In Memoriam

(reprinted from TheAdvertiser.com, February 15, 2006)

Louisiana Marine killed in suicide bombing
Eleanor Rushing
Louisiana Gannett News
A West Monroe family grieves today for a son and brother who died Tuesday while serving his country in Iraq.

Matthew Ron Barnes' family was notified late Tuesday afternoon that earlier in the day the 20-year-old Marine and others were killed when a suicide bomber rammed into the military vehicle he was traveling in, his father said.

"He operated out of a Humvee," Rick Barnes said. "Apparently, what we understand, it was rammed by a suicide bomber; the automobile drove into them."

Matthew Barnes is the second serviceman from Ouachita Parish killed in the nation's war against terrorism, which began in 2001.
Marine Cpl. Chad Powell, a 22-year-old West Monroe native, died June 23, 2005, in Fallujah, Iraq, during a suicide bomber attack on his convoy. He was the first serviceman from Ouachita Parish killed in Iraq.

A member of Highland Baptist Church in West Monroe, Matthew Barnes' survivors include his mother Connie, his brother Jonathan and his sister Kenda.

Matthew, who was also called "Matt" by friends, was a student at the University of Louisiana at Monroe until he joined the Marines 3rd Battalion in May 2004, his aunt Rita Dispenza said.

"He went over in August last year and he was due back over here the middle of next month," Rick Barnes said.

A 2003 graduate of West Monroe High School, friends and family described Matthew Barnes as a fun-loving person.

"He was a lot of fun and enjoyed life," Dispenza said.

"He made his presence known," added Jeremy Dispenza, Matthew's cousin and friend.

The younger Dispenza said he played football with Matthew at West Monroe High.

Matthew was the team's punter.

"He was a first-class individual, and I am very proud of him," said West Monroe football coach Don Shows. "He gave his life for his country, and I think he was the same way at school. As a football player, he played as hard as he could and worked as hard as he could.

"He was a real solid good young man and a great person. He was well liked by everyone and did everything asked of him in the football program," Shows said. "He was a winner and great fun to be around."

Matthew joined the Marines because he wanted to serve his country, his father said. He had a five-year enlistment.

"He was proud to be in the Marines," Rita Dispenza said. "His contact with us was by e-mail and he was looking forward to returning."