Missouri Army National Guard Spc. Matthew F. Straughter, from Belleville, Ill., died Jan. 31 after his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade launcher in Iraq.
Straughter, who would have turned 28 on Feb. 1, was a member of the 1138th Engineer Company, headquartered in Farmington.
Straughter joined the Missouri Army National Guard as a combat engineer in December 2005. He was mobilized in July 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit attempts to locate and defeat Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and maintain traffic flow along military supply routes.
Straughter served on Operation Jump Start, the border security mission in Arizona, from November 2006 to June 2007. During that assignment he assisted in patrols and basic border protection.
His military awards include: the National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with mobilization device; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Missouri Basic Training Ribbon and the Arizona Community Service Ribbon.
"The Missouri National Guard Family of Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen grieve with and for the family of Spc. Matthew Straughter during this time of loss," said Maj.Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general for the Missouri National Guard.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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