Matthew Taylor

Sergeant, United States Army

August 25, 1978 – May 10, 2012
Age – 33
Caro, MI

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Kentucky Army National Guard, Michigan National Guard

Became “One of 22 A Day” on May 10, 2012

Matthew Wayne Taylor, age 33, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at his home in Caro.

Matt was born August 25, 1978 in Flint, the son of Mark and Connie (Johnson) Taylor. He graduated from Millington High School and enlisted with the United States Marine Corps at 17, serving for four years. Following his honorable discharge from the Marines, Matt enlisted with the Michigan Army National Guard in Flint, where he was deployed to Iraq and served as a photographic reporter.

Following his first tour, Matt enlisted with the Kentucky Army National Guard and was again deployed to Iraq and remained in the country as one of the final American soldiers stationed there. Matt was united in marriage with the former Grace Ceci on May 17, 2011 in Caro. He will be remembered best as a compassionate husband and father, and spent most of his time at home caring for his family. Matt enjoyed playing sports, especially baseball, bowling and shooting pool, working out and traveling with his family.

He was remembered by one of his soldiers as follows:

When I heard the news about Sgt. Matthew Taylor it struck me to my core, a truly selfless man that I was blessed to have met first hand and share many good memories with. Taylor lived for the service for reasons I will never understand. It wasn’t because he had to. He could do anything he set his mind to. I remember when we were deployed and he was so pumped to get home and go to wind turbine school. He was passionate about the emerging technology and the opportunities that it could provide for him in the future. Upon completing the program he moved to Kentucky and after already spending the majority of his life in the service he again joins the National Guard and serves as a Team Leader on foot patrols in Iraq. Matthew Taylor was the definition of selfless, a great man and a true hero.
-Jason L. Rundell