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My name is Robert Matey and in 2005 I had the honor of being the First Sergeant for a Light Infantry Company in Iraq.
There were many bad days in the year I was there but the worst was 22 June 2005. Although many of my Soldiers sustained life threatening injuries throughout the year this was the only day we could not save one.
SGT Duplantier was a young Soldier as well as a young Father. His daughter Isabel was only 5 years old when he was killed while protecting those who could not protect themselves.
During the memorial service a couple days after his death I spoke for a few minutes on what a great Soldier he was and how much he loved his wife and young daughter. My final words were that Isabel may of lost her father but that the 139 men of Co C 1-184IN (Charlie Rock) would make sure we were there for her in every way that a father would be.
In the 10 years after her father's death we have been true to our word. We have not missed a Birthday or Christmas, made all the big Graduations and such and now we are at the Sweet Sixteen Milestone.
After her father's death I started a fund to raise money for Isabel so we could use it through the years to purchase gifts during those special times, the pic is her gift from Charlie Rock after middle school graduation. The fund is not huge and it has enabled us to do a lot over 10 years but this Sweet 16 and Car will be the biggest purchase yet. That being said there is enough money in the fund to get her a decent first car so if you are not able to donate it will not keep us from honoring our commitment and the party will still happen. The reason I am doing this is just to try and ensure the fund does not get depleated and maybe instead of a decent car she would get a really nice car.
Her birthday party will be the first or second weekend in Feb 2016.
I don't know what else to say other than thank you for reading all this and giving if you can.
There were many bad days in the year I was there but the worst was 22 June 2005. Although many of my Soldiers sustained life threatening injuries throughout the year this was the only day we could not save one.
SGT Duplantier was a young Soldier as well as a young Father. His daughter Isabel was only 5 years old when he was killed while protecting those who could not protect themselves.
During the memorial service a couple days after his death I spoke for a few minutes on what a great Soldier he was and how much he loved his wife and young daughter. My final words were that Isabel may of lost her father but that the 139 men of Co C 1-184IN (Charlie Rock) would make sure we were there for her in every way that a father would be.
In the 10 years after her father's death we have been true to our word. We have not missed a Birthday or Christmas, made all the big Graduations and such and now we are at the Sweet Sixteen Milestone.
After her father's death I started a fund to raise money for Isabel so we could use it through the years to purchase gifts during those special times, the pic is her gift from Charlie Rock after middle school graduation. The fund is not huge and it has enabled us to do a lot over 10 years but this Sweet 16 and Car will be the biggest purchase yet. That being said there is enough money in the fund to get her a decent first car so if you are not able to donate it will not keep us from honoring our commitment and the party will still happen. The reason I am doing this is just to try and ensure the fund does not get depleated and maybe instead of a decent car she would get a really nice car.
Her birthday party will be the first or second weekend in Feb 2016.
I don't know what else to say other than thank you for reading all this and giving if you can.