Charles E Matheny IV - Iraq War Heroes, Our War Heroes

Charles E Matheny IV

Stanwood, Washington

February 18, 2006

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

Sgt

Army's 704th Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Fort Hood, Texas

Killed in Baghdad, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV.

For Memorial Snapshots, Click Photo Below

February 27, 2006

Couple photos submitted by Robert Patrick 12/20/12

From KOMO News Seattle:

'I'm Better And You're Better Because Charlie Was Born'

February 27, 2006

By Keith Eldridge

Family and friends gathered to remember Sgt. Charles Matheny IV, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

Soldier Killed In Iraq Laid To Rest

KENT - A local soldier who volunteered for the most dangerous missions was being remembered Monday. Sgt. Charles Matheny, IV was buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.

The 23-year-old Army soldier from Arlington was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. His father says Charlie always volunteered for the toughest duty.

"He had put himself into the worst of it," said Charlie's father, Charles Matheny, III. "There is no worse assignment right now, than that area."

The family says Charlie was hand-picked to be in the unit teaching the Iraqi Army to take over in one of the toughest parts of Baghdad.

The family, of course, cherishes every last moment they had a chance to talk with Charlie. But there was something in his tone of voice when he last spoke to his mother that tipped her off that something was up.

"He wanted to handle his paperwork. He wanted to talk about money," said Charlie's mother Deborah Noble. "He wanted to talk about his power of attorney. He wanted to tell me how much he loved me."

Now as she clutches her son's Bronze Star and Purple Heart, she remembers how unusual that last phone call was. Perhaps he somehow knew it would be his last.

People from all over the region lined Auburn Avenue North just outside the memorial service. These are people who didn't even know him.

"I'm here because I love my country, I love the military and my heart bleeds for the mothers and the family members," said troop supporter Inez Petersen.

Noble said, "He was a brave boy. He was a good human being and the world is better, I'm better and you're better because Charlie was born."

This was Sgt. Matheny's second tour in Iraq. He was due to get out of the Army in August.

Stanwood soldier killed in Iraq came from military family

The Associated Press

STANWOOD, Wash. — A soldier serving his second tour in Iraq was killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle.

Sgt. Charles E. Matheny IV, 23, of Stanwood, died Saturday in Baghdad, the U.S. Department of Defense reported Tuesday. It was three weeks before his 24th birthday.

Matheny was based at Fort Hood, Texas. He was a mechanic assigned to the 704th Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Matheny, an only child, came from a military family. His parents, both grandfathers and his great-grandfather all served in the Army.

As a boy, Matheny enjoyed war movies and had a passion for cars. Being an Army mechanic seemed to fit.

“I’m living every boy’s dream. I get to play on tanks,” he said during a recent visit home.

It was no surprise when he followed his family into the service in August 2001 after graduating from Arlington High School a year earlier.

“I think he decided he was in a stage in his life where he had to rise to the occasion and be the man,” his father, Chuck Matheny said Tuesday.

Matheny’s mother, Dedi Noble of Camano Island was wary of her son joining the Army.

“Nobody wants their son to do that,” she said, “but I am so proud of my son, so proud of my boy.”

During his first deployment, Matheny injured his knee and returned to Fort Hood. He re-enlisted and returned to Iraq three months ago.

On Friday, he called his mother, who said instead of the usual small talk, he asked if she’d received the paperwork regarding power-of-attorney.

When Noble asked her son how he was doing, he said OK.

His roommate later told Noble that after the call, Matheny wrote a three-page letter to his dad. He mailed it before joining the convoy.

Slain guardsman laid to rest in McCook

The Associated Press

MCCOOK, Neb. — More than 1,000 people filled the McCook City Auditorium Friday for the funeral of Nebraska guardsman Randy Matheny, who was killed Feb. 4 in Iraq.

Sidewalks and streets leading to the auditorium were lined with people holding U.S. flags. The Matheny family held a private service at the auditorium before the public ceremony began.

Chaplain Rod Armon said the weeks since Matheny’s death in Baghdad have been “a horrible time” for the 20-year-old McCook native’s family, the Guard and the community.

But, Armon said, “We can get through this time.”

According to the Nebraska Guard, an “improvised explosive device” detonated next to Matheny’s vehicle. Matheny, a specialist in the 1074th Transportation Company, posthumously was promoted to sergeant.

Matheny’s sister Karen Matheny, 27, is a National Guard staff sergeant, and his brother, Paul Matheny, 24, is an Army private first class.