Leach, Matthew John
Male
Verified Staff Sgt. Matthew John Leach, 29, of Ferndale, Michigan, was a U.S. Army soldier killed in action on June 26, 2012, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Matthew John Leach was a 29-year-old staff sergeant from Ferndale, Michigan. He served with the Joint Program Office for Robotics, 4th Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade, under Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan. His military service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Leach died on June 26, 2012, in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan. He was killed by small arms fire while on patrol. The area was a focal point for insurgent activity at the time.
Leach's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By mid-2012, international forces were engaged in a sustained counterinsurgency effort, with Kandahar being a strategically significant and volatile region.
The Army announced his death in a press release. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. His remains were returned to the United States.
Staff Sgt. Leach is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Michigan State Capitol and on online veterans' memorials. His specific role involved supporting robotic systems used for explosive ordnance disposal and other hazardous duties.
Explore Further
Staff Sgt. Leach 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.
