Sgt. Matthew Tyler Young, 44, of Neenah, Wisconsin, served in the United States Marine Corps both on active duty from 1999-2003 with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and as a Reservist with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, out of Milwaukee. During his time in uniform, he completed five overseas deployments to 15 countries, including Iraq and Kuwait, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and attained the rank of Sergeant. A 2009 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in Social Work, he spent several years as a social worker at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison and the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, helping countless veterans work through difficult transitions. He championed America's veterans and Afghan allies through his work with Moral Compass Federation, Task Force Argo, and Heart of an Ace Inc. — the non-profit he led as Executive Director, helping raise over $1.2 million and feed hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees. His most recent work was as a Program Manager and subject matter expert on Reinaert's program supporting sensor constellations in Eastern Europe that monitor nuclear and radiological events for the US Government.
"Nicknamed "Yeti," Matthew was larger than life and had a heart of gold. Married to the love of his life, Rachael, on June 28, 2013, they raised three boys — Owen, Trystan, and David — and a daughter, Mekenzie, who wrapped her Daddy around her tiny finger. A Cub Scout Leader, Boy Scout Committee Chair, football coach, and VEX Robotics mentor, he stepped in whenever another adult leader was needed. He was paired with his service dog, Trooper, through Custom Canines Service Dog Academy, and Trooper gave him the strength to navigate the everyday things that his anxiety had made difficult. His obituary notes he was preceded by brothers in arms Cpl Brian P. Prening, LCpl Daniel R. Wyatt, LCpl Travis M. Wichlacz, LCpl Richard D. Warner, and PFC Brent T. Vroman. "Rest easy. Semper Fi.""
"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old."
— Laurence Binyon