★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
Capt. Matt Freeman, USMC '02 was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 7, 2009. A naval aviator, he was embedded with the Fourth Marines Embedded Training Team when he was killed by rifle fire. (His wings were those of his grandfather, a RADM, and his father, CDR Gary Freeman '76).
A Marine remembered:
As we moved in and took fire a bullet hits in between me and Capt Freeman and goes through the floor. We rush out and charge the hill with our other brothers. I remember seeing Matt majestically pull an Afghan rifleman by the belt to pull him back in the midst of fire because he was so scared he was going to get hit and wouldn’t move. Matt returned fire and talked on the radio to the apaches above and looked like a combat angel. I’ve never seen somebody so cool. We made the decision to move to higher ground and Matt and I cleared a home and made for the roof. There was a lull in the fighting. We started talking and he told me about his wife, a precious girl, and how he couldn’t wait to talk to her on the phone with her later. I then snapped a photo of us looking cool. The fighting picked back up when I felt a bullet hit near my feet and I said we need to get down. “You go first, I’ll cover you.” Those were the last words he said to me.
I still hurt ten years later. I miss a friend I only knew for about 16 hours more than anyone should. And getting to know his precious family has been a joy. Matt will be remembered as the coolest, strongest, most courageous man I know. My sons will know him and honor him like I do. Matt, you are sorely missed, even ten years later. I love you, man. I can’t wait to finish our conversation as we praise God together in Heaven.
Matt was survived by his wife, parents, grandparents, two sisters, brother, and many other loving nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is buried at the Naval Academy Cemetery.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/MATTHEW_C._FREEMAN,_CAPT,_USMC