Blaskowski, Matthew Dean

Sergeant First Class Matthew Dean Blaskowski was a 27-year-old soldier from Levering, Michigan. He served with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based at Camp Ederle in Vicenza, Italy. His service included deployments to the Philippines, the Horn of Africa, and Afghanistan.

On September 23, 2007, Blaskowski was fatally wounded by small arms fire during a dismounted patrol in the Korengal Valley of Kunar Province. He was evacuated to a forward surgical team (FST) in Asadabad but died of his wounds. The patrol was part of a larger operation in an area known for intense insurgent activity.

Blaskowski's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2007, the conflict was in a phase marked by a resurgence of Taliban forces and fierce fighting in the country's eastern provinces, particularly in remote valleys like the Korengal.

Following his death, Blaskowski was posthumously promoted from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant First Class. He was survived by his wife, parents, and siblings. A memorial service was held in Michigan, and his name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Michigan's Veterans Memorial Park in Roscommon.

SFC Blaskowski was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal, among other decorations. In 2008, a memorial plaque was dedicated in his honor at Camp Blessing, a U.S. outpost in the Pech Valley, Afghanistan. His battalion continued operations in the Korengal Valley until its withdrawal in 2010.

SFC Matthew Blaskowski was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.

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