Matthew Axelson

Sonar Technician 2nd Class Matthew Gene Axelson (June 25, 1976 – June 28, 2005) was a United States Navy SEAL. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during Operation Red Wings.

Early life
Axelson was born on June 25, 1976 in Cupertino, California to Donna and Cordell Axelson. He graduated from Monta Vista High School in 1994 and attended California State University, Chico, where he earned a degree in political science. He and his wife Cindy were married in December, 2003.

Military career
Axelson enlisted in the United States Navy in December 2000, entering basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes. After completing Sonar Technician Surface (STG) "A" School, he was selected to attend Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and graduated with Class 237 in Coronado, California. After BUD/S, Axelson attended Army Airborne jump school, SEAL Qualification Training and SEAL Delivery Vehicle School. He reported to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 in December 2002 in Hawaii. He was deployed to Afghanistan in April 2005.

Operation Red Wings
On June 28, 2005, SEAL Team 10 was assigned to kill or capture Ahmad Shah, a high ranking Taliban leader in the Hindu Kush mountains. The SEAL team was composed of Michael P. Murphy, Marcus Luttrell, Danny Dietz and Axelson.

Their position given away by locals supportive of the Taliban, the SEALs engaged in a fire fight against a force of about 80-250, or in official accounts 20-50 Taliban fighters. During the fire fight, Axelson was shot in the chest and head but continued to fight alongside Luttrell until a blast from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) separated them. Along with injuries sustained from the blast, Axelson died of bullet wounds to the chest and head. When U.S. Navy personnel arrived to retrieve his body for burial, they found that it was a few hundred yards away from the RPG blast location. Axelson was reported by Luttrell to have had three magazines remaining when the blast took place, however, when his body was found, he had only one magazine remaining, which indicated that either Axelson continued to fight even after the blast or the ammo reserves were picked by insurgents.

Along with Axelson, Murphy and Dietz also died during the fight. Luttrell managed to survive his injuries and acute hardships with help from local Pashtun villagers. For their heroism in combat Axelson and Dietz were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the Navy's second highest award for valor. Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor. Luttrell, the single survivor of the operation, was also awarded the Navy Cross.

Awards and decorations
For his service Axelson was awarded the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy Good Conduct Medal.