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Irish man remembering his US Marine son is angry over reasons for Iraq War

New Jersey hometown honors Matthew Fenton who died of his injuries in 2006

KATE HICKEY,

IrishCentral Editor

Published Monday, January 9, 2012, 7:58 AM

Updated Monday, January 9, 2012, 12:51 PM

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US Marine Matthew Fenton

Photo by Google Images

Speaking to NJ.com after his death, his family and friends spoke about Matthew’s drive and his lifelong ambition to serve his country.

His mother Diane said, “He always liked playing with toy guns…He wanted to be a Marine because he wanted to be the best.

"That's what made him Matthew," she said. "He volunteered to go…He wanted to be with the other Marines."

Matthew’s father, John, was born in Cork City but moved to the United States when he was just two. In 2008 he came home to Cork as he found it too difficult to return to his position as a clerk in the US postal service following his son’s death.

After his son’s death, John lobbied his local Congressman to have a federal building named after his son. Once the campaign got started he handed it over to some of Matthew’s friends and left for Ireland.

This week John heard the good news. He told the Examiner, “I have an email alert set up to tell me whenever he is mentioned in news articles, and I got a message on Tuesday to tell me President Obama had signed the bill into law.”

Steve Rothman, the New Jersey congressman who sponsored the bill called Matthew a true American hero and hopes “the post office will stand as a testament to his bravery and sacrifice”.

The post office will now be renamed the Sergeant Matthew J Fenton Post Office this spring or summer.

"My son would have been 30 on January 17. That will be tough. It’s good that he will be remembered for a long time, every parent who loses a child wants them to be remembered,” said John.

The grieving father attends meetings with Anam Cara, a group for bereaved parents, in Cork. Although he is still angry, and dealing with the loss of his son, he believes he’s making progress.

“They say that time heals and for the first time I think it’s true. If you asked me this time last year, I probably wouldn’t have agreed but although things will never be the same, my head is clearing and there is progress."

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allentown | Jan 11, 2012, 04:17 PM EST

Regarding who in the family advised H.W.43 to invade Iraq, it is documented the General Scolcroft Bush 41 National Security Advisor advised H.W. 43 not to invade Iraq. Kids just don't want to listen to their elders.

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PatriciaMarya | Jan 11, 2012, 01:42 PM EST

The idea that he was injured in Fallujah chilled me because that is where Blackwater Security caused so many horrible problems with their swagger and their $200,000 salaries tax free. As far as I am concerned, Dick Cheney set up this war in order to make his ex-employer, Halliburton, wealthy along with George Schultz Bechtel and the rest of the greedy civilian contractors. There is a school of thought that it was set up in order to prevent Saddam Hussein from pegging the value of Iraqi oil to the Euro. But then, we will never know that for sure, will we. On Jan. 4, in the NYTimes OpEd page, an essay, entitled "The Forgotten Wages of War," gives body counts that are in the six figures of Iraqi civilians killed, not the low 5 figures that the Bush admin published. The author is John Tirman and his book is entitled "The Deaths of Others: The Fate of Civilians in America's Wars." And now we have people running for office that insist we go after Iran. Will we ever learn? Yes, when the Draft is resurrected and females are included in the draft...only then will there be an outcry and the public might wake up and come to their senses. W never asked Poppa Bush for his advice on invading Iraq and how many lives and trillions of dollars lost later proved the consequences of that omission. How many hearts have to break and families destroyed before we wake up and see our politicians' actions' consequences.

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IrelandNorth | Jan 11, 2012, 08:08 AM EST

My commiseration to John Fenton on the loss of his fine young son. I can't begin to imagine the existential angst he suffered. To other commentators - there's a whale of a difference in dying for George Washington and Paul Revere than George Bush or Dick Chaney. The same proto-cannibal class that sacrificed young men in Vietnam did the same with Iraq. Any weapons of mass destruction Sadaam Hussein had were sold to him by the Anglo-American military-industrial complex. But then he was killing the righ tpeople, i.e. Iranians. The Iraw was was ultimately about black gold. War is an industry. And soldiers are expendable units of production. Most soldiers in most armies are there because they can't get a better job. I was in the Irish military for like reasons, though admittedly, the Defence Forces were/are less exposed than their US counterparts. And different in scale. I wish John Fenton well.

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Johnfenton | Jan 10, 2012, 06:02 AM EST

And again to colkelley, your claim that Saddam's removal did more damage to terror groups and their networks seems to omit the biggest threat from the region. Saddam fought for many years against the Iranian evil but now we have cleared the path for it. This once again points out the screwups of American policy makers and not the military. NOT THE MILITARY. If you do not allow me to criticize political figures then perhaps I should go back to Russia.

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Johnfenton | Jan 10, 2012, 05:33 AM EST

To colkelley, You have some nerve to even think that I dishonor my son and his service. But to put it into words is disgusting and shows your total lack of empathy.Why is empathy such a dirty word to you? I have never said a cross word about the military and those that have served. My anger is directed at the politicians that sent my son to that God forsaken place in the name of US security. Perhaps you missed the news about no WMD's, no connection to 9-11, and no connection to Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. These may be unimportant facts to you but they are devastating to me. Yes my son re-enlisted but I can tell you he made the decision based on financial reasons number 1. Now you can attack him for his selfish reason to re-up. This will not be printed I am sure but colkelley Go to Hell.

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bunkerisland | Jan 10, 2012, 01:20 AM EST

As a former Marine who spent a bit of time in the swamps at PI I never viewed that institution as particularly having integrity. Marines were often used in excess while manipulating those teenage recruits. And the man in the White House who filled us with lies is responsible for thousands that are dead and thousands that are now home with broken bodies and broken spirits.

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allentown | Jan 10, 2012, 12:04 AM EST

Cillowen, I agree with your position that we should have a draft. Had we had a lottery draft with absolutely zero deferments when G.W. went to Congress for their approval to attack Iraq, he would have not have gotten it so fast if Congress's sons and daughters would be eligible to be called and each Congressman's constitutents sons and daughters would be eligible to be called.

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Woodman | Jan 09, 2012, 09:47 PM EST

Let's not get too upset with this. There will be other stupid pointless wars to fight based on lies. The only way it will end is in disaster.

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dublinduke | Jan 09, 2012, 06:23 PM EST

Colkelly - relax and take a chill pill. I have two sons in the Service of the United States - one who did 7 years in the Marines and another now in the Navy. So get off your political high horse. I agreed with your comment about the feeling of Sgt. Fenton's dad. He's entitled to say whatever the heck he wants. But you wish to attach your liberal politics to the sacrifice made by a brave Marine.Spare me you pretentiousness.

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riverman222 | Jan 09, 2012, 05:40 PM EST

Colkelly - it is people like you that make it possible for our citizens to be lied to and accept more war in places like - oh i don't know - Iran? Yeah iran, they are close to having nuclear capability, like, you know, the north koreans. North korea couldn't get their bomb to our shores with a row boat. Neither could iran - but, wait, what does iran have that n.korea does not have? Oh right OIL. I'll tell you what - you send YOUR kids to this next fight. This father (Mr.Fenton) is entitled to his opinion (I agree with him) and his grief. In no way does it dishonor his young sons service. Our country has always had it's share of young people who are willing to serve during time of war - it is up to us older citizens to make sure that our government NEVER puts them in harms way for the wrong reasons. General Smedley Butler had a few things to say on this topic and he dishonored nobody.

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antoman | Jan 09, 2012, 05:08 PM EST

When I get to heaven to Saint Peter I will tell. Another Marine reporting Sir. I've served my time in hell.

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cillowen | Jan 09, 2012, 05:06 PM EST

a good Marine who obeyed his orders and did his duty and it should be for all others who should be subjected to a draft. With such brave mercenaries serving it made it easy for others to puff unafraid of neocon wars, hyprocrites.

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cillowen | Jan 09, 2012, 05:03 PM EST

a good Marine who obeyed his orders and did his duty and so it should be for all other who should be subjected to the draft. With such brave mercenaries serving it made it easy for others to puff unafraid of neocon wars.

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joycean | Jan 09, 2012, 02:46 PM EST

It is easy to be in the military when we are not at war: troops get free all-inclusive medical benefits for themselves and their families; they are encouraged to further their educations at government expense, often achieving college degrees; they can RETIRE with excellent benefits for life after 20 years: 38 for someone who enlists at 18. Members of the military take an oath to serve their country, which is always more difficult in war. They are apolitical. I have great respect for members of our services.

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dublinduke | Jan 09, 2012, 01:48 PM EST

Padraig8 and caolmhin1937, your personal politics and attacks on President Bush only serve to further demean the valor of Sgt. Fenton. He was a good Marine who obeyed his orders and did his duty. I agree with the comment about colkelly criticizing Sgt.Fenton's father. Let it go at that. May Sgt. Fenton RIP.

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