Age: 28

Hometown: Littleton, CO

Corps Outfit: H-1

Military Unit: 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force

1st Lt. Matthew R. Vandergrift, 28, of Littleton, Colo., died April 21 from wounds he suffered while conducting combat operations in Basrah, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Vandergrift graduated from Leander High School in 1999 and earned a bachelors degree in management from Texas A&M University in December 2003, graduating with honors. While at Texas A&M, he was a member of Company H-1 in the Corps of Cadets.

Vandergrifts father, John Vandergrift, who also served in the Marine Corps, said his son was drawn to Texas A&M by the Corps of Cadets and the desire to serve his country. He loved the atmosphere at A&M, John Vandergrift said. The values and patriotism, all of it.

Mary Jane Vandergrift described her son as charismatic child who grew into a caring man, someone who was determined to better the lives of those around him.

Vandergrift joined the Marine Corps on March 23, 2005, and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment on Sept. 14, 2006. He deployed to Iraqi on Aug. 21, 2007. His decorations include the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Vandergrift is survived by his parents, John and Mary Jane Vandergrift of Littleton, Colo., and his brother Barrett Vandergrift, a USAF pilot stationed in Wyoming.

Source: The Association of Former Students

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