A 20-year-old Marine from Westminster was killed in a noncombat vehicle accident in Iraq on Friday - just one month after arriving in the country, the Department of Defense announced yesterday.
Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, who died in Al Anbar Province, was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Twentynine Palms, Calif. He was a 2003 graduate of Westminster High School.
At his mother's townhouse in Westminster last night, the family was still reeling from the news of his death, which was delivered to them Friday.
Corporal Snyder's mother, Julie Snyder, was too grief-stricken to talk but allowed her sister, Cathy Menefee, to speak for the family. She spoke of his keen sense of humor and an unwavering sense of responsibility, which culminated in his decision to join the military.
"It's sounds so cliche, but he died doing what he wanted to do," Menefee said. "He always wanted to be a Marine."
Matthew Snyder enlisted Oct. 14, 2003. He had been based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before being assigned to Twentynine Palms in August 2004 as a generator mechanic.
He was the middle of three children, with sisters Sarah Snyder, 22, of Hanover, Pa., and Tracie Snyder, 18, who lives with their father in York, Pa.
Reached by telephone at his home last night, Albert Snyder wept.
"I just want it to be over," the father said. "And I want answers. They said he was the gunnery on top of the Humvee and the Humvee rolled. When is this senseless war going to end?"
Despite his anti-war views, which Albert Snyder said he discussed with his son, he hailed him as "a hero."
"My son wanted to be a Marine since he was 9 years old," he said. "And I'm very, very proud of him. I'm just not very proud of our government right now."
Matthew Snyder, who family members said had an exuberant personality, enjoyed fishing and playing intramural soccer as a teenager.
Most recently, he had enjoyed the Super Bowl in Detroit at close range, providing security as part of a military contingent.
"He said, `Look for me, I'll be on the Texas side,'" Menefee said.
Pat Ritter, a family friend whose two sons grew up with him, said she'll always remember Matthew Snyder as someone who "kept us laughing."
"He was the clown," said Ritter, who sat at Julie Snyder's side last night.
