Matthew K.S. Swanson, 20

Army, Specialist

Based: Ft. Drum, N.Y.

3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)

Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom

Died: August 8, 2009

National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., USA

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Lake Forest

High School: Trabuco Hills High (Mission Viejo)

Burial: Cremated

Swanson loved the outdoors and hiked, biked and camped frequently when home in California. He also was a music buff and had two electric guitars with him in Afghanistan. He'd recently purchased a motorcycle there and hoped to drive it across the United States upon his return. Swanson died about three weeks after he was thrown from a military vehicle in Logar Province, Afghanistan and critically injured.

Javier Olvera, 08/08/2009

Pedro A. Barboza Flores, 07/11/2009

11 memories of Matthew K.S. Swanson

“

Matthew was an incredible soldier and brother. I think about him everyday from the moment I awake to when I close my eyes at night. It's been a tough road for me Matt. I can't imagine how life will pan out without you there. Not being able to talk to you, joke, hug, link arms, camp, smoke cigars and drink the whisky :) You were such an incredible person; it's hard to understand why someone so special would be taken away too soon. I am SO proud of you. SO PROUD. I wonder if my life will ever be whole again without my "twin". I do know that I will never let the memory of my fallen soldier die. I hope someday down the line, I can have an ounce of the strength you had. I try everyday to be strong but it's so hard. I can't even muster up the strength to check my voicemail because I know I may here you're voice and that scares me. I know that's ridiculous but I can't help it. I promise I'll toughen up... I just need time Bubbu.
Remember when we went camping with ma? The first night we hid from everyone and talked until the wee hours of the morning? Everyone was looking for us and we were just laughing and when they found us we told them we were just drinking the "apple juice" having bro/sis time? From then on every time we saw each other we had our routine. You were my best friend. I think one of the few people in the world who understood me and loved me for who I was. Even in my grumpy state, you would hug me because you knew I would eventually give in and laugh. You could always make me laugh. I miss our movie nights. Remember when you came to Chicago and we watched "It" with Hakie? I made you guys German cake complimented by a huge glass of milk? We cuddled on the blow up mattress and tried to remind the little one that it was only a movie. I will never forget how much you loved the city. The beautiful buildings surrounding us... you liked how old they looked. Every time I get on the red line I think about you. When I go to the airport I remember when I picked you guys up and started crying. I was just so happy to see you two and Hakie thought there was something wrong. I know I will never understand it, but when you were here I had this feeling that I needed to be next to you at all times. Link arms with you as we walked; sit next to you during dinner. The talk we had before you came. I was scared for you Matt. But enough sappy crap already! I know that's what you would say :) You are amazing. I love you more than I could ever express. We all do. I hope you are watching over me and giving me strength to try and move forward.
Love you "twin" <3 Trace

” — Traci Swanson (Big SIS), October 8, 2009 at 11:13 a.m.

“

” — Big Sister (Traci Swanson), October 8, 2009 at 11:17 a.m.

“

Hey Brother. I still can't believe this is real. Everyday all I could do is think about that day, I just wished I could forget all about it. It's something that I could never get off my mind. I miss you swanson, we all do and we try our best to move on but it's hard. You were everything to us. Not only our brother, but you were family. You were always there to talk to me about anything. Even back in NY, you were always there. Every morning on weekends you would come banging on my door just to say good morning lol. Then we would go out to the movies or eat somewhere. You were always down for anything and that's what I loved about you. It was always me, you, palma, klock and kayla. You guys and your rock band lol. That's another thing too. We hardly played rock band now, I tried to be the drummer but it's not the same. We need you back swanson. I was hurt so bad when SFC Garrett told us what happened. I'm telling you, I never thought it was possible for me to cry like that. We were all hurt. Everything that we had planned together, going to greece just like you wanted. Well, I haven't gone yet but I will swanson, for the both of us. I just wished you were here with me right now. There's no one in the world I'd rather have with me in the battlefield than you. I love you, and miss you very much. I pray everyday to be a great man like you. I pray everyday for you friends and family, and I pray everyday that one day, I'll see you again very soon. Soon, we'll all be reunited. The original 2nd Platoon, Aco 3rd BSTB. Goodbye Swanson.....

” — Armando Delval, June 30, 2010 at 4:35 a.m.

“

I got to know spec. Swanson when we flew from FOB Altimur to Bagram together for our R&R. We shared many stories and background even though he was about half my age. One thing he told me and it always stuck in my mind all these years was that he would liked to get home before 19th of June. June 19th was his family reunion.
For two straight days, while waiting for our flight home we were wandering around food courts and shops there. We then arrived at the biker's shop, first he just stared at the motorcycle from the outside. He turned and asked me if he should buy it, my first though was why is he asking me my opinion about it, I have no knowledge about motorcycle and not to mention that I have never been on one before. So we went inside the shop, after looked and talked to the shop's keeper for 30 minutes he decided to buy the motorcycle. He told me that he would picked it up once he comes back to Fort Drum and drives it to his next duty station at Fort Bragg.
I saw him again 2 more times. The first was after he came back from R&R, we didn't have much time to talk. He was waiting to board the Black Hawk back to Altimur. But he did told me he made it to his family reunion and had a great time there. The last time i was him was 3 days before the accident, I was having breakfast. I invited him to sit down with us but he didn't have time, his units was leaving. I remembered he took some fruits and went out the back door.
My friend, rest i peace, TbT

” — Tan, Tan B., May 31, 2015 at 8:45 p.m.

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Matthew K.S. Swanson, 20

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11 memories of Matthew K.S. Swanson

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