Army Spc. Matthew D. Hastings

Died August 17, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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23, of Claremore, Okla.; assigned to the 582nd Medical Logistics Company, 1st Medical Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command, Fort Hood, Texas; died Aug. 17 in Baghdad of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

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‘All-American kid’ found direction in Army

The Associated Press

Matthew D. Hastings loved to hunt and fish, took great pride in his work and treasured time spent with his family and friends.

“He was just an all-American kid,” said his mother, Lawanda Lowry. “He was so proud to be in the Army and he was so proud to serve our country.”

Hastings, 23, of Claremore, Okla., died Aug. 17 in Baghdad of injuries not related to combat. The military is investigating and did not disclose details of his death.

He graduated from Broken Arrow Alternative Academy in 2005 and joined the military a year later as a light-wheel vehicle mechanic.

He’d had his share of bumps in the road growing up, but he found direction with the military and enjoyed the structure of it, Lowry said.

“He called me when he was graduating from basic training and said, ‘Mom, I have accomplished far more and greater things than I ever thought possible,’” she said.

Hastings was assigned to Fort Hood and deployed to Iraq in December.

Besides his mother, he is survived by his stepfather, Roger Lowry; his father, Clark Hastings Jr.; and a sister, Michelle.