US Mountain Ranger Association

SSG Matt Sitton was born in 1986, and in 2004 he graduated from Indian Rocks Christian School High School, where he was a member of the baseball team.

Matt joined the Army in March 2006 and led a great military life. Staff Sgt. Sitton's accomplishments and training include Airborne School, Long Range Reconnaissance Course, U.S. Army Ranger Course Class 2-09 in which he went straight thru with high peers and 4 goes and 1 no-go, the U.S. Army Sniper School, Warrior's Leader Course and Advanced Leader's Course.

In 2007, Matthew met his future wife Sarah, and they were married on July 4, 2009. They have a son named Brodey.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one knot, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a campaign star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon with the numeral two, the NATO medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

On June 4, Matthew Sitton wrote a letter to U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young. In it, Sitton asked for help. For months, he wrote, his platoon had been mandated to patrol empty fields and compounds littered with explosives. His objections, and requests for an explanation, were disregarded. He was told to quit complaining.

SSG Matthew Sitton was on his third tour in Afghanistan and was killed when he stepped on an improvised explosive device on August 2nd in the Kandahar providence.

Matt Sitton was one of the battalion's most proficient and well-trained Leaders. The bond he developed with his team serves as a testament to how much he was loved and respected by the Troopers who served beside him. His no-nonsense approach towards accomplishing tough tasks was commendable. There was no task that he could not accomplish.

He was funny, smart, and compassionate, he was perfect and he loved the Lord. His soldiers and family was the most important thing to him. And I think that's why everything else just fell into place. He was an incredible, incredible young man and will be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.