| From The Union Democrat uniondemocrat.com
08/24/07:
Helicopter crash in Iraq kills Groveland man
Published: August 24, 2007
By CRAIG CASSIDY
The Union Democrat
and The Associated Press
A Groveland man has been identified as one of 14 soldiers killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday in northern Iraq.
Sgt. Matthew L. Tallman, 30, was among 14 soldiers who died when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Kirkuk, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The DOD said it appeared the aircraft crashed due to mechanical problems. There were no survivors.
The Black Hawk had just picked up the other troops after a mission when it crashed, said Lt. Col. Michael Donnelly, a military spokesman in northern Iraq. The soldiers it was ferrying were based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, according to a statement by Col. Timothy M. Ryan, rear detachment commander of the 25th Infantry Division.
Tallman, who was based at Fort Lewis, is the son of Virginia Tallman of Groveland.
Virginia Tallman could not be reached for comment this morning.
Matthew Tallman was a 1996 graduate of St. Lawrence High School in Santa Clara County, according to Union Democrat archives.
He leaves behind a wife, Nicci, 27, and two children, Ryley, 1, and Sandie, 6, according to a report in the Muskegon Chronicle newspaper in Muskegon, Mich.
"There was a whole little family destroyed," Vicki Whiting, of Norton Shores, Mich., Tallman's mother-in-law, told the paper.
"He wasn't just a number. I want people to know Matthew Tallman existed."
At the time of the accident, Tallman had served just two months in Iraq. Prior to that, he had served a year in Afghanistan, Whiting told the Chronicle.
According to a DOD statement, Tallman was trained as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter repairman, and was posthumously promoted from his specialist rank.
He joined the military on Jan 18, 2000 and went through Basic Training at Fort Benning, Ga., the DOD said.
He reported to Fort Lewis on Aug. 19, 2005, where he was assigned to 4th Squadron, 6th U.S. Air Cavalry Regiment.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Other killed in the crash were: Capt. Corry P. Tyler, 29, of Georgia; Chief Warrant Officer Paul J. Flynn, 28, of Whitsett, N.C.; Spc. Rickey L. Bell, 21, of Caruthersville, Mo.; Capt. Derek A. Dobogai, 26, of Fond du Lac, Wis.; Staff Sgt. Jason L. Paton, 25, of Poway, Calif.; Sgt. Garrett I. McLead, 23, of Rockport, Texas; Cpl. Jeremy P. Bouffard, 21, of Middlefield, Mass.; Cpl. Phillip J. Brodnick, 25, of New Lenox, Ill.; Cpl. Joshua S. Harmon, 20, of Mentor, Ohio.; Cpl. Nathan C. Hubbard, 21, of Clovis, Calif.; Spc. Michael A. Hook, 25, of Altoona, Penn.; Spc. Jessy G. Pollard, 22, of Springfield, Mo.; Spc. Tyler R. Seideman, 20, of Lincoln, Ark. |
| From The Mercury News mercurynews.com
08/27/07:
Northern California soldier killed in Iraq
Associated Press
San Jose Mercury News
Article Launched:08/27/2007 01:39:42 AM PDT
GROVELAND - Army Sgt. Matthew L. Tallman was a seven-year veteran of the military finally poised for the promotion he'd sought after seeing a need for leaders to guide people entering the service.
Tallman, of Groveland, east of Modesto, did not live to see that promotion. He was one of 14 soldiers who died Wednesday when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed in northern Iraq, according to the Department of Defense.
The 30-year-old father of two was promoted from specialist to sergeant after his death. The Army has blamed mechanical problems rather than enemy fire for the crash.
"He loved what he did, and died doing what he wanted," his wife, Nicole Tallman, told the Modesto Bee.
Tallman grew up in the Bay Area and attended St. Lawrence Academy, said his mother, Virginia Tallman of Groveland. His father died when he was young, and he was her only child, she said.
After he enlisted, Tallman was trained as a Blackhawk technician. He served as a helicopter mechanic in Afghanistan before being sent to Iraq.
Assigned to the 4th Squadron, 6th U.S. Air Cavalry Regiment at Fort Lewis, Wash., Tallman was a decorated soldier whose awards included the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Tallman, who was born at Stanford Medical Center, will be buried in San Jose near his father, Virginia Tallman said. He is survived by his wife, two children and mother. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday and the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos. |
