Matthew Maurice Dwyer, Jr. was born on November 15, 1946, to Matthew and Ethel Dwyer. His home of record is Nutley, NJ. He attended Yantacaw, Franklin and Nutley High School.

Dwyer served in the US Marine Corps and attained the rank of Lance Corporal (LCPL).

Wounded in the leg in November 1966, his reaction was typical of the manner in which he attempted to protect his family from unnecessary worry or concern. He requested that his family not be notified, but phoned his mother later while he was in Hong Kong for rest and relaxation. It was then that the family learned he had been injured and had received a Purple Heart.

A strong, introspective type of man, Dwyer, according to his aunt Miss Margaret Dixon, “would rather walk away from fight than argue. It wasn’t because he was afraid, he was a big boy, over six feet. He just could not be bothered with it.”

Dwyer was killed in action on February 28, 1968, when his helicopter was shot down, 11 miles from Khe Sanh. He was on his second tour of duty and had been in Vietnam only two weeks before he was killed. Dwyer had already spent 13 months in Vietnam, from May 1966 to July 1967. He was due to be discharged in December 1968.

He was survived by mother, siblings and his fiancée, Pamela Dobbs.

Sources: Nutley Sons Honor Roll by Anthony Buccino, newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024