Marine Staff Sgt. Matt Ingham, 24, of Altoona, PA, was a graduate of Altoona Area High School and the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2002 and served honorably for seven years, achieving the rank of staff sergeant. Matt was a loving husband, son, brother, grandson and friend. Besides being a dedicated Marine, his passions included motorcross, mountain biking and many other outdoor recreational activities. You name it, he did it, and he excelled at it. Matt truly lived his life in the moment and lived each day as if it would be his last. He pushed his mind, body and spirit to the maximum to meet and surpass his own personal goals and aspirations. He believed in always striving to succeed at a higher level and never acknowledged a limit beyond which he could not achieve. He was a natural-born leader, able to lead by example, as well as foster personal growth in others. He lived daringly, loved unconditionally and learned constantly.
Matt had done two tours in Iraq and was among the first Marines there at the beginning of the war. He went to Afghanistan in the fall of 2009, part of a reconnaissance outfit in the Third Marine Division. He and 2 other Marines were killed in an ambush in southern Afghanistan. Matt was wounded but still was able to call for help, thus saving the lives of 12 other Marines. He was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal ISAF, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
He was born in Altoona, son of Gary Ingham and the late Kathryn Cherry Ingham. He married Yasmin Rajpar, also of Altoona, in 2006 in a private ceremony in Spotsylvania County, Va. Surviving are his wife; his parents, Gary and Tammi Ingham of Altoona; a sister, Monica Ingham of Altoona; his grandmothers: Doris Wantz ("Me Ma") of Altoona and Beryl Horvath of Port Charlotte, Fla.; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Kathryn; his grandfathers: Nevin Wantz, Norman Cherry and Fred A. Ingham Jr.; and his grandmother, Regina Ingham.
Matt had done two tours in Iraq and was among the first Marines there at the beginning of the war. He went to Afghanistan in the fall of 2009, part of a reconnaissance outfit in the Third Marine Division. He and 2 other Marines were killed in an ambush in southern Afghanistan. Matt was wounded but still was able to call for help, thus saving the lives of 12 other Marines. He was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal ISAF, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
He was born in Altoona, son of Gary Ingham and the late Kathryn Cherry Ingham. He married Yasmin Rajpar, also of Altoona, in 2006 in a private ceremony in Spotsylvania County, Va. Surviving are his wife; his parents, Gary and Tammi Ingham of Altoona; a sister, Monica Ingham of Altoona; his grandmothers: Doris Wantz ("Me Ma") of Altoona and Beryl Horvath of Port Charlotte, Fla.; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Kathryn; his grandfathers: Nevin Wantz, Norman Cherry and Fred A. Ingham Jr.; and his grandmother, Regina Ingham.
Marine Staff Sgt. Matt Ingham, 24, of Altoona, PA, was a graduate of Altoona Area High School and the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2002 and served honorably for seven years, achieving the rank of staff sergeant. Matt was a loving husband, son, brother, grandson and friend. Besides being a dedicated Marine, his passions included motorcross, mountain biking and many other outdoor recreational activities. You name it, he did it, and he excelled at it. Matt truly lived his life in the moment and lived each day as if it would be his last. He pushed his mind, body and spirit to the maximum to meet and surpass his own personal goals and aspirations. He believed in always striving to succeed at a higher level and never acknowledged a limit beyond which he could not achieve. He was a natural-born leader, able to lead by example, as well as foster personal growth in others. He lived daringly, loved unconditionally and learned constantly.
Matt had done two tours in Iraq and was among the first Marines there at the beginning of the war. He went to Afghanistan in the fall of 2009, part of a reconnaissance outfit in the Third Marine Division. He and 2 other Marines were killed in an ambush in southern Afghanistan. Matt was wounded but still was able to call for help, thus saving the lives of 12 other Marines. He was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal ISAF, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
He was born in Altoona, son of Gary Ingham and the late Kathryn Cherry Ingham. He married Yasmin Rajpar, also of Altoona, in 2006 in a private ceremony in Spotsylvania County, Va. Surviving are his wife; his parents, Gary and Tammi Ingham of Altoona; a sister, Monica Ingham of Altoona; his grandmothers: Doris Wantz ("Me Ma") of Altoona and Beryl Horvath of Port Charlotte, Fla.; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Kathryn; his grandfathers: Nevin Wantz, Norman Cherry and Fred A. Ingham Jr.; and his grandmother, Regina Ingham.
Matt had done two tours in Iraq and was among the first Marines there at the beginning of the war. He went to Afghanistan in the fall of 2009, part of a reconnaissance outfit in the Third Marine Division. He and 2 other Marines were killed in an ambush in southern Afghanistan. Matt was wounded but still was able to call for help, thus saving the lives of 12 other Marines. He was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal ISAF, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
He was born in Altoona, son of Gary Ingham and the late Kathryn Cherry Ingham. He married Yasmin Rajpar, also of Altoona, in 2006 in a private ceremony in Spotsylvania County, Va. Surviving are his wife; his parents, Gary and Tammi Ingham of Altoona; a sister, Monica Ingham of Altoona; his grandmothers: Doris Wantz ("Me Ma") of Altoona and Beryl Horvath of Port Charlotte, Fla.; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Kathryn; his grandfathers: Nevin Wantz, Norman Cherry and Fred A. Ingham Jr.; and his grandmother, Regina Ingham.
