Matthew A. Snyder

A LIFE REMEMBERED

We speak the name.

Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder died March 3 from a non-combat-related vehicle accident in Anbar province, Iraq.Md. Marine dies in Iraq Humvee accidentWESTMINSTER, Md. &#8212 A Marine from Maryland was killed last week in Iraq in an accident while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Defense Department said Monday.Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, of Westminster, died March 3 after an accident in the Anbar province of Iraq. The accident did not involve combat, the Defense Department said.Snyder, 20, was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, in Twentynine Palms, Calif.Family members are still reeling from the news of his death.Julie Snyder, Matthew&#8217s mother, was too saddened to talk, but she allowed her sister, Cathy Menefee, to speak for the family. She told The (Baltimore) Sun of his keen sense of humor and an unwavering sense of responsibility, which culminated in his decision to join the military.&#8220It&#8217s sounds so cliche, but he died doing what he wanted to do,&#8221 Menefee said. &#8220He always wanted to be a Marine.&#8221Snyder enlisted on Oct. 14, 2003. He had been based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before being assigned to Twentynine Palms in August 2004 as a generator mechanic.He was the middle of three children, with sisters Sarah Snyder, 22, of Hanover, Pa., and Tracie Snyder, 18, who lives with their father in York, Pa.Reached by telephone at his home Monday night, Albert Snyder wept.&#8220I just want it to be over,&#8221 the father told the newspaper. &#8220And I want answers. They said he was the gunnery on top of the Humvee and the Humvee rolled. When is this senseless war going to end?&#8221Matthew Snyder, who family members said had an exuberant personality, enjoyed fishing and playing intramural soccer as a teenager.David Brown, an assistant principal at Westminster High School where Matthew graduated in 2003, said he was &#8220devastated&#8221 upon hearing of Snyder&#8217s death. Brown said he had coached Snyder in an intramural basketball league, from kindergarten through second grade.&#8220The first image that clicked back in my head was that 6-year-old boy, in the team picture, with the big green shirt that said &#8216Terrors,&#8217 kneeling in the front row. I can still see the photograph,&#8221 Brown said. &#8220I&#8217ve known him as a much younger child, and as a high school student, so it&#8217s difficult. You see faces and you hear on TV, but it&#8217s always kind of distant until it comes home. And now it&#8217s home.&#8221