Matthew J. Bourgeois

Died: March 27, 2002

Rank: Chief Hospital Corpsman

Unit: Navy Special Warfare Development Group

Branch: U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Matthew “Matt” J. Bourgeois, a Hospital Corpsman, was killed on March 27, 2002, when he was serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. His death resulted from wounds sustained when he stepped on a land mine while conducting small unit training at Tamak Farms, an abandoned al-Qaeda base near Kandahar, Afghanistan. The 35-year-old Navy SEAL was assigned to the Navy Spe­cial Warfare Development Group, Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, in Norfolk, Virginia. He had been serving in Afghanistan for approximately two months and was slated to return to the United States in another month. A memorial service was held at the base chapel of Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 5, 2002.