Army Sgt. Tallman was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 6th U.S. Air Cavalry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington, as a helicopter crew chief. Tallman died in Multaka of injuries sustained when his Blackhawn helicopter crashed during nighttime operations after picking up 10 soldiers for a transfer. Matthew was born at Stanford where his mother was a nurse involved in AIDS research. He wanted to fly from an early age, maybe because he spent much of his younger life traveling with his mother. Her research took her all over the world and she often took her only child with her. He turned 7 hiking in Glen Aulin outside of Tuolumne Meadows, turned 12 hiking in Switzerland, turned 16 in Harari, Zimbabwe, spent one birthday in Afghanistan and turned 30 the day he went into Iraq. Matthew was raised in and around San Jose, California, and graduated in 1996 from St. Lawrence Academy in Santa Clara. For several years he drifted, not knowing what he wanted to do. While working at a hardware store in Sonora, he decided he wanted to learn aviation and joined the Army in 2000. Matthew showed mechanical aptitude from an early age and served as an Army mechanic. He always tried to keep his family from worrying about him by telling them that he was just a taxi service in a very safe area. The Army suited him and he had re-enlisted but after his enlistment was up this time he was considering serving with the U.S. Coast Guard. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Matthew was a good kid who never gave his mother any trouble and grew up to be a good guy with a good and gentle soul. He loved his wife, Nicole, his two children and the Army. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved the outdoors. His dad died when he was young and he will be buried as close to his dad as possible.
Army Sgt. Tallman was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 6th U.S. Air Cavalry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington, as a helicopter crew chief. Tallman died in Multaka of injuries sustained when his Blackhawn helicopter crashed during nighttime operations after picking up 10 soldiers for a transfer. Matthew was born at Stanford where his mother was a nurse involved in AIDS research. He wanted to fly from an early age, maybe because he spent much of his younger life traveling with his mother. Her research took her all over the world and she often took her only child with her. He turned 7 hiking in Glen Aulin outside of Tuolumne Meadows, turned 12 hiking in Switzerland, turned 16 in Harari, Zimbabwe, spent one birthday in Afghanistan and turned 30 the day he went into Iraq. Matthew was raised in and around San Jose, California, and graduated in 1996 from St. Lawrence Academy in Santa Clara. For several years he drifted, not knowing what he wanted to do. While working at a hardware store in Sonora, he decided he wanted to learn aviation and joined the Army in 2000. Matthew showed mechanical aptitude from an early age and served as an Army mechanic. He always tried to keep his family from worrying about him by telling them that he was just a taxi service in a very safe area. The Army suited him and he had re-enlisted but after his enlistment was up this time he was considering serving with the U.S. Coast Guard. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Matthew was a good kid who never gave his mother any trouble and grew up to be a good guy with a good and gentle soul. He loved his wife, Nicole, his two children and the Army. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved the outdoors. His dad died when he was young and he will be buried as close to his dad as possible.
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Beloved Husband,
Father, Son,
Friend and Hero
