Matthew L. Graczyk
Airman First Class, United States Air Force
March 8, 1984 – February 20, 2006
Age – 21
Bay City, MI
735 Combat Communications, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany
Died while serving in Ramstein, Germany
Matthew L. Graczyk was born March 8, 1984 to Dale and Donna (Styn) Graczyk in Saginaw, Michigan. As a young boy, Matthew loved everything about flying. Whether it was meant to or not, he tried to make everything fly – toys, stuffed animals, books, puzzles and mostly, himself. He also loved to water ski, ride his bicycle, fish, and ride dirt bikes with his dad. Matthew graduated in 2002 from Bay City Central High School where he was a proud athlete. He was on the varsity football team for two years and earned various athletic achievements. He attended the University of Michigan from 2002-2003.
Matthew joined the United States Air Force in 2004 and was assigned to 336th Training Squadron Keesler AFB. He then became a Computer Systems Operations Specialist in the 81st Training Group and went on to the 607 Combat Communications and Opposition Forces “CADRE/OPFOR” Trainer for new recruits at Osan AB, South Korea. He was a part of the 735 Combat Communications Operator in Ramstein, Germany. Throughout his service, he always tried to give back – he helped rebuild a Polish church and would volunteer at a local orphanage in South Korea.
He was remembered by fellow airmen as follows:
“I am the other supervisor who work with SSgt Owens (Graczyk’s supervisor) and I have to say that I was jealous that I didn’t have someone like Matthew in my crew. Matthew: A natural leader, a person who always put a smile in anyone else, a person who volunteered in his time off to make a difference in someone’s life. I always had a hard time trying to pronounce the last name but of course he had his trying to pronounce mine too. I will miss you Matthew.”
Harvey Muñoz
I would like to say that Graudi was my best friend. We went through tech school together and were stationed in Korea together. We were inseparable. They called us brothers. I took great pride in that. Graudi was a great friend, always knew how to light up a room. He will be greatly missed. I’m sorry for your loss and your family is in our hearts, always. I take great pride in being known as his little brother and always will. love you Graudi. RIP. u will be missed.
Leonardo Pulinario
To the Graczyk family,
You’re in my thoughts and prayers. I’m so glad, Dale and Donna, that ya’ll decided to come to Germany. I’m glad I got to meet the both of you and I truly am sorry. Matt touched a lot of peoples lives. He was fun to be around and we were always laughing about something! Melanie and I trained Matt when he first got here. He loved answering the phone, which is crazy because it’s the HELPDESK. The phone rings non-stop and sometimes you get some off the wall questions, but Matt loved it. He was very good at what he did and he always did it 100 percent. I have to tell you though, that he wasn’t that great at Poker! I remember this one night that I didn’t play and Matt called me the next day and said, “Natalie I won, you weren’t there and I won!” We all miss him here in Germany. I’ll always remember Matt and how he would light up like a light when he talked about his family.
A1C Natalie Cole Ramstein, Germany
I knew Matthew while he was stationed in the Republic of Korea. Right away, he impressed me with his mature demeanor and quiet leadership as we endured an amazingly cold field training exercise together in January 2005. Four days with roughly 6 hours of sleep, loads of bad food, and amazing stress, and Matthew was cheerful as ever. I’ll never forget that picture of him dancing in a nasty wig with cast-off clothes, singing the “Sally the Camel” song and cracking us all up.
Matthew left his impression on hundreds of Airmen as a senior leader in our combat training school. I grew to know him as a brother over the course of hundreds of hours in the field together, and never once did he fail to set the highest example as both a leader and a Man.
Mr & Mrs Graczyk, Lindsay, ChiChi–Matthew was one of the finest young men I’ve ever known and I am a better man for it. Words can never encompass the sense of loss I feel. My prayers are with you all.
“Tassels”, I’ll see you out there buddy!
BRIAN C. ENGLUND, Capt, USAF
February 23, 2006