Sergeant First Class Matthew Kyle Evans was born on February 28, 1986, in Childress, Texas, to B.J. and Tammy Evans. He grew up in Texas and moved to Wisconsin in 2001, graduating from high school with honors in 2004. Kyle once said that his blood ran red, white and blue, and patriotism and love of country drove his career. Shortly after graduation he enlisted in the Army.
Kyle completed infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was stationed in Baumholder, Germany, with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, 1st Armored Division. In 2005 he deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, as a fire team leader and sniper team leader. Selected at Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 2007, he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as a weapons sergeant in 2009 and joined the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Torii Station, Okinawa, Japan, serving on Operational Detachments Alpha 1115 and 1325.
Over the next decade Kyle deployed across the Pacific and the Middle East. He conducted Joint Combined Exchange Training in the Philippines, Bangladesh and the Maldives in 2010; spent nine months in Afghanistan in 2012; trained partner forces in Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and Korea in 2013; deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2014; and returned to Cambodia and Indonesia in 2015 and 2016. From June 2017 he served as a senior small group leader at the ARSOF Basic Leader Course of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Noncommissioned Officer Academy. His schooling included Sniper School, Indonesian language training, SERE, the Combat Diver Qualification and Combat Diver Supervisor Courses and Static Line Jumpmaster.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Diver Supervisor Badge, the Special Forces Tab, the Senior Parachutist Badge and the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge. By his own account, he also won first place in his second-grade coloring contest.
Kyle commanded every room with his endless supply of stories, comedic antics and fresh dance moves. His family describes him as fierce, fearless, captivating, adventurous, passionate and authentic. Dressed as a Green Beret by day, he became his daughter’s favorite playmate and real-life superhero by night, and he looked forward to teaching his hobbies and passions to the son he was expecting.
On May 25, 2019, Kyle died suddenly and peacefully in his sleep at the age of 33, before he could meet his son. He was brought home to Lubbock, Texas, with full military honors, escorted by police, the Patriot Guard and his fellow Green Berets. In his memory his family established the Kyle Evans Let It Shine Foundation, which brings light, hope and joy to children who have lost a parent who served. He is survived by his wife of five years and love of twenty, Lacey; his daughter, Maryn; his son, born that August; his mother, Tammy; his father, B.J.; and his brothers, Lake Evans and Zachary Flores.
Kyle's blood ran red, white and blue. He was fierce, fearless, captivating and dedicated to his country, friends and precious family.
Family & Teammates of SFC Kyle Evans
Sources
- Dignity Memorial: Obituary of Matthew Kyle Evans
- KCBD: Body of Lubbock soldier returned home with full military honors
- Kyle Evans Let It Shine Foundation: About Kyle Evans
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Kyle Evans bio
