Marine Lance Cpl. Mathew D. Puckett
Death: Sep 13, 2004
" of Mason Texas; assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion 1st Marine Division I Marine Expeditionary Force Camp Pendleton Calif.; killed Sept. 13 by enemy action in Anbar province Iraq. Even from thousands of miles away Mathew D. Puckett retained head- of-the-household status. Whether on the phone or through e-mail he would make sure his younger brother and sister didn't think they could get into trouble just because he was away. ""He still was the main guy of the family said brother Joshua 18. If he told us to do something even from all the way over there you know we had better do it."" Puckett19 of Mason Texas died Sept. 13 when his convey was attacked in Iraq’s Anbar province. He was based at Camp Pendleton Calif. His mother Sue Wood said that even while facing the dangers of war he worried more about whether his mother had enough money and that his siblings were safe. ""He was living in hell and all he cared about was to make sure his family was OK said Wood. Puckett enjoyed paintball fights playing computer games and farming winning a coveted spot on the state-qualifying four-person dairy cattle judging team. I have two older brothers and will always have two older brothers said sister Rhiannon Wood 15. One is just in a better place."" — Associated Press"