Lewellen, Matthew Charles

Also known as: SFC, COMPANY A, 3RD BATTALION, 5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (AIRBORNE), FORT CAMPBELL, KY

Combatant

Male Verified

DiedNovember 4, 2016

Age27 years old

Location of DeathAMMAN, JORDAN

Cause of DeathGunshot wounds from a hostile attack by a Jordanian soldier at a military base entrance.

Conflict Operation Inherent Resolve

SFC Matthew Charles Lewellen, 27, of Lawrence, Kansas, was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group. He died in Amman, Jordan on November 4, 2016, from hostile action.

Their Story

Sergeant First Class Matthew Charles Lewellen was a Green Beret from Lawrence, Kansas, assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was 27 years old at the time of his death.

On November 4, 2016, Lewellen was killed in a shooting at the entrance to Jordan's King Faisal Air Base in Al Jizah, approximately 20 miles south of the capital, Amman. According to U.S. and Jordanian officials, a Jordanian soldier opened fire on a vehicle carrying U.S. personnel. Two other U.S. service members, Staff Sgt. Kevin J. McEnroe and Staff Sgt. James F. Moriarty, were also killed in the attack.

Lewellen was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. At the time of the incident, he was reportedly part of a team training and advising Jordanian forces, a key component of the coalition effort. The attack occurred as the vehicle, carrying the Americans to the air base, approached a checkpoint.

The Jordanian government stated the soldier who fired acted individually and was later killed by Jordanian security forces. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the deaths and the circumstances as a hostile act. The incident prompted a joint U.S.-Jordanian investigation and statements of condolence from officials in both nations.

Lewellen was posthumously promoted from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant First Class. He is remembered by his unit and community as a dedicated Special Forces soldier. His name is inscribed on the Global War on Terrorism memorials and is listed on the Defense Casualty Analysis System.