Marine Cpl. Matthew R. Lembke

Died July 10, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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22, of Tualatin, Ore.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; died July 10 of wounds sustained on June 24 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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2/3 NCO dies from blast wounds

Staff report

A Hawaii-based Marine died Friday at Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland from wounds suffered during a bombing late last month in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, according to reports.

Cpl. Matthew R. Lembke, 22, of Tualatin, Ore., was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, officials said in a news release. He was a sniper, according to the Oregonian newspaper.

Lembke lost both of his legs and suffered massive internal injuries in the explosion, the newspaper reported. He had undergone several surgeries at Bethesda to combat infection.

His platoon commander, 1st Lt. Joseph Cull, wrote Lembke’s family when he learned the noncommissioned officer was wounded, the Oregonian reported. The letter praised the “severity of his character,” and noted “the profound respect all within our battalion have for [Lembke’s] professionalism and solid character.”

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Ore. governor praises fallen Marine corporal

The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — Gov. Ted Kulongoski called a young Tualatin man “the best Oregon has to give” at a graveside service for the 22-year-old Marine who died following severe injuries suffered in Afghanistan.

The governor joined relatives and friends Monday to bury Cpl. Matthew Lembke, who died July 10 at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. He lost both legs in June. Lembke was buried at Willamette National Cemetery.

He was a sniper serving his third combat tour when an IED exploded during a late night foot patrol. He underwent several surgeries and held on for 18 days. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

A crowd of 800 filled the Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Tualatin for a funeral Mass. The Rev. Paul Peri said Lembke had a quiet faith and a spirit of self-sacrifice.