[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E71]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MATTHEW McCLINTOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 1, 2016

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 
to honor Sergeant First Class Matthew McClintock--a dedicated husband, 
father, soldier, patriot and hero--who was killed last month while 
serving his country in Afghanistan.
  Matthew was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated 
from Eldorado High School in 2004 and spent two years at the University 
of New Mexico before joining the Army in 2006. After completing his 
training, he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division and deployed to 
Iraq in 2007. Matthew demonstrated that he was an exceptional soldier, 
and in May, 2009 he was selected for training in the U.S. Army Special 
Forces School. In November 2010, he was assigned to 1st Special Forces 
Group, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington and deployed to 
Afghanistan from August 2012 to May 2013.
  Following his second tour, Matthew left active duty and joined the 
Washington Army National Guard in December 2014 where he served as a 
Special Forces engineer sergeant. This past July, Matthew deployed to 
Afghanistan as a member of the Washington Army National Guard's Alpha 
Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Group. Despite having already served his 
country twice overseas, Matthew was eager to put on his uniform again 
and serve a third tour.
  On January 5, 2016, Matthew was killed during an hours-long battle 
near the city of Marjah, in the southern Helmand province. Matthew and 
his fellow Green Berets were on a mission advising their Afghan 
counterparts during the battle, where two of Matthew's comrades were 
also injured. In total, since joining the Army, Matthew has been 
awarded four Army commendation medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge, 
and now the Purple Heart.
  In addition to his bravery on the field of battle, Matthew was also a 
loving, devoted and adoring husband and father. Matthew and his wife 
Alexandra married on Christmas Eve 2012 and this past October, Matthew 
returned home to Tacoma, Washington in time for the birth of his first 
child, a beautiful boy named DecIan. After only a few weeks home, 
Matthew returned to his unit in Afghanistan.
  Following Matthew's death, Major General Bret Daugherty, commander of 
the Washington Guard, said, ``Staff Sergeant McClintock was one of the 
best of the best. He was a Green Beret who sacrificed time away from 
his loved ones to train for and carry out these dangerous missions. 
This is a tough loss for our organization.'' Matthew's wife Alexandra 
added, ``Matthew's greatest wish was to be a father, a husband and a 
Green Beret. He got to do all of those things in his too short life. 
Declan will grow up knowing his father was the greatest man I've ever 
dreamed to know and a hero.''
  Matthew sacrificed his life overseas to preserve the freedom and 
liberty of millions of Americans. He fought to create a richer and 
safer life for his wife, his son and his fellow Americans. Matthew 
represents the very best of our country and his enduring legacy of 
service and sacrifice will remain a lasting inspiration for future 
generations.

                          ____________________