More information on a true hero...

Name: Air Force Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois

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Age: 22

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From: Lucas, Texas

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Assigned to the 366th Security Forces Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho

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Incident: Air Force Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois died Sept. 20 as a result of a nonhostile incident on Abdullah Al Mubarak Airbase, Kuwait.

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Died: September 20, 2009

The following is from a Collin County website;

Collin County soldier killed in Kuwait

Sr. Airman Matthew R. Courtois, 22, of Lucas died Sunday, Sept. 20 "as a result of a non-hostile incident on Abdullah Al Mubarak Airbase" in Kuwait. Courtois served under the 366th Security Forces Squadron of the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, according to a released statement.

Master Sgt. Drew Leonhard of the Mountain Home Air Force Base said the incident that led to Courtois' death is currently under investigation by an investigation board and he could not release any details surrounding the incident.

"Airman Courtois was a valued member of our Gunfighter team," Browne said in a released statement. "Matthew's passing is a huge loss for Mountain Home Air Force Base and the Air Force. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the Courtois'."

Courtois was on his second deployment to the region after arriving at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in July of 2007. Courtois, a native of Lucas, attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas in December of 2006 after graduating from high school. He headed to the technical school at the Lackland base for the "Security Forces Apprentice Course" and reported to the Mountain Home Base in Idaho in June of 2007. He served as a security forces patrolman as part of the Security Forces Alpha Flight, 366th Security Forces Squadron, according to military records released by the Mountain Home base.

Courtois was deployed to the Bucca Air Force Base in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom on June 10, 2007 where he served a full tour of duty until Feb. 10, 2008. He returned to the region as a response force leader and redeployed to Kuwait on July 25 in continuing support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to military records.