Holzemer, Matthew I
Male
Verified Petty Officer First Class Matthew I. Holzemer, 35, of Nashville, Tennessee, was a U.S. Navy sailor killed in Djibouti City, Djibouti, on June 17, 2018.
Their Story
Petty Officer First Class Matthew I. Holzemer was a 35-year-old U.S. Navy sailor from Nashville, Tennessee. He was assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group 2 and had deployed to multiple regions, including Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa, as part of his service.
Holzemer died on June 17, 2018, in Djibouti City, Djibouti. According to a U.S. Department of Defense statement, he was killed in a non-combat related incident. The Navy stated the incident was under investigation, and no further operational details were released.
His death occurred under the authority of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the U.S. military's post-9/11 campaign against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. While the official OEF mission in Afghanistan concluded in December 2014, the operation's legal authority continued to cover counterterrorism activities in other regions, including the Horn of Africa.
The Navy confirmed his death in a press release. He was survived by his wife and children. His remains were returned to the United States.
Petty Officer First Class Holzemer was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. He is one of the 2,356 American service members listed by the Department of Defense as having died during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Explore Further
Petty Officer First Class Holzemer was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict's main mission in Afghanistan 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.
