In Memorium: Matthew T. Morris (1984-2008)

No snark, no smartass. Tomorrow is the day to remember Matthew T. Morris and all of the young people like him. Hooah! If this is (fair & balanced) respect, so be it.

[x Austin American-Statesman]
Photo By Larry Kolvoord



Pallbearers carry Spc. Matthew T. Morris' casket. He died in Iraq and was buried in Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, TX.

[x Austin American-Statesman]
Spc. Matthew T. Morris Was Killed April 6 In Iraq
By Sue Banerjee

Relatives said he was supposed to propose to his high school sweetheart this week in mid-April.



Instead, Army Spc. Matthew T. Morris, 23, who died in Iraq on April 6, was brought home to Central Texas on Monday morning in a flag-draped casket.

"I always remembered how he would be looking at me across a crowded room and wink and blow a kiss to me," said Julia Richardson, his girlfriend of three years whom he met at Cedar Park High School.

Morris was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Hood. He died when an explosive detonated near his vehicle in Balad, Iraq.

Morris' body arrived at the National Guard facility at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Monday and was placed in a hearse headed for the Beck Funeral Home in Cedar Park. The procession included family members; 75 to 100 members of the Patriot Guard, a group of motorcyclists who ride to honor slain soldiers; and members of the Austin police and Travis County sheriff's departments.

Family members said the motorcyclists were an appropriate farewell for Morris who had a passion for his own bike.

"He loved to ride it, and the louder the better," said his mother, Lisa Morris of Cedar Park.

Before enlisting in the Army in 2005, Morris attended the Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Va., for more than a year. There, he met a history teacher who inspired him to want to become an educator.

"After his service, he wanted to go back to school and get a four-year degree to become a teacher," his mother said. "He wanted to make a difference and give back to the community."

His friends remembered him as someone who loved to play video games, barbecue and go for trips on the lake.

"He would always be there for somebody and was always the highlight of a night," said Robert Dolcelli, his best friend of eight years.

Morris' father was also an Army man. Glenn Morris was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Morris said his son believed that serving in the military would make his parents proud.

"He was a very creative kid, and when he wasn't in a challenging environment, he tried to make life interesting," Glenn Morris said. "He excelled in a military school structure and in a team environment."

Morris joined the military as a power-generation equipment repairer and was deployed to Iraq in November. He became a driver for a team that trained Iraqi soldiers.

"He was embedded with the Iraqi army," his father said.

His mother said Morris enjoyed his duties and respected his service to the country.

"He was so proud to wear his uniform that he walked taller in it, and you could see the pride he had in his service even when he was in a T-shirt and shorts."

Copyright © 2008 Austin American-Statesman

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