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Cpl. Carl Sampson CW3 Michael Wells LCpl. Justin McLeese Sgt. Jeffrey Lynn Kirk
First Lt. Jeffrey Adams Cpl. Matthew Cole Spc. Russell Kyle Burleson Spc. Christopher Vining
Sgt. Christopher Ramsey Sfc. Michael McNaughton Sgt. John Aaron Blanchard LCpl. Ryan McCurdy
Sgt. Sammy Anderson Sgt. Jonathan Reed Lt. Christopher Barnett Pfc. David Burridge
Cpl. David Bear Stewart Sfc. Kurt Comeaux Spc. Matthew King Cpl. Michael Savoie
Cpl. Jacob Schick LCpl. Hardy Mills IV
Corporal Matthew Cole is a crew chief of an A.A.V., commonly known as an “AMTRAK.” Cpl. Cole is a reservist stationed at Gulfport, MS with the 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 4th AAV Battalion. Cpl. Cole was deployed to Kuwait in January of 2003 in preparation for the invasion of Iraq. He was attached to RCT 5, which was the first Marine regiment to cross the border into Iraq. Cpl. Cole returned home in January of 2003. Alpha Company was reactivated in January of 2005 and was deployed to Haditha, Iraq in March with RCT 2. On May 17th, while preparing his vehicle for a patrol, Cpl. Cole and another marine were struck by a mortar round shot by insurgents. Cpl. Cole suffered injuries to his spinal cord and lungs. He was medivaced to the MASH unit at Al Asad airbase in Iraq. Cpl. Cole was then transported to Landsthul, Germany where he underwent two surgeries. Part of the lower lobe of his right lung was removed and titanium pins were put in to replace shattered vertebrae. He arrived at Bethesda Naval Hospital on May 20th for recovery. He is now in Tampa, FL at the Haley VA Hospital and has begun his rehabilitation. Cpl. Cole will be in Tampa for about two months and hopes to walk again. Cpl. Cole grew up in Mandeville, where he attended all Mandeville schools and is a graduate of Mandeville High School. Before deployment, Cpl. Cole was enrolled in the Culinary Institute of New Orleans and is one class shy of graduation. Thank you Corporal Cole for the sacrifice you have made for our country. Your courage is inspirational.