Fellow soldiers mourn ex-UNR lineman killed in wreck

By Jeff Pope

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | 5:32 p.m.

Friends, family and soldiers of the Nevada Army National Guard paid their respects to Staff Sgt. Matthew Martin Sneck today at a ceremony at the Clark County Armory in North Las Vegas.

Sneck, 24, died April 1 from injuries suffered while being thrown from his motorcycle after striking a palm tree, according to reports from the Henderson Police Department.

The National Guard honored Sneck with a three-volley salute followed by a haunting rendition of Taps as his friends and parents said goodbye to a fallen soldier who was two weeks from deploying to Afghanistan.

Sneck was called back to active duty leaving UNR, where he was studying biology, to be part of the 1st Squadron of the 221st Cavalry -- scheduled to deploy on Aug. 15.

The timing of his death is a double-edged sword, said Sneck's commander, Command Sgt. Maj. James Richardson.

"It hardens the soldiers' heart to what could happen. It also saddens us because he's not with us," Richardson said.

Kim Sneck, his mother, told the members of his squadron in attendance that he would be with them on their mission.

"He has not abandoned you. As strong as Matt was physically, his spirit is stronger," she said.

Sneck had a work ethic that was unmatched, 1st Lt. Dennis Flynn said. Flynn said he was most impressed by Sneck's commitment in the weight room and also by his willingness to take on duties above his rank, including mentoring lower-ranked enlisted soldiers.

"The man was like a beast and so driven," he said. "He never complained about his additional responsibilities."

He was born Sept. 21, 1984, in Fort Worth, Texas and moved to Henderson 12 years ago. He attended Burkholder Middle School and Foothill High School. At Foothill, Sneck played baseball, football and coached recreational softball.

Sneck's ambition led him to walk-on as a lineman with the Wolf Pack football team and to rise to become a Staff Sergeant at just 22 years old.

Most soldiers who reach that rank have about 10 years of service, Staff Sgt. Joe Sherych said.

"His drive to accomplish any mission assigned to him was beyond measure," he said.

Sherych knew Sneck for seven years and said he absorbed every bit of information he could.

"He had a childlike curiosity. If he wanted to know how something was done or how it was made, he got to the bottom of the situation," Sherych said. "He could open a book, read it and become an expert on the subject matter."

Sneck was easy to talk to and had a calming spirit, said Staff Sgt. Derek Peterson, who spoke softly about his friend.

"It's going to be hard to say goodbye. We were all blessed with his presence," he said. "The only comfort I have is knowing he's in heaven watching over us."

He is survived by his father, Mitchell; mother, Kim; and sister, Michelle.