Matthew Thomas Abbate
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

On 14 October 2010, then-Sergeant Matthew Thomas Abbate was serving as a Scout Sniper Section Leader, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, Second Marine Division (Forward), II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

On that day, while conducting a dismounted patrol through Sangin's northern green zone and supporting the patrol as part of a Quick Reaction Force team, insurgents opened fire from several well-prepared positions. Unknowingly ambushed in a minefield, the patrol members were moving into cover when 2 Marines and the Corpsman struck explosives in rapid succession. With the patrol leader incapacitated and 3 severe casualties, Sgt Abbate took charge of the situation and, ignoring his own safety, sprinted forward through the unswept minefield to draw fire and rally the dazed survivors. Exposed and personally suppressing the enemy, Sgt Abbate directed the remaining squad member's fires until they effectively suppressed the enemy and could render life-saving aid to the urgent casualties. After coordinating the medical evacuation, Sgt Abbate then swept the landing zone for additional explosives before the patrol was again forced to take cover from enemy fire. Knowing the casualties' survival depended upon their rapid evacuation by helicopter, Sgt Abbate again rallied the patrol's able men and led a counter attack to clear enemy fighters from the landing zone and allow for the critically wounded men to be evacuated. Sgt Abbate’s courageous actions that day earned him the U.S. Marine Corps' second highest award for valor, the Navy Cross.

Sgt Abbate died on 2 December 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Medals and Awards

Navy Cross
Purple Heart
Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Navy & Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
NATO ISAF Medal

Navy Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Matthew Thomas Abbate, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as a Scout Sniper Section Leader, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, SECOND Marine Division (Forward), II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan, on 14 October 2010 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. While conducting a dismounted patrol through Sangin's northern green zone and supporting the patrol as part of a Quick Reaction Force team, the insurgents opened fire from several well-prepared positions. Unknowingly ambushed in a minefield, the patrol members were moving into cover when two Marines and the Corpsman struck explosives in rapid succession. With the patrol leader incapacitated and three severe casualties, Sergeant Abbate took charge of the situation and, with total disregard for his own life, sprinted forward through the un-swept minefield to draw fire and rally the dazed survivors. Exposed and personally suppressing the enemy, he directed the remaining squad member's fires until they effectively suppressed the enemy and could render life-saving aid to the urgent casualties. After coordinating the medical evacuation, he then swept the landing zone for additional explosives before the patrol was again forced to take cover from enemy fire. Sergeant Abbate, knowing the casualties' survival depended upon their rapid evacuation by helicopter, again rallied the patrol's able men, and led a counter attack to clear enemy fighters from the landing zone and allow for the critically wounded men to be evacuated. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Sergeant Abbate reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Burial

Sergeant Matthew Thomas Abbate is buried at Snelling District Cemetery in Snelling, Merced County, CA.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62523504/matthew-thomas-abbate