Matthew I Pionk
Date of Death: 01/09/2008
Age: 30
Incident Location: Sinsil, Iraq
Hometown: Superior
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, 1st Armored Division
Unit Base: Vilseck, Germany
Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Pionk demonstrated early in life that he was a man of many talents. From restoring a 1970 Chevy truck to like-new condition to leading a regiment into battle against terrorism, Pionk demonstrated a talent for leadership and determination.
Born in Duluth on Oct. 10, 1977, he grew up in Oliver and attended Superior High School where he excelled in auto mechanics and bodywork.
In 2001, Pionk was sent to Fort Lewis in Washington to the 24th Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division (Deuce Four). After extensive training with the new Stryker vehicles, the Deuce Four was deployed to Mosul, Iraq in 2004. For the next year, the Deuce Four saw daily combat and fire fights. About 25 of the regiment's 700 soldiers were lost to death or injury, but that didn't stop the Deuce Four from killing or capturing more terrorists in a one-year period than any other regiment.
He was awarded the Bronze Star medal and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor during his first tour of duty in Iraq.
On his second tour of duty in 2007, Pionk was promoted to sergeant first class, and was assigned to the Recon Platoon, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division out of Vilseck, Germany. They went into Baghdad and cleaned up an area occupied by terrorists. Then they moved to the Diyala Province where Al Qaeda still had a stronghold.
It was during that deployment Sgt. 1st Class Pionk made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Pionk, along with five soldiers and a young Iraqi interpreter, were killed in action Jan. 9, 2008, in the little town of Sinsil while retreating from a house rigged with explosives by the enemy. Staff Sgt. Jon Dozier, Staff Sgt. Sean Gaul, Sgt. Zack McBride, Sgt. Chris Sanders, Cpl. Todd Davis and Roy, the interpreter, were killed in action when a shopkeeper betrayed them and sent them into a house rigged with heavy explosives.
Born in Duluth on Oct. 10, 1977, he grew up in Oliver and attended Superior High School where he excelled in auto mechanics and bodywork.
In 2001, Pionk was sent to Fort Lewis in Washington to the 24th Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division (Deuce Four). After extensive training with the new Stryker vehicles, the Deuce Four was deployed to Mosul, Iraq in 2004. For the next year, the Deuce Four saw daily combat and fire fights. About 25 of the regiment's 700 soldiers were lost to death or injury, but that didn't stop the Deuce Four from killing or capturing more terrorists in a one-year period than any other regiment.
He was awarded the Bronze Star medal and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor during his first tour of duty in Iraq.
On his second tour of duty in 2007, Pionk was promoted to sergeant first class, and was assigned to the Recon Platoon, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division out of Vilseck, Germany. They went into Baghdad and cleaned up an area occupied by terrorists. Then they moved to the Diyala Province where Al Qaeda still had a stronghold.
It was during that deployment Sgt. 1st Class Pionk made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Pionk, along with five soldiers and a young Iraqi interpreter, were killed in action Jan. 9, 2008, in the little town of Sinsil while retreating from a house rigged with explosives by the enemy. Staff Sgt. Jon Dozier, Staff Sgt. Sean Gaul, Sgt. Zack McBride, Sgt. Chris Sanders, Cpl. Todd Davis and Roy, the interpreter, were killed in action when a shopkeeper betrayed them and sent them into a house rigged with heavy explosives.