Army Cpl. Mathew P. LaForest

Died May 25, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Austin, Texas; assigned to 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash; died May 25 in Baghdad of injuries sustained when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire during combat operations.

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Fort Lewis Stryker soldier dies in Iraq

The Associated Press

FORT LEWIS, Wash. — A soldier in a Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade was killed in Iraq when his unit came under small arms enemy fire, the Department of Defense said May 28.

Cpl. Mathew P. LaForest, 21, of Austin, Texas, died May 25 during combat operations in Taji, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to C Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, a Stryker combat team.

Sixteen soldiers based at Fort Lewis have died in May, making it the deadliest month of the Iraq war for troops from this Army post south of Tacoma.

LaForest joined the Army as an infantryman in August 2004. He reported to Fort Lewis in January 2005 and deployed to Iraq with his brigade in April.

His awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.

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Soldier’s family told state cemetery burial not permitted

The Associated Press

AUSTIN — The family of Army Cpl. Mathew LaForest, who died last week in Iraq, has been told he is not eligible to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery.

LaForest’s family had requested that he be buried there, but Gov. Rick Perry’s office told the family May 30 it couldn’t be done, said a spokeswoman for the governor.

The governor’s office has offered to help LaForest’s family find another burial place for the soldier, including at the veterans’ cemetery in Killeen and the National Cemetery in San Antonio, said Perry spokeswoman Krista Moody.

According to state law, those eligible for burial at the Texas State Cemetery are current or former members of the Legislature or elected state officials. They also may be current or former state officials who were appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate and served at least 12 years in office.

Others eligible include those who made a significant contribution to Texas history and culture in fields such as space, agriculture, business, education, military affairs, law enforcement, performing arts, ranching, religion, science, medicine, sports and writing.

The cemetery in east Austin also is a burial spot for numerous Civil War veterans and their spouses.

LaForest, 21, who graduated from high school in Austin, was shot and killed by enemy forces May 25 in Taji, Iraq. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, out of Fort Lewis, Wash.