Matthew Lewellen
Matthew Lewellen | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 15, 1989 |
| Died | November 4, 2016 (aged 27) |
| Cause of death | King Faisal Air Base shooting |
| Buried | Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Jacksonville, Missouri |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | Army |
| Service years | 2010–2016 |
| Rank | Sergeant first class |
| Unit | 5th Special Forces Group |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards |
|
Matthew Charles Lewellen (January 15, 1989 – November 4, 2016) was a United States Army Special Forces soldier and member of the Central Intelligence Agency who was killed in Jordan during the King Faisal Air Base shooting. He is on the CIA Memorial Wall.
Early life and education
Lewellen was born and raised in Kirksville, Missouri. He played football and track at Kirksville High School and graduated in 2007.[1] He attended Truman State University[2] and then the University of Kansas before enlisting in the U.S. Army in February 2010.[3][4][5]
Military career
Lewellen graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.[6][7] He deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and was on his second deployment to Jordan at the time of his death. His awards included the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and NATO Medal.[5][8] He was working for the CIA at the time of his death.[9][10]
Death and legacy
On November 4, 2016, Lewellen, along with Kevin J. McEnroe and James F. Moriarty, was killed when a Jordanian soldier, Marik al-Tuwayha, opened fire on their vehicle at the King Faisal Air Base (Jordan).[11] Lewellen was buried at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri.[4][12] The United States investigated the incident as possible terrorism.[13] Jordanian authorities released video footage of the incident in 2017.[14][15] In March 2017, Lewellen's father participated in a press conference at the National Press Club (United States) where he accused al-Tuwayha of murder.[16] In July 2017, al-Tuwayha was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Jordanian court.[17] One commentator accused the CIA of ignoring warnings before his death.[18]
His family sought a formal apology from Jordan[19] and also filed a lawsuit against Jordan.[20] The family has sought to have the shooter extradited to the United States.[21] His family created the Sgt. First Class Matthew Charles Lewellen Foundation and host memorial events for their son.[22][23] In 2017, Texas Longhorns football honored Lewellen and James F. Moriarty during the coin toss in the game against Kansas Jayhawks football.[24] He was also remembered at an exhibit at Kansas City Union Station on Memorial Day in 2017.[9]
References
- ^ "Body of soldier killed in Jordan returned to hometown Kirksville, Mo". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV. November 18, 2016. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Hoak, Ashley (November 6, 2016). "Kirksville, MO graduate one of three U.S. service men killed in Jordan". KHQA. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Dempsey, Tom (November 4, 2017). "Family of fallen MO Green Beret looks back". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ a b Sealey, Stephen (November 19, 2016). "Sergeant First Class Matthew Lewellen laid to rest, northeast Missouri pays respects". KTVO. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ a b "Staff Sgt. Matthew C. Lewellen| Military Times". thefallen.militarytimes.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ "Stories of Honor: Matthew Lewellen". Terra Arma. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ "Fort Campbell soldier, Staff Sgt. Matthew Lewellen". www.westkyjournal.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ "Matthew C. Lewellen". Green Beret Foundation. November 4, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ a b Dempsey, Tom (May 29, 2017). "Local veteran honored on Memorial Day". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Szoldra, Paul. "The 3 elite Green Berets killed in Jordan earlier this month were working for the CIA". Business Insider. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ McGarry, Brendan (October 31, 2017). "US Special Forces Killed in Jordan Identified". Military.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ "Services held for Missouri soldier killed in Jordan". Army Times. November 21, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Baker, Peter. "U.S. Investigates Deaths of 3 Soldiers in Jordan as Possible Terrorism". New York Times.
- ^ "'He was trying to kill us': New video contradicts Jordanian accounts of how 3 U.S. soldiers were killed". The Washington Post. July 27, 2017. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Londberg, Max. "Video shows slaying of Missouri's Matthew Lewellen, two other Green Berets in Jordan". Kansas City Star.
- ^ Cox, Matthew (October 31, 2017). "Fathers of Slain Green Berets Accuse Jordanian of Murder". Military.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Wamsley, Laurel (July 17, 2017). "Jordanian Soldier Sentenced To Life In Killing Of 3 American Troops". NPR. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Murphy, Jack (November 17, 2016). "Three Green Berets killed by ISIS infiltrator after CIA ignored warnings". SOFREP. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Bradley, Donald. "Missouri parents: Politics complicating military son's death". CJonline.
- ^ Younes, Ali. "Suing Jordan 'only way to get truth': Families of slain US troops". Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Miller, Austin. "Lewellens, other families continue fight for justice from Jordan". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ Roberts, Lynn (September 1, 2024). "PHOTO GALLERY: SFC Matthew Charles Lewellen Patriot Golf Day held at Kirksville Country Club". Kirksville Daily Express. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ "SFC Matthew Charles Lewellen Foundation". SFC Matthew Charles Lewellen Foundation. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ "Texas Lottery Veteran Recognition: Matthew Lewellen and James Moriarty". University of Texas Athletics. Retrieved September 28, 2025.