Sergeant Matthew Stephen Apuan, USA
Matthew Stephen Apuan was born in Monterey, California on September 13, 1979 to Charles G. and Sandra Gillit Apuan. When he was in the 8th grade the family moved to Las Cruces where he attended Picacho Middle School. He was a 1998 graduate of Mayfield High School and attended New Mexico State University from 1998-2000 studying Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Management. In March of 2001, Matthew joined the US Army and left for basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky to become a tank crewman. He graduated as one of five honor graduates in a company of ninety soldiers, and subsequently received orders to Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas to become a member of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. On his first deployment to Iraq in 2004, Matthew was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for his participation in the battle of Najaf. He was also involved in the battle of Fallujah. He returned from Iraq fully appreciating what the United States of America had to offer to its citizens and visitors. Matthew left for Iraq in October of 2006 for his second deployment with the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division as a tank gunner, and on several occasions served as a tank commander.
He made it known to his family that he wanted to separate from the Army when his enlistment was up in the spring of 2008 to return to Las Cruces and attend New Mexico State University. On February 18, 2007 Sgt Matthew S Apuan was killed in Baghdad, Iraq when his unit came in contact with the enemy using small arms fire while on combat patrol. Today he lies in rest at Hillcrest Gardens in Las Cruces NM.
He was 27 years of age at the time of his death in service to his nation.