Hennigan, Matthew Robert
Male
Verified Sgt. Matthew Robert Hennigan, 20, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was a U.S. Army soldier serving with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. He died on June 30, 2010, at Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan.
Their Story
Matthew Robert Hennigan was a 20-year-old sergeant from Las Vegas, Nevada. He served in Company B, 173rd Special Troops Battalion, part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, which was based in Bamberg, Germany. The brigade is a rapid-deployment unit historically known as the 'Sky Soldiers.'
On June 30, 2010, Hennigan died at Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar Province, Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of Defense listed his death as resulting from hostile action. According to contemporaneous reporting, the base came under indirect fire, such as from rocket or mortar attack, on that date.
Hennigan's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan. In mid-2010, the conflict was marked by a significant troop surge and intense fighting in eastern provinces like Logar, where insurgents frequently targeted coalition bases.
His death was reported by several news outlets, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He was survived by his mother and other family members. The Army posthumously awarded him the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
Sgt. Hennigan's name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City. He is also listed on online memorials maintained by the 173rd Airborne Brigade Association and other veterans' groups.
Explore Further
Sgt. Hennigan 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.
