Hermanson, Jeffrey

Jeffrey married Carew, Sandy (daughter of Carew, Daniel and Unknown, Ruth) [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 2084
• Military Service Awards: Between 2007 and 2011
• Military Service: Between Nov 2007 and Jan 2009; Iraq - US Army
• Military Service: Between 2009 and 2011; Afghanistan - US Army - 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
• News Mention: 1 May 2011; Hermanson, Matthew - Appleton soldier killed week before first anniversary
• Obituary: 10 May 2011; Appleton Post Crescent
• News Mention: 12 May 2011; Hermanson, Matthew - Wisconsin State Flags Lowered to Half Staff in his honor

Notes:

Military Service Awards:
Hermanson's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He completed the Warrior Leadership and the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade courses.

News Mention:
Matthew Hermanson received wounds from small arms fire while serving in Afghanistan.
Army Sgt. Matthew D. Hermanson was just over a week away from celebrating his first wedding anniversary when he was killed while serving in Afghanistan.

The 22-year-old Appleton man died from wounds he suffered Thursday when his unit — 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Polk, La. — took on small arms fire in the Wardak province in the east-central portion of the country, the Defense Department said Saturday.

Hermanson and his wife, Rachel, a former teacher in Elkhorn, were to celebrate their first wedding anniversary on May 8. Hermanson would have turned 23 on May 27.

"He was a good guy. He cared a lot about other people. He cared a lot about my sister," Rachel's sister, Daisy Younger, 22, of Elkhorn, told The Post-Crescent Saturday night.

"He would always make sure she was OK and he would send her flowers to just tell her how much he loved her. He would send her gifts. He was just a really caring guy. He would ask even her family how we were doing."

Daisy said Matthew and Rachel met through Facebook.

"They didn't have any (mutual) friends. He just started talking with her. They hung out a few times and she told me that he was the one for her. They started dating and he felt that she was the one for him and he asked her to marry him."

The couple dated for two years and got engaged in the fall of 2009, Daisy said.

Daisy said Rachel and their mother, Gladys Younger, traveled to Delaware, where Matthew's body was returned on Saturday.

Rev. Donald Younger, the soldier's father-in-law, said Hermanson spent a lot of time hunting and fishing. Hermanson had recently been notified that he was being promoted to staff sergeant, Younger said, and he was expected to come home for a two-week visit on May 20.

"He was very respected by the men of his company," Younger, of Elkhorn, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Even now, we're getting flowers; we're getting cards from the men in his company who are still in Iraq."

Chad Pheasant, 24, who is stationed at Fort Polk, La., told The Post-Crescent that he and Hermanson were close.

"We went through basic training together and then we were in the same company for about three years," he said Saturday night.

Pheasant said he will remember "all the good times we've had. We pretty much grew up in the Army together. After basic training we stayed really close being stationed together. I'm thinking about his family.

"We did a lot of fishing together — renting boats and going out on Toledo Bend. We had a lot of good times out there. We also spent a good bit of time camping up on the lake as well as hanging out, sitting around the campfire talking. We also watched some football together.

"I need to talk with my chain of command, but I definitely plan on making it up there for his (funeral) services," Pheasant said.

Hermanson, who was deployed to Afghanistan in October, previously served 14 months in Iraq, his father-in-law said.

His parents are Jeffrey and Sandy Hermanson of Appleton; his brothers are Nathan and Joshua. He graduated in 2006 from Appleton North High School.

Appleton North Principal James Huggins said Saturday that while he didn't personally know Hermanson, because Huggins came to North in 2008, he felt a sense of loss. Huggins served in the Marine Corps.

"Any time you lose a service member, a local boy, one of our own, it's tragically sad," he said. "My thoughts go out to the family."

Huggins said he notified school staff of Hermanson's death Saturday morning.

Barry O'Connor, who retired as North's principal in 2008, said he remembered Hermanson as "quiet, a really nice kid."

Tyler Rawlings of Appleton, who graduated with Hermanson, said he knew Hermanson had joined the Army, but hadn't heard he was killed in combat.

"He was a good kid," Rawlings said.

In a press statement Saturday, Gov. Scott Walker said: "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Sergeant Hermanson, especially to his wife and parents. We're enormously grateful for his service. His family is in our prayers during this time of grief."

U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble, R-De Pere, also extended his sympathies.
"My wife DeaNa and I extend our deepest condolences to the Hermanson family during this incredibly difficult time. Sergeant Hermanson is a hero. His sacrifice in service to our country will not soon be forgotten," Ribble said.

As of Friday, 1,198 U.S. soldiers had been killed in action in Afghanistan, 11,110 had been wounded in action, and another 250 had died in nonhostile circumstances, according to the Defense Department.

On Wednesday, Pfc. Jonathan Villanueava, 19, of Jacksonville, Fla., a member of Hermanson's unit, also died in an attack involving small arms fire, the Defense Department said.

Hermanson joined the Army in March 2007, completed training at Fort Benning, Ga., and was subsequently stationed at Fort Polk in December 2007. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2007 to January 2009.

Hermanson's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He completed the Warrior Leadership and the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade courses.

Obituary:
SG Matthew Daniel Hermanson passed away on Thursday April 28th, 2011, while proudly serving his country in Afghanistan. Matthew was born in Appleton on May 27, 1988, to Jeff and Sandy (Carew) Hermanson, and his big brothers Josh and Nathan. He graduated from Appleton North High School in 2006. On May 8th, 2010, he married the love of his life Rachel Younger of Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
Prior to serving in the U.S. Army, Matt worked for the Post-Crescent as a carrier, at the VFW Club bussing tables, at Copps Food Store doing numerous different things, and with Azco, Inc. building crane booms. He joined the U.S. Army in March of 2007 and after basic training served with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Polk, Louisiana. He earned numerous medals and honors including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant on the day he died. He loved serving his country and was proud to serve with the men that were part of his unit. He made many lifelong friends in the U. S. Army. He had extended his tour of duty to be with his guys through their year deployment, so then they would all come home together.
Matthew truly enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and hunting with his Dad and his brothers at the family's land up north. He would build and then tend the best campfires. He also enjoyed tearing things down and putting them back up again, also known as home remodeling. He enjoyed spending time at Berry Lake, with his family and friends, water skiing, knee boarding and tubing. The family tradition of finding the tallest Christmas tree in the forest and cutting it down and trying to get it in the house to decorate was something he looked forward to every year. He loved spending time with his friends Matt Winarski, Ian Wilson, Brandon Neuber, and Andy Ballard, and many more, riding around in their cars, playing video games or whatever crazy things they would come up with. Matt also enjoyed golfing. He was Grandma Karen and Grandpa Dan's special golfing partner. Matt was a good joke teller and storyteller. He would keep his audiences' full and rapt attention, only to have the ending of the story or joke be very lame. Then he would laugh at us and with us for being so caught up in what he was telling us. Matthew's greatest love was Rachel, but his truck surely came in second. He called it the 'Silver Back' after the big black gorillas. He was so proud of having it and being able to fix it up the way he wanted it. Matthew was one of the gentlest, most fun loving souls you would ever want to meet and his smile would light up a room.
Matthew is survived by his wife Rachel, his parents Jeff and Sandy, and his brothers and sisters- in- law: Josh (Kathryn) Hermanson, Appleton and Nathan (Audra) Hermanson, Marinette. He was a wonderful uncle to his nieces Hailey, Annabelle, Alea and Maisy, and to his nephew and godson Tyler. Matthew is also survived by his maternal grandparents: Daniel and Ruth Carew and paternal grandmother Karen (special friend Harland Carl) Hermanson all of Appleton. He will be greatly missed by his aunts: Sue (Bruce) Buchanan and Barb (Justin) Tobias; his uncles: Steve (Deb) Carew and Bruce (Bonnie) Carew and his cousins, especially Dustin Buchanan, and numerous great aunts and uncles. He is further survived by his in-laws, Rev. Donald and Gladys Younger and Rachel's sister Daisy Younger, all of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Along with special family friends, and his godparents, Steve and Cathy Verhagen of Greenville.
Matthew was preceded in death by his grandfather Richard Hermanson and his great grandma Rose Wharton.
The funeral service for SSG Matthew Hermanson will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011, at CHRIST THE ROCK COMMUNITY CHURCH, W6254 Highway10-114, Menasha. Rev. David Vande Hey and Fr. Jim Leary, OFM. CAP. will be officiating. The visitation will be held at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
The Hermanson family would once again like to express our deepest thanks for the out pouring of love and expressions of sympathy that we have received, and also to the US Army for all of their help and comfort during this difficult time. We all knew how special, amazing, brave and courageous he was, and it warms our hearts to know that he touched a lot of people's lives, whether they had met him or not. The best way to honor Matthew is to never forget about our Military and all the soldiers still fighting for us, so that we all have the option to live our lives any way we want.
Wichmann Funeral Home
Tri-County Chapel
3212 S. Oneida Street
Menasha 920-831-9905
Online condolences

News Mention:
Flags lowered to half-staff in Wisconsin Thursday for Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Hermanson

Date: May 11, 2011
Flags at Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases and other facilities across the state will fly at half-staff Thursday (May 12) in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Matthew D. Hermanson of Appleton, Wis., who lost his life while serving his country in Afghanistan. The Guard will render these honors in accordance with an executive order issued by Gov. Scott Walker.
EXECUTIVE ORDER # 28 reads:

Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Staff Sergeant Matthew D. Hermanson of the United States Army Who Lost His Life While Serving His Country During Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan

WHEREAS, on April 28, 2011, Staff Sergeant Matthew D. Hermanson, a member of 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana, United States Army, died while serving his country in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Matthew D. Hermanson provided faithful and honorable service to the people of the State of Wisconsin and the people of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the people of Wisconsin mourn the death of Staff Sergeant Matthew D. Hermanson; and

WHEREAS, a memorial service will be held for Staff Sergeant Matthew D. Hermanson on May 12, 2011;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, SCOTT WALKER, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by Federal and State law, do hereby order that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds, and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning at sunrise on Thursday, May 12, 2011, and ending at sunset on that date.

—————

All Wisconsin state government facilities are covered by the governor's order and a 2007 amendment to the U.S. Flag Code now requires all federal facilities in Wisconsin to comply. Other government agencies, businesses and private residences with flagpoles may also honor Staff Sgt. Matthew Hermanson by lowering their U.S. and Wisconsin state flags to half-staff during the daylight hours on May12.

Matthew married Younger, Rachel [Group Sheet]