Gary Ingham (left) and his son, Matt, spent time together in San Diego last year before Matt was deployed to Afghanistan. Marine Staff Sgt. Matt Ingham, 24, died Monday with two comrades in an ambush in southern Afghanistan
Marine Staff Sgt. Matt Ingham met his wife, Yasmin, in eighth grade at Keith Junior High School.
Local Marine dies
Altoonan ambushed in?Afghanistan
By William KiblerAs a kid, Matt Ingham of Juniata wanted to be a game warden.
But 9/11 triggered his martial spirit, and he signed up for a way of life where the quarry shoots back.
Early Monday, the ultimate consequence of that decision came due when Marine Staff Sgt. Ingham, 24, died with two comrades in an ambush in southern Afghanistan.
When two of Matt's fellow Marines in dress uniform walked through the door of his home office on North Fourth Avenue Monday afternoon, Matt's father, Gary, suspected the worst.
"Please tell me he's injured," he recalled saying. But he knew by the set of their faces that wasn't it.
"We're sorry to inform you ... " they began. He flung his glasses down, breaking one of the stems.
Still, the visitors were kind, waiting two-and-a-half hours until Matt's mother, Tammi, came home from work at the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society so they could tell her in person.
On Tuesday, Matt's platoon leader called from Afghanistan. Almost immediately, Gary and Tammi began crying. The platoon leader spoke of the ambush that killed Matt and two fellow Marines he'd stationed with him in an exposed position, anticipating an assault. He said Matt remained calm and called for helicopters.
"He saved the rest of our lives," the platoon leader said.
http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/526002.html?nav=7423 Recon Marines killed in Afghanistan
Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Jan 13, 2010 20:32:33 ESTIngham’s parents told the Altoona Mirror, a Pennsylvania newspaper, that their son, who was married and had done two combat tours in Iraq, played football and loved motocross.
“We lost a family member and a great Marine,” Maj. John South, 3rd Recon Battalion’s executive officer, said in a statement.
First Sgt. Ingo Rasch, Ingham’s company first sergeant in Afghanistan, said, “Seniors, peers and juniors valued his opinion and guidance. He was one of the finest staff (noncommissioned officers) I have ever served with.”
Ingham, who had enlisted in July 2002 and was promoted to staff sergeant in April, had earned several military awards and decorations, including the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal ISAF, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Lowe enlisted in August 2007 and arrived on Okinawa a year later. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal ISAF, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
“He was driven to be the best, and it showed in everything he did,” Maj. Jordan Walzer, the corporal’s officer-in-charge in Afghanistan, said in the statement.
Rasch said Lowe “had a huge impact on the morale of his company and his platoon.”
Uzenski enlisted in January 2008, and his awards include the National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal ISAF and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. “Marines fed off his energy and loved being around him,” Rasch said.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/01/marine_casualties_011310w/Okinawa Marine dies in Afghanistan
Release number: 10-002
January 14, 2010Ingham, a reconnaissance Marine, began active duty in the Marine Corps July 15, 2002. He was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant April 1, 2009, and began his tour on Okinawa October 16, 2008.
His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal ISAF, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
"We lost a family member and a great Marine," said Maj. John M. South, executive officer of 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. "We will miss him."
"Nearly half as old as me, this was a man I looked up to," said Maj. Jordan Walzer, Ingham's officer in charge in Afghanistan. "If my children ever one day decided to serve, I would hope and pray that they would be led by someone like Staff Sergeant Matt Ingham."
"Seniors, peers, and juniors valued his opinion and guidance," said 1st Sgt. Ingo Rasch, Ingham's company first sergeant in Afghanistan. "He was one of the finest Staff NCO's I have ever served with."
http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Press%20Releases/Release%2010-002.html