SGT Matthew Abbate, a 26-years-old Marine sniper out of Camp Pendleton, was killed in action on December 2 2010. Abbate and his battalion were operating in the Sangin River Valley, Afghanistan at the time of his death.

Abbate and his team were patrolling through orchards and fields in a supposedly "green zone" when theu began taking enemy fire.

The insurgents managed to funnel the fireteam into a minefield where two marines and a navy hospital corpsman were wounded by concealed ordinance.

Abbate acted without hesitation and took command of the team since the other leaders were incapacitated. According to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Abbate ran through the minefield to help the others and draw enemy fire.

He commanded his fellow Marines until they subdued the enemy attack. Aid was then given to the injured and a medical evacuation was arranged.

Fighting the Enemy

According to Abbate's award citation, he spearheaded a counterattack on the enemy to buy time for a rapid evacuation of his injured team members.

Abbate was injured when he and the patrol were pinned down by the insurgents and an air strike came in a little too close. His death was thought to be caused by friendly fire, but an investigation showed that his head and neck injury was a combination of friendly and enemy fire.

Two 500-pound bombs were dropped danger close, not to mention a withering barrage of enemy gunfire. In the end, his body was riddle with shrapnel from the bombs and enemy ordinance.

One of the 500-pound bombs landed about 500 feet away from the Marine's position and witnesses believe he may have put his head up too soon, catching enough shrapnel to take him down.

However, this was after he had already been struck multiple times by enemy fire.

A Marine's Marine

One of his fellow Marines said, "Some guys have the heart, but they don't have the ability. Or they have the ability but not the heart. He was the whole package. And he was humble about it."

Another who was with him when he died said, "The guy had everything going for him.  He was strong. He was a good-looking dude. But his sense of duty to his country and to his brothers trumped everything.  He was completely selfless when it came down to it. He was just a warrior and a patriot. It didn't matter if he never got an award. He was always going to go out and do his best and be completely fearless on the battlefield at all times."

SGT Matthew Abbate was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his incredible bravery.

Source: Navy Log