'I'm Better And You're Better Because Charlie Was Born'

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By By Keith Eldridge

Summary

Family and friends gathered to remember Sgt. Charles Matheny IV, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

Story Published: Feb 27, 2006 at 2:42 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 2:13 AM PDT

'I'm Better And You're Better Because Charlie Was Born'
KENT - A local soldier who volunteered for the most dangerous missions was being remembered Monday. Sgt. Charles Matheny, IV was buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.

The 23-year-old Army soldier from Arlington was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. His father says Charlie always volunteered for the toughest duty.

"He had put himself into the worst of it," said Charlie's father, Charles Matheny, III. "There is no worse assignment right now, than that area."

The family says Charlie was hand-picked to be in the unit teaching the Iraqi Army to take over in one of the toughest parts of Baghdad.

The family, of course, cherishes every last moment they had a chance to talk with Charlie. But there was something in his tone of voice when he last spoke to his mother that tipped her off that something was up.

"He wanted to handle his paperwork. He wanted to talk about money," said Charlie's mother Deborah Noble. "He wanted to talk about his power of attorney. He wanted to tell me how much he loved me."

Now as she clutches her son's Bronze Star and Purple Heart, she remembers how unusual that last phone call was. Perhaps he somehow knew it would be his last.

People from all over the region lined Auburn Avenue North just outside the memorial service. These are people who didn't even know him.

"I'm here because I love my country, I love the military and my heart bleeds for the mothers and the family members," said troop supporter Inez Petersen.

Noble said, "He was a brave boy. He was a good human being and the world is better, I'm better and you're better because Charlie was born."

This was Sgt. Matheny's second tour in Iraq. He was due to get out of the Army in August.