Staff Sgt. Matthew V. Thompson died Aug. 23 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated while he was on dismounted patrol. According to the Pentagon, Thompson, of Irvine, Calif., was attached to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Thompson is the second U.S. service member to die in Afghanistan during combat operations this year.