Matthew Roland

Fallen Hero’s Hometown and State: Lexington, KY

Branch of Service: U.S. Air Force

Rank: Captain

Air Force Academy graduate, on his third deployment, assigned as Special Tactics Officer, 23 Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL.

In the face of the enemy, some people cower down, and some people step up. Actions like this take a lot of courage, poured on top of sacrifice, poured on top of intense training. It was not always about the mission, to many he was the guy people depended on, turned to, looked up to. He was the kind of man other men strive to emulate.

Posthumously awarded the Silver Star for alerting the convoy he was leading of the insider attack that took his life and that of a fellow airman, but averting further loss of life.

Age: 27

Date of Death: August 26, 2015