Army Specialist Matthew Wallace, 22, of Lexington Park, died shortly after 7:30 a.m. this morning at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where he was taken after being wounded in an attack in Iraq.

Wallace’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle was struck by an explosive device Sunday, killing one soldier and causing severe burn wounds to 95 percent of Wallace’s body.

In Germany, Wallace was on a respirator to facilitate breathing but doctors feared he would not be able to recover from the wounds.

His family managed to fly to Germany to be by his side, with the help of their church, Patuxent River Assembly of God.

At 7:30 a.m. today, the family chose to unplug Matthew from the respirator.

The family reports he very quickly and peacefully passed away, and the “Spirit of Liberty” was very present in the room. They said there was a strong presence of comfort, release and edification surrounding them. They are at peace with their decision, and grateful to have been together as a family in that moment.

Wallace had been in Iraq for just over six months. He attended Great Mills High School through his sophomore year, earned a GED in 2001 and worked at the Sheetz store on Route 235 in California. He enlisted with the Army in February 2004, and was deployed to Kuwait last November. His unit entered Iraq in December.

The Wallace family expects to return home some time Saturday; travel plans are pending. Matthew is expected to be brought home through Dover and be interred at Arlington National Cemetary soon.
Contributions to assist the Wallace family are being accepted through their church. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 828, California, MD 20619. Checks can be made out to PRAG, with “Wallace Family” in the memo line.

More information can be found, and condolences can be expressed at mattwallace.pragnet.org.

 

Matthew Wallace, center, with his father Keith, left, sisters Jessica and Abigail, his mother Mary and sister Micah during his visit home last spring.