Sergeant Matthew Fenton

1st Battallion, 25th Marine, 4th Division
US Marine Corps

Sergeant Fenton's Act of Heroism

On April 26, 2006 Matthew and other Marines were on patrol near Fallujah. Matt was the lead turret gunner for the convoy. He spotted a man dressed in a black suit driving a brand new BMW. The man moved his car aside the first time he was warned by another humvee. Matthew saw that the man was trying to drive into the convoy again and he took aim at the car. The suicide bomber, knowing he was about to be shot, detonated the bomb before he could reach the convoy. Shrapnel from the explosion hit Matt in the head. He was the only one injured that day. He was operated on in Iraq, flown to Germany and then to Bethesda, MD where he died on May 5, 2006. I am told his actions saved others lives.

My Hero

Matt is my hero because of the kind of person he was. He was very proud to become a marine (the best of the best) to Matt. He volunteered to go to Iraq so his fellow Marines weren't over there without him. He was in supply but always partook in combat training and he volunteered to be lead turret gunner over there. His biggest fear about going to Iraq was letting his fellow marines down.
Matthew took the younger marines under his wing (even though he was so young himself). Growing up he never liked to see anyone be picked on.....he was so full of fun.....he always tried to look at the bright side of things.....he loved life. He is loved and missed by so many.