MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. – Matt Stiltz was incredibly close to his brother and sister during his upbringing, all of whom eventually joined the armed forces, a decision their father attributes to the inspiring stories they heard from their grandfather, an Air Force veteran of World War II who was once a prisoner of war (POW).
At the tender age of 9, Matt would spend entire days immersed in imaginative soldier play outdoors.
Upon graduating from Shadle Park High School in 2005, he wasted no time and enlisted in the Army, departing for basic training just two weeks after graduation.
Matt served admirably for 7 years, primarily in the infantry, completing 3 tours abroad—two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, where tragically he was fatally wounded by an enemy mortar. His father, Mark Stiltz, emphasizes that Matt’s heroism was evident long before his passing.
“His sacrifice,” said Mark, “I don’t just mean sacrificing his life. It’s about the sacrifices he made every day for others. That’s what defines him as a hero.”
Mark wishes for Matt to be remembered as someone driven and unwavering in his sense of duty.
