SFC Matthew L. Rierson

6 October 1993, Somalia

USASOC

Sergeant First Class Matthew L. Rierson, of Nevada, Iowa, died on 6 October 1993 while supporting Operation CONTINUE HOPE in Somalia.

Rierson enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1982 as an Infantryman. After graduating from Infantry One Station Unit Training and Airborne school, he was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1983, he completed the Ranger Course and deployed to Grenada in support of Operation URGENT FURY. SFC Rierson was selected as a Special Operations Team member in 1986 and deployed to Somalia in August 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger.

SFC Rierson served with distinction as a Team Sergeant during the 3-4 October 1993 Battle of Mogadishu before being killed by a mortar round three days later. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Forces Command, at the time of his death.