Navy Gold Star Coordinator Support

Remembering Mathew

When I think of Mathew, I'm reminded of his incredible sense of adventure. Instead of college, he chose to join the Navy straight out of high school, craving the thrill of exploring the world. Smart, funny, and kind-hearted, his towering 6'5" frame matched his larger-than-life personality perfectly. We lost an extraordinary soul that day, and the void he left behind is immeasurable. To us, he was known as Boo... a nickname that originated from his mischievous childhood antics that always led to another "Boo, Boo" moment. In loving memory of a remarkable son, brother, grandson, and friend who left us all too soon. Mathew, you are missed beyond measure, but your spirit lives on in our hearts and our memories. We love you Boo. Forever & Always.

Carr decided to join the Navy and applied to OCS his senior year in college in response to 9/11. Carr grew up in New York City and worked on the 92nd Floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center during the summer before his senior year at college. He left for college 3 weeks prior to the plane hitting the north tower and killing everybody who was at the firm at the time (approximately 8:30 am). He went to OCS at Pensacola and trained to be a Flight Officer and was assigned to E-2 Hawkeyes. He fell in love with the Navy and decided to make it his career. He was deployed 4 times in the Middle East, as well as deployment in South and Central American in conjunction with DEA operations. He flew in over 200 combat missions. He served as a Flag Aide to Admiral Philip S. Davidson. Prior to his death he had been promoted to serve as the Executive Officer to VAW 125, the Tigertails, with CAW 5 assigned to the USS Ronald Reagan in Japan. He is loved dearly by his family and friends and is missed each and every day.

Bruce was born January 12, 1973, in Frankfurt, Germany.  He moved to

Poughkeepsie in June, 1979.  While attending Spackenkill High School, he 

was on the cross country team, was captain of the tennis team, and was

very active in school theater.  Bruce was the class president of the 

Spackenkill High School class of 1991.

Saying, "I like the challenge", Bruce accepted a nomination to the US Naval

Academy, entering in July 1991.  In 1995 He graduated with a BS in Ocean

Engineering from the Naval Academy.  He was selected for Naval Aviation

training, earning his "Wings of Gold" in February 1998.

Bruce was selected for further training in the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, the 

Navy's primary attack jet.  Upon completion of transition training he was

assigned to Attack/Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25).  VFA-25 deployed aboard the 

USS Abraham Lincoln in August 2000 to enforce the Southern No-Fly Zone in

Iraq.