Matthew I. Pionk
Era: Global War on Terror
Military Branch: Army
Matthew I. Pionk
Mr. Pionk served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He died while serving in Iraq.
Mr. Pionk served in the U.S. Army. He joined the Army in April 1, 1998. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based out of Vilseck, Germany (formerly based out of Fort Lewis, Washington).
His rank was Sergeant First Class.
Mr. Pionk was born on October 10, 1977, in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of Duane and Sandy (Nace) Pionk. He was a 1996 graduate of Superior High School.
He died on January 9, 2008, in Iraq, at the age of 30.
Mr. Pionk was decorated with the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor during his first tour of duty in Iraq. He was decorated with other awards over his years of service.
Source: “Range Man Killed in Iraq,” Duluth News Tribune, January 11, 2008; Duluth News Tribune, January 18, 2008 (obituary); “3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment ‘Wolfpack,’” GlobalSecurity.org (www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/3...) (the last source: information as of December 11, 2009)
Note: A discrepancy exists concerning Mr. Pionk’s unit assignment. Mr. Pionk’s obituary indicates that he served in the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment; the following newspaper articles indicate he served in the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Research at GlobalSecurity.org and Wikipedia both strongly suggest that the obituary is correct. Since Veterans’ Memorial Hall wants to make certain that our records are correct, we welcome any clarification concerning this matter.
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Title of article: “Range Man Killed in Iraq”
Duluth News Tribune, January 11, 2008
By Will Ashenmacher
“WAR: Sgt. First Class Matthew Pionk, a Superior-area native, now living in Eveleth, was on his second tour of Iraq.
“An Iron Range resident and Superior area native has been killed in Iraq, it was learned Thursday.
“Family members were notified of Sgt.1st Class Matthew Pionk’s death Wednesday night, said his father, Duane Pionk of Oliver, just south of Superior.
“Pionk, 30, served with the Third Cavalry, Second Squadron based out of Fort Lewis, Washington. Pionk departed for Iraq five months ago.
“The circumstances of his death were not made public Thursday. A formal announcement of Pionk’s death from the Army had not been released as of Thursday night.
“Pionk and his wife, Melanie, were married in 1998. They recently moved to Eveleth, Melanie Pionk said Thursday night.
“‘This is where he was going to come home to,’ she said.
“Pionk enlisted in the military on April 1, 1998, his wife said.
“‘His whole life was the military,’ she said.
“Duane Pionk said his son was awarded a Bronze Star on his first tour of Iraq about three years ago.
“Matthew and Melanie have three children.
“‘He was a great dad and a great soldier.’ Melanie Pionk said. ‘That’s about all I can tell you.”
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Title of article: “Soldier Who Died in Iraq to Be Honored at Oliver Park”
Duluth News Tribune, September 18, 2008
By Anna Kurth
“The Oliver Park will be dedicated Saturday to Sgt. 1st Class Matthew I. Pionk during the village’s annual picnic, said Kevin Cain, village board member and park committee head.
“Pionk, who grew up in Oliver, Wisconsin, served with the Third Cavalry, Second Squadron based out of Fort Lewis, Washington. He died in January while serving in Iraq. The village board voted to dedicate the park in honor of Pionk this spring.
“Pionk grew up in Oliver, and his father, Duane Pionk, served on the Oliver Village Board, Cain said.
“’We just thought it would be a wonderful way to honor him,’ he said.
“The village is in the midst of a park improvement fundraising effort that began in January 2007 after residents realized some of the park’s playground equipment was becoming outdated and wanted to provide more opportunities for Oliver kids.
“The merry-go-round and wooden swings are getting old. The only other piece of equipment at the park was a slide, so at the time there wasn’t much for kids to play with, Cain said.
“Oliver has been growing in recent years and people realized that children need somewhere to play, Cain said. ‘The kids out here deserve it.’
“The park committee has raised $16,000 through donations, and fundraisers. The goal is $40,000, Cain said.
“With the money already raised, the committee has added two soccer nets, a half-basketball court, baby swing, grill ad garbage cans to the park, he said.
“The ultimate goal is to buy a full playground set for 5-to12-year-old kids, Cain said.
“A standard playground set costs $25,000.
“The committee received a sizeable donation from Matthew Pionk’s widow, Melanie, Cain said. She wanted to donate to the project because the park is a place where she can take her children—Dillon, Ashley and Brandon—to remember their father, she said.
“The Pionk family will be on hand for the dedication.”
