The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Lottery Veteran Recognition: Matthew Lewellen and James Moriarty
11.10.2017 | Football
Family and friends of the Green Berets, who were killed during active duty deployment, will be honored during the coin toss when Texas Football hosts Kansas.
Hundreds of miles separated their hometowns. They didn't grow up with the same interests or hobbies. Instead, a shared passion to serve others and a quiet, internal call to defend family, friends and the country they collectively call home drew these young men together in uniform.
Their legacies are linked forever.
Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Lewellen and Staff Sgts. James F. Moriarty and Kevin McEnroe were killed last November. The three Green Berets from the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 5th Special Forces Group, were on a training mission in Jordan.
Lewellen grew up in small Missouri town and attended the University of Kansas. Moriarty grew up in Texas and became a Longhorn. When both football teams meet on Saturday, their families will be honored at midfield.
"Keep the memories alive," said Cindy Lewellen, Matthew's mother. "We hope people continue to remember our fallen heroes, who die serving our country and fighting for our freedom."
Lewellen enlisted in the U.S. Army and later graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course. Lewellen deployed three times, supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and other contingency operations. Among his many awards and decorations, Lewellen was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster).
Joining the military was just "what Matt was called to do," Cindy says.
"The intelligence (Special Forces soldiers) have is incredible," Chuck Lewellen said. "It's just the nature of their job. He learned Arabic in six months. It's physical, but the mental side of their work is remarkable."
Steven Geuther attended The University of Texas with Moriarty, and they became fast friends. They both had military aspirations, but Geuther says Moriarty didn't beat his chest or flaunt his desire to serve the United States as a soldier. Instead, Moriarty approached his plans and preparation as a true quiet professional, keeping those plans mostly to himself and with utmost humility.
"Jimmy enjoyed teaching people," Geuther said. "He was a teacher and a leader."
While he was a fast runner and gifted athlete, Moriarty disguised his physical talents behind a dad bod.
Moriarty was raised in Houston and graduated from UT in 2011 with an economics degree. Moriarty enlisted in the U.S. Army on Sept. 13, 2011. He attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection in May 2012 and was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. He graduated in December 2013 as a Special Forces weapons sergeant.
Prior to his final deployment in Jordan, Moriarty deployed three times to the Central Command Area of Responsibility in support of contingency operations.
Moriarty was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Additionally, his family created a Texas Exes scholarship in his name.
Training schools and deployments all pose extreme, uncomfortable circumstances. As dire as deployment might be, stateside training is also a state of suffering, designed to mentally and physically prepare soldiers for wartime situations.
Green Beret teams consist of 12 soldiers with specific responsibilities. Through their togetherness, these teammates build lasting bonds built on trust and accountability.
"We all know each others' strengths and weaknesses," said Jake Applegate, a fellow Green Beret. "During deployment you have to adapt, and you have faith in each other to fulfill the standard."
Lewellen, Moriarty and McEnroe were returning to the Jordan air base last November from a training mission when the guard at the gate opened fire on their convoy.
"The minute our best and brightest like Jimmy and Matt stop signing up to defend our country and represent our forces around the world, America is in big trouble," Geuther said.
Thanks to the Texas Lottery, great things are happening all across Texas. Every year, more than $1 billion of lottery revenue goes to good causes like public education and veterans assistance programs.
Since 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated more than $26 billion in revenue for the state of Texas. Through strict adherence to their vision, mission and core values, the Texas Lottery is dedicated to ensuring that this support continues.
