A California-based Marine sergeant died Oct. 15 in a medical center after fighting for his life from injuries he sustained from an Oct. 9 motorcycle accident, according to a Navy mishap report. It was his 24th birthday.
Marine Sgt. Matthew Lowenthal was an aircraft ordnance technician with the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 at the Marine Corps air station in Miramar, California. The young Marine deployed twice as part of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command, according to his Marine Corps service record.
“The Marines of VMGR-352 are saddened by the loss of Sgt Lowenthal and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” Lt. Col. Mark L. Montgomery, the commanding officer for VMGR 352, said in an email to Marine Corps Times.
The sergeant’s awards include the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon awarded twice, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal awarded twice, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, two Certificate of Appreciations, a Certificate of Commendation and two Letters of Appreciation.
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“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Matthew. We were so proud of his accomplishments both personally and professionally,” a representative of the family said to Marine Corps Times in an email.
“He has left a lasting impact on all of those lives he has touched. Matthew will be missed dearly by family, friends, and those he served alongside. He leaves behind the legacy of caring, compassion, commitment and service; we hope those who knew and loved him remember and honor him well."
A celebration of life for the Marine was held in Orlando on Saturday.
Car and motorcycle accidents were the leading cause for mishaps deaths in the Marine Corps in 2018, and October has been a pretty deadly month.
Lowenthal is one of six Marines killed in either a car or motorcycle accident so far in October, including a Marine stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina, who was struck by a car and killed while trying to assist someone involved in an earlier accident.
An October accident in Twentynine Palms, California, resulted in the death of one Marine with two other Marines injured.
