident Location: |
Ninewah Province |
| Branch of Military: |
|
Army |
| Rank: |
Spc. |
| Unit: |
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division |
| Unit's Base: |
Fort Bliss, Tex. |
|
Emerson was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. He joined the Army in 2005 but started talking about becoming a solider when he was a little boy. "He loved his country and loved everything about it. He was willing to defend it with his life," said Joe Emerson, who was emotional as he talked about his little brother. Matt Emerson is the eleventh Mid-Columbia service member to die in Iraq. Two other soldiers from the region have been killed in Afghanistan. News of his death spread throughout his tight-knit hometown by Tuesday night. His football coaches at Grandview High remembered him as a tough competitor and thoughtful teammate. He was the kind of player who took younger guys under his wing and watched out for them, they said. "He was one of those kids who always stayed late after practice to improve. He was probably one of the hardest working kids we've had," said Dustin Lamb, head coach. "He led by example. He didn't talk much but you knew you could count on him." That attitude extended off the field, said Brad Charvet, a coach and longtime family friend. "He's just a really good kid. He always wanted to make the right moves, in the classroom, in life," Charvet said.
Matt's brother and friends honor him at a local football game where Matthew's jersey was retired from the Grandview Greyhounds.