A formal "flag-lowering" ceremony was conducted at an Orange County university Monday to honor an alumni killed in Afghanistan.
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew V. Thompson was killed last Tuesday in Helmand Province. The Special Forces soldier was 28 years old, an Irvine resident, and an alumnus of Concordia University in Irvine.
The university lowered its flag to half staff as taps is played Monday morning at the school. Words of remembrance were delivered by Christ College Dean Steve Mueller, and prayers offered by campus Pastor Quinton Anderson, the school said.
He was remembered for his service and integrity.
"Because he was one of ours, we wanted to make sure that we served him well here," said Steve Leader, veterans resource center manager at the campus.
Thompson is the second American soldier to die this year in Afghanistan, where about 10,000 U.S. troops are assisting the local forces oust Taliban guerillas.
Milwaukee television station WTMJ reports that Thompson had spoken with his wife in Minnesota two nights before he was killed, and said he was going on a dangerous mission. Rachel Thompson had met him at Concordia, and they married five years ago.
