Matthew Schwartz
Tech Sergeant, United States Air Force
April 1, 1977 – January 5, 2012
Age – 34
Traverse City, MI
Operation Enduring Freedom
90th Civil Engineer Squadron, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, WY
Died of injuries suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Shir Ghazi, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Technical Sergeant Matthew S. Schwartz was born on April 2, 1977 in Traverse City, Michigan. After graduating from Traverse City Central High School, he enlisted in the Air Force as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Apprentice in 1999.
After completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he graduated from Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal in 2000. Technical Sergeant Schwartz’s first duty station was to the EOD Flight at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. In 2006, he transferred to Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming where he served as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of EOD Operations. He deployed six times in his career, three in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and three in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan as part of the 466th EOD Flight, Operating Location Delta. While operating in Shrigazi Province, he led his Air Force team in clearing lines of communication, enabling freedom of maneuver, and ensuring the safety of coalition and local nationals by engaging and defeating the enemy’s weapon of choice: the Improvised Explosive Device. He was on his sixth deployment.
Technical Sergeant Schwartz’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Combat Action Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Service Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Service Stars, and the NATO Medal.
Technical Sergeant Schwartz is survived by his wife Jennifer; daughters Aliza, Emily, and Morgan; and parents Tim and Cynthia Schwartz.
“He joined the Air Force because he loved his country” his wife said. “He just thought it was the right thing to do. He felt a lot of pride. He wanted to do a job that was meaningful and it definitely made him happy.” Her husband was charismatic and full of live, she said. Above all, she remembers his smile. “He just was very loving,” she said.
Matthew’s brother Luke said Matthew would put his airmen before himself, even if it meant placing himself in danger. The biggest thing to me, I’ve just heard countless, countless, countless times, was he would sacrifice his own life for his guys,” “He would take the risk versus having one of his airmen take that risk.”
Matthew Schwartz epitomized what it meant to be an airman. He was a great leader and a mentor to everybody, even those who he was lower ranking than.
One time that showed just how unflappable Matthew Schwartz was. After an airman jokingly volunteered him to sing the national anthem at an event, Schwartz was called on during formation to sing “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen. Without a hitch, Matt just got out of formation, walked up front in front of the entire squadron, snapped to attention, and sang ‘Fat Bottomed Girls,’ and he did a pretty good job.