On Monday, April 21, 2008, 1st Lt. Matthew Vandegrift, USMC, 28, was killed during combat operations in Basra.
He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Matthew Vandegrift grew up in Austin, Texas, and graduated with honors in 2005 from Texas A&M University with a degree in international business.
His family, of Littleton, said he loved hanging out with friends, playing video games and watching movies. He also had a great sense of humor and loved making people laugh…
…His family is relying on their Christian faith to cope with their loss.
“He’s OK, so we’ll be OK,” said John Vandegrift. “He just got there (Heaven) first.”
The family prays a lot, and one passage from the Bible, Philippians 4:8, particularly resonates with them. John Vandegrift read it aloud Thursday evening:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
“That personifies Matthew Vandegrift,” he said.
Definitely will be praying for his family.
Thanks for posting about this. I will be praying for the family.
Semper Fi Brother
Devildog
My husband used to work with Lt. Vandegrift’s father.
I have found out about this young man’s heroic sacrifice through the email communications of friends of Lt. Vandegrift’s family.
This young man, and all of the men and women who have sacrificed so greatly for this great country, is truly a hero and deserves to be remembered.
I have a heavy heart for the Vandegrift family.
I am grateful beyond words for the sacrifices that occur daily so that we can live in this greatest country on God’s earth.
My dad was a Marine on Iwo Jima and I know something about the brotherhood that Marines share.
Semper Fidelis, Lt. Vandegrift. May you sit at the right hand of God.