R.I.P. Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino

Name: Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino

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Age: 34

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From: Cockeysville, Md.

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Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group of the Maryland Army National Guard, Glen Arm, Md.

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Incident: Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino died Nov. 23 in Pashay Kala, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

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Died: November 23, 2009

(Taken from www.wickedlocal.com of Dec. 1) PLYMOUTH — .A memorial service will be held Wednesday at the New Testament Church in Cedarville for Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino, a former Plymouth resident killed last week in Afghanistan.

The public service will begin at 6 p.m. at the church at 1120 Long Pond Road. A reception will follow at VFW Post 1822 in West Plymouth.

The Rev. Paul Jehle, who will lead the service, said several of Pucino’s Special Forces comrades are expected to attend. The Patriot Guard, a veterans’ group, is expected to send an honor guard as well.

Pucino died Nov. 23 after his vehicle struck an “improvised explosive device” while on routine combat patrol in the Afghan city of Pashay Kala. Pucino, 34, was a Special Forces intelligence sergeant assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) out of Glen Arm, Md.

Pucino was born in Boston in 1975 and grew up in Plymouth. He lived here with his family until the mid-1980s. He attended Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth from 1989 to 1993 and lived briefly in Wareham and Bourne as an adult.

His parents now live in Florida. His sister, Melissa, still lives in Plymouth. Another sister, Lisa, lives in Sagamore Beach. She is a member of the New Testament Church in Cedarville.

Jehle said the family is in seclusion and has asked the media to respect their privacy as they cope with their loss. The family invites the public to the service, but asks that no photos be taken outside the church or at the service.

Jehle said funeral arrangements remain incomplete but preliminary plans call for Pucino to be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Wednesday’s memorial service marks the second tribute to a fallen local serviceman in two weeks. A week before Pucino died, residents mourned the death of Sgt. Benjamin Sherman, who died in Afghanistan Nov. 4.

Jehle said he anticipates a large crowd for the service.

“The main thing we’re communicating is that he was a patriot, one who stood for his country and one who is looked upon by many as a hero in this war in Afghanistan,” Jehle said. “Matt gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom and defense of his nation and he should be honored for that.”