Boulder City soldier ‘gave the ultimate,’ even in death

Jeffrey Libby

Wednesday, March 6, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

Patricia Marek, mother of Pfc. Matthew Allen Commons of Boulder City, knew something was wrong Monday when her 21-year-old son failed to call home as usual.

Military officials on Tuesday informed her and her ex-husband Gregory Commons, that their oldest son had died that day of a fatal head wound, killed in Afghanistan during an Army Ranger mission to rescue another U.S. soldier captured by al-Qaida fighters.

Commons, a 1999 graduate of Boulder City High School, was one of seven U.S. troops killed Monday, and the second Nevadan to die in Afghanistan this year. Just more than a week ago, Army Spc. Jason A. Disney, 20, of Fallon, was killed in an accident at Bagram Air Base near Kabul.

Commons, whose father and grandfather served as Marines in the Vietnam War and World War II respectively was remembered today by family, friends, local and state leaders as a well-liked, thoughtful young man who was active in his church and worked summers as a deckhand on a Lake Mead tour boat.

Marek since January had spoken to her son by phone each Monday from her new home in Alexandria, Va. She works there as an administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. Not able to speak of Common's activities because of the secrecy of his mission, she and her son spent much of their time talking about a difficult divorce she is going through. The last time they spoke, just more than a week ago, they spoke for 23 minutes, she said.

"He wanted to make sure I was OK, that I had everything I needed, that I wasn't starving or out on the street," she said, noting he wanted to give her money. "He would give the shirt off his back to anyone, and I guess he did. He gave the ultimate."

Marek said she will miss her son's smile. "He always hugged me. He wasn't afraid ever to say 'I love you, mom' in front of other people."

For his 21st birthday, which he celebrated in Afghanistan last month, Marek sent him cheese, crackers and party hats. She couldn't send him a cake.

"And he wanted Vienna sausages. 'Send me Vienna sausages,' he said."

Marek and Gregory Commons, divorced 16 years, were grieving together today at Commons' home in Virginia. Commons is a middle school history teacher there.

"He loved his country. He felt a strong sense of honor and loyalty to his family and his country and his church," Mr. Commons said. "I'm very proud and very sad. We'll never hunt or golf together again."

Matthew Commons was also remembered by parents at Boulder City High School, teachers and a former principal.

Brenda Mooney, a secretary at the high school, remembered Matthew bringing flowers to her daughter, a classmate of his, after she had her wisdom teeth pulled.

"He was thoughtful," she said, struggling to maintain her composure.

Lynn Stewart, a government teacher at Boulder City High School for 32 years, said he and Matthew joked about things while studying the upcoming 2000 presidential race and local political races.

"He wasn't a flashy kid. Just solid, a decent kid. He did what he was supposed to do," Stewart said.

Bill Garis, former principal of Boulder City High School, said Matthew had graduated with about 135 other students in a year when the basketball team won the state AAA championship.

"Matt was just one of those students who did very well across the board," Garis said. "But what I remember most was that he was so well-liked by the other students."

Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev, and John Ensign, R-Nev, also issued statements expressing their pride and gratefulness at the young man's service in the fight against terrorism.

Matthew Commons arrived in Boulder City with his mother and younger brother Aaron in 1991, earning honors for his classwork up through his graduation in 1999. He also played soccer and served as class secretary.

He enrolled at University of Nevada, Reno in 1999, but dropped out in his freshman year. On July 27, 2000, he enlisted with the Army, eventually training as an elite soldier in the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. He planned to become a history professor, Marek said.

That was one reason for her recent move to Virginia.

"It would only be a nine-hour drive to Savannah and we could meet half way," she said. "I figured for once in my life we wouldn't have to fly all over creation to be together."

Pausing to think, she then said that the trip would be less now, if, as planned, her son is buried with honors at Arlington Cemetery.