09 May 2006:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 416-06
May 9, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

            Sgt. Matthew J. Fenton, 24, of Little Ferry, N.J., died May 6 at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., from wounds received while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq on April 26. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s Inspector and Instructor Staff, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Fort Devens, Mass.

            Media with questions about this Marine can call the 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment Public Affairs Representative at (978) 796-2839.

Little Ferry to honor Marine killed in Iraq

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

By JOHN A. GAVIN
STAFF WRITER

LITTLE FERRY – The remains of Marine Sgt. Matthew J. Fenton, who died Friday of injuries sustained last month in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq, will lie in repose in the Borough Council chambers.

Fenton, whose goal was to become a police officer in his hometown, will receive a full military funeral with a Marine honor guard at the casket's side and a procession down Liberty Street to St. Margaret of Cortona R.C. Church, 31 Chamberlain Ave.

His remains will be brought to Borough Hall, 215-217 Liberty St., on Thursday. Public viewing will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

A funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Margaret.

"In the coming days, the citizens of the borough and the surrounding communities will come together to honor Sergeant Fenton and bid him farewell," Council President Mauro Raguseo said. "He made the ultimate sacrifice to save others. For this, Sergeant Fenton is a hero, and his return to Little Ferry warrants a respectful, somber and dignified hero's welcome."

On Tuesday, the Department of Defense issued its first official statement about the death, confirming that Fenton was wounded while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province on April 26. He died at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Fenton was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's Inspector and Instructor Staff, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, in Fort Devens, Mass.

On Tuesday, flags flew at half staff at public buildings, memorials and schools in the borough as residents paid tribute to Little Ferry's first war casualty since Vietnam.

Saturday's funeral begins at 10 a.m. with the Fenton family and local officials walking in procession behind the hearse to the church. Services will conclude with a 21-gun salute and presentation of the flag to Fenton's mother. Cremation will be private.

For those from out of town attending the public viewing, parking will be available at the Valley Fair parking lot on Bergen Turnpike. Shuttle buses will take people to Borough Hall.

E-mail: gavin@northjersey.com

23 Mar 2006
To all you amazing supporters, Thank you on behalf of my Marines and this unit. Above all else we love to hear that this country is still behind us. 1st Bn 25th Marines has taken over operations in the Fallujah area. We will be here in to late October 2006. We currently live in small buildings once occupied by, now abandoned. We have power and a laundry hut. Microwaves are accessible, but there is no other cooking ability.
There is a great assortment of Marines out here and no one is picky. Anything received here that would not be used by one of my own would be pushed out to the Marines around me. Some things that come to mind are the bare essentials, hygiene items: Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deoderant. Snacks are always good for morale, and I know a few of my guys are addicted to those Rockstar energy drinks. Tabaco products are good, anything microwavable. We all love to read, any recycled book, Mens magazines. We'll accept anything that shows your support, above all letters and pictures from home always lift spirits, Thank you all in advance and know this means a lot to us.