Matthew Medlicott remembered by family

The son of a popular Waukegan music instructor has been killed in Iraq.

Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Medlicott of Houston died Aug. 25 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

His father, William "Bart" Medlicott Jr., is director of orchestras at Waukegan High School and teaches strings at both the elementary level and at Jack Benny Center for the Arts. He has been an instructor in Waukegan schools for 11 years.

Matthew, 21, attended Waukegan High School's Alternative Optional Education Center during his freshman and sophomore years, according to his dad.

"He was highly regarded by his teachers," said an emotional Medlicott on Wednesday. "He was a motivated student. He was a fine soldier, a wonderful son and a wonderful young man."

Medlicott's older son, Nicholas, is also a Marine. Stationed in Honolulu where he works as a helicopter mechanic, he also has served in Iraq.

"Matthew was a fine, fine young man, completely dedicated to the U.S. Marine Corps," said his grandmother, Barbara Medlicott, in a phone interview Wednesday from her home in Indianapolis.

The woman whom Matthew called "Ama" said her second-oldest grandson was proud to be a Marine.

"It was all he ever wanted to do," she said.

Medlicott said she last saw Matthew in a December trip to California.

"He was just a doll," she said. "He had a ready wit, a sparkly look in his eyes. He was fun."

Bart Medlicott, a resident of Waukegan, said he is coping with his son's death with the help of "enormous support from family and friends.

"The support from the community has been overwhelming," he said.

Matthew, who was serving his second deployment to Iraq, earned many military awards including the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Also survived by his mother, Juyne Sauer of Houston, he will be buried with full military honors in Houston next week.

Medlicott is the 16th current or former Lake County resident to die in Iraq or Afghanistan since the United States invaded Iraq four years ago.

From the News-Sun

Related Link:
Matthew S. Medlicott dies 'from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations'