Army Sgt. Randy J. Matheny

Died February 4, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of McCook, Neb.; assigned to the 1074th Transportation Company, Nebraska National Guard, Sidney, Neb.; died Feb. 4 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

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Matheny’s family remembers the soldier as a hero

The Associated Press

MCCOOK, Neb. — The family of a Nebraska National Guardsman who died over the weekend said Feb. 9 he was a hero who didn’t talk about much except the military.

Gary Matheny told reporters at the Nebraska National Guard armory in McCook that his son Randy Matheny was always high-speed.

Randy Matheny, a 20-year-old McCook native, was killed Feb. 4 in Baghdad. A news release from the Guard on Feb. 7 said an “improvised explosive device” detonated next to Matheny’s vehicle.

Matheny, a specialist in the 1074th Transportation Company, was promoted posthumously to sergeant.

Matheny’s brother and sister stood dressed in their desert camouflage fatigues as reporters asked about their younger brother. Karen Matheny, 27, is a National Guard staff sergeant and Paul Matheny, 24, is an Army private first class.

Karen Matheny’s friend, Sgt. 1st Class Megan Bowers, who has been a spokeswoman for the family since the death, said Matheny was planning to take his 15-day leave on his 21st birthday — to come home and ride his yellow and black motorcycle.

“It was dangerous and fast,” Bowers said when asked what Matheny liked about his motorcycle.

Karen Matheny was serving her second tour in Iraq and Paul Matheny was preparing to deploy.

Karen Matheny said she will return to Iraq soon. She was home on leave when her brother was killed.

“I’ve only got a short extension,” she said.

Paul Matheny said he would go wherever the Army asked.

“I’ll do whatever my task is,” he said. “Whatever the Army tells me to do, I’ll do it.”

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National Guard soldier from McCook killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed Feb. 6 that a member of Nebraska’s Army National Guard had been killed in Iraq.

The soldier was identified as Sgt. Randy J. Matheny of McCook.

The Defense Department said the 20-year-old died Feb. 4 of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device was detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad.

Matheny was assigned to the 1074th Transportation Company based out of Sidney.

His death comes a little more than two weeks after 1st Lt. Jacob Fritz, 25, of rural Verdon was killed in combat operations.

Military officials had first said Fritz died during a Jan. 20 attack on U.S. forces at a government compound in Karbala. It was later revealed that he was one of four soldiers killed after militants abducted them from the compound.

Thirty-nine U.S. service members with Nebraska connections have died in military operations in Afghanistan or Iraq since Sept. 11, 2001.

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Guardsman’s death brings war home to McCook

The Associated Press

McCOOK, Neb. — A Nebraska National Guardsman who died over the weekend was remembered Feb. 6 as a “very nice young man.”

Randy Matheny, a 20-year-old McCook native, was killed Feb. 4 in Baghdad. A Feb. 7 news release from the Guard said an “improvised explosive device” detonated next to Matheny’s vehicle.

Matheny, a specialist in the 1074th Transportation Company, posthumously was promoted to sergeant.

Two other Nebraska guardsmen were injured, but the Guard was not releasing their names or conditions.

The 1074th is based in North Platte and has detachments in Sidney, Ogallala and Broken Bow. About 150 of its members were called to active duty in July, sent for training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, then shipped to Iraq for a year’s duty.

“The entire Nebraska National Guard family grieves over the loss of Sergeant Matheny,” said Maj. Gen. Roger Lempke, overall commander of the state’s Guard units.

Matheny was described Tuesday as soft-spoken person.

His freshman English teacher at McCook High School, Pam Wolford, said he was “just a sweetheart.”

“Everybody knew him,” Wolford said. “He was nice.”

She said he kept to himself, stayed out of trouble and gravitated toward automotive technology and computer classes. Matheny graduated in 2004.

Matheny’s sister, Karen, had already served in Iraq, Wolford said, who said she thought Karen was an inspiration to Randy.

Reached at their McCook home, Matheny’s parents and other family members declined to comment Wednesday.

McCook High principal Jerry Smith said Matheny was a popular youth who had played some sports as a youngster but didn’t continue in high school.

“Some folks don’t remember we’re fighting a war,” Smith said Tuesday. “But this is one of our kids. This war really comes home when one of our kids doesn’t.”