Matthew Axelson

Axelson was born on June 25, 1976, in Cupertino, California, to parents Donna and Cordell Axelson. He graduated from Monta Vista High School in 1994,{{cite news |url=https://elestoque.org/2014/03/13/news/alumnus-gives-life-for-u-s-a/ |title=Alumnus gives life for U.S.A. |first=Harini |last=Shyamsundar |date=4 December 2020 |access-date=4 December 2020 |newspaper=estoque Monta Vista High School}} attended San Diego State University for a year and graduated from the California State University Chico with a degree in political science.{{cite web|year=2008|url=http://www.sdsualumni.org/s/997/rd16/interior.aspx?sid=997&gid=1&calcid=8735&calpgid=472&pgid=4327&crid=0|title=Axelson's career|work=United States Navy SEALs | access-date=April 13, 2019}} Axelson's brother, Jeffery, wrote a book about him.

Axelson married Cindy Oji in 2003, in Sacramento, California.

Axelson enlisted in the United States Navy in December 2000, and completed basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes. After finishing Sonar Technician Surface (STG) "A" School,{{cite web|year=2005 |url=https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/navy-sonar-technician-surface-2nd-class-seal-matthew-g-axelson/968856 |title=Rank |work=Military Times | access-date=December 5, 2020}} he undertook Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) and graduated with Class 237 in Coronado, California. After BUD/S, Axelson went to the Army Airborne School, completed SEAL Qualification Training and then attended SEAL Delivery Vehicle School. He reported to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 in December 2002, in Hawaii. He deployed to Afghanistan in April 2005.{{Cite web |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-24-me-axelson24-story.html |title =Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson, 29, Cupertino; Navy SEAL Killed in an Ambush in Afghanistan|work = Los Angeles Times |date =July 24, 2005|access-date = April 15, 2019}}

{{Main|Operation Red Wings}}

File:US Navy 050628-N-0000X-005 Navy file photo of SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, from Patchogue, N.Y., and Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson, of Cupertino, Calif., taken in Afghanistan.jpg in Afghanistan, 2005.]]

File:US Navy 090326-N-5366K-199 Donna Axelson, mother of fallen Navy SEAL Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson, comforts her daughter-in-law, Maria.jpg

Operation Red Wings was a counter-insurgency operation carried out by the United States Armed Forces in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in 2005. The objective of the operation was to kill or capture Ahmad Shah (code name Ben Sharmak), a known terrorist and head of the "Mountain Tigers" militia group. During the operation, Axelson and Marcus Luttrell were assigned as snipers while Danny Dietz and Michael P. Murphy served as spotters.{{cite news |url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/news/a5665/lone-survivor/ |title=Lone Survivor: What Really Happened During Operation Red Wings|first=Morris |last=Kessler |date=4 February 2014 |access-date=8 November 2020 |newspaper=Esquire}}

The mission was compromised after goat herders discovered the SEALs and reported their location to the Taliban in the village. An intense firefight ensued and Dietz was killed as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, becoming the first casualty of the operation. After Murphy moved to a clearing to get reception and call for support, he was shot multiple times and killed, while Axelson died as a result of bullet wounds and fragmentation wounds from an RPG blast as he tried to escape.{{cite web|year=2013|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/survivor-60-minutes/|title=Survivor|work=60 Minutes | publisher=CBS News | access-date=April 10, 2019}}

The quick reaction force that was dispatched in response to a request from Murphy, consisted of eight Navy SEALs and eight 160th SOAR Night Stalker crewmen. As the aircraft arrived onsite and the SEALs attempted to fast rope, an RPG hit their Chinook causing it to crash. All 16 personnel aboard were killed.{{Cite web |url = http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/moh/murphy.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160316194841/http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/moh/murphy.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = March 16, 2016 |title = LT Michael P. Murphy USN |publisher = United States Navy |access-date = April 10, 2019}}{{cite web|last=Widener|first=Laura|date=2020-06-28|title=11 SEALs, 8 Army Night Stalkers killed 15 years ago today in Operation Red Wings|url=https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/06/11-seals-8-army-night-stalkers-killed-15-years-ago-today-in-operation-red-wings/|website=American Military News |accessdate=December 4, 2020}}

Axelson had been severely wounded after taking the brunt of the initial attack and the fall with his teammates. After regrouping with the team, he began firing back and hours later he suffered a gunshot wound to the head, by this point of time he had been shot in several places including his chest and head.{{cite web|year=2013|url=https://americanfallensoldiers.com/navy-seal-po2-matthew-g-axelson/|title=The American Fallen Soldiers Project|access-date=April 15, 2019}}

On July 10, 2005, Axelson's body was discovered 3 miles away from the initial RPG explosion, by a group of SEALs during a search and rescue operation and returned to the United States. Axelson was buried with full military honors at Glen Oaks Memorial Park in Chico, California.

On September 13, 2006, Axelson was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross by Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter.{{cite press release|date=September 14, 2006|url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=25573 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729035248/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=25573 |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |title=Two SEALs Receive Posthumous Navy Cross Awards|website=United States Navy|access-date=April 11, 2019|first=Jim | last=Garamone | agency=American Forces Press Service }}

File:Navy Cross.png

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sonar Technician Second Class Matthew Gene Axelson, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in actions against the enemy while serving in a four-man Special Reconnaissance element with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE, Naval Special Warfare Task Unit, Afghanistan from 27 to 28 June 2005. Petty Officer Axelson demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan. Operating in the middle of an enemy-controlled area, in extremely rugged terrain, his Special Reconnaissance element was tasked with locating a high-level Anti-Coalition Militia leader, in support of a follow-on direct action mission to disrupt enemy activity. On 28 June 2005, the element was spotted by Anti-Coalition Militia sympathizers, who immediately revealed their position to the militia fighters. As a result, the element directly encountered the enemy. Demonstrating exceptional resolve and fully understanding the gravity of the situation, Petty Officer Axelson's element bravely engaged the militia, who held both a numerical and positional advantage. The ensuing firefight resulted in numerous enemy personnel killed, with several of the Navy members suffering casualties. Ignoring his injuries and demonstrating exceptional composure, Petty Officer Axelson advised the teammate closest to him to escape while he provided cover fire. With total disregard for his own life and thinking only of his teammate's survival, he continued to attack the enemy, eliminating additional militia fighters, until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. A champion of freedom, Petty Officer Axelson will be remembered for his self-sacrificing actions in the continuing Global War on Terrorism. By his undaunted courage, fortitude under fire, and unwavering dedication to duty, Petty Officer Axelson reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for the cause of freedom.{{cite web|year=2006|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/3646|title=Matthew Axelson's Navy Cross Citation|publisher=The Hall Of Valor Project|access-date=2019-04-15}}

Axelson's awards include:{{cite web|title=Matthew G. Axelson|url=http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=964|website=veterantributes.org|accessdate=November 29, 2020}}

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File:US Navy 071111-N-5549O-245 Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Honorable Donald C. Winter escorts Donna Axelson to view a memorial of her son during a Veterans Day dedication.jpg

On November 11, 2007, the town of Cupertino, California, erected a bronze lifesize statue of Axelson and fellow SEAL James Suh (also killed in action during Operation Red Wings), holding their rifles in a defensive kneeling position. The Navy Cross citation was replicated on the memorial.{{cite web|year=2014|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/01/08/lone-survivor-movie-hits-home-with-two-families-with-bay-area-ties/|title=Axelson's Memorial Sculpture|work=The Mercury News | access-date=April 15, 2019}}

On November 3, 2015, Naval Base San Diego renamed their Pacific Beacon housing complex to The Axelson Building and dedicated a display box in the building's lobby which houses some of Axelson's possessions.{{Cite web |url = https://allhands.navy.mil/Media/Gallery/igphoto/2002447342/ |title = the Axelson Building |publisher = United States Navy magazine |access-date = November 20, 2020}}

On November 13, 2015, Axelson was recognized as an alumni at San Diego State University and included on the university's war memorial.{{Cite web |url = http://www.sdsualumni.org/s/997/rd16/interior.aspx?sid=997&gid=1&pgid=4327&cid=10379&ecid=10379&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=6995&fbclid=IwAR0rRTTl8FiQSwfAJ09HoP2uIZpX8EDehySyK1vwxjFm4Ejs4KQuFqgSIxI |title = Ceremony to Honor Uncommon Accomplishments of Noteworthy Aztecs |publisher = San Diego State University Alumni |access-date = November 20, 2020}}{{Cite web |url = http://www.sdsualumni.org/s/997/images/editor_documents/Chapters/veterans2016.pdf |title = Profiles of SDSU Military Alumni |publisher = San Diego State University |access-date = November 20, 2020}}

For the 2013 film Lone Survivor, which covered the events of Operation Red Wing, Axelson was portrayed by actor Ben Foster.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/24/ben-foster-lone-survivor|title=Ben Foster: why I ate dirt for Lone Survivor|date=January 24, 2014 | work=The Guardian | access-date=April 17, 2019}}

A bill was proposed in October 2019 to rename the post office in Cupertino, California, to "Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson Post Office Building", the bill had passed on 14 September 2020 and the building was renamed.{{citation |year=2020|url=https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/navy-seal-matthew-axelson-honored-by-congress|title=House passes bill to honor fallen Navy SEAL Matthew Axelson

|access-date=October 22, 2020|first=Abbie | last=Bennett| via=Radio.com }}

In 2016, Axelson Tactical, a firearm company started in Axelson's honor, unveiled a replica rifle similar to what Axelson had carried at the time he was killed in action in June 2005.{{citation |year=2016|url=https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2016/4/15/axelson-tactical-rifle-review/|title=Axelson Tactical Rifle Review|access-date=October 31, 2020|first=Kat |last=Ainsworth }} On January 19, 2016, Axelson Tactical and Team Never Quit Ammunition, announced a raffle to giveaway an Axelson replica rifle and a 1,000 rounds of ammunition to raise money for the Special Operations Wounded Warriors charity.{{citation |year=2016|url=https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2016/4/15/axelson-tactical-rifle-review/|title=Brownells, SOWW Partner to Raffle Matt "Axe" Axelson Tribute Rifle|access-date=October 31, 2020|first=CISION |last= PRWEB}}{{Cite web |url = https://www.kpbs.org/events/2014/oct/22/sip-savor-a-night-to-benefit-the-ma-ad397f74/?et=44054 |title = Sip & Savor: A Night To Benefit The Matthew Axelson Foundation |publisher = KPBS (TV) |access-date = October 31, 2020}}

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Category:1976 births

Category:2005 deaths

Category:United States Navy SEALs personnel

Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)

Category:People from Cupertino, California

Category:Military personnel from California

Category:American military personnel killed in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Category:United States Navy personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Category:United States Navy non-commissioned officers