Matt grew up in Richmond Hill, Georgia, where he enjoyed exploring the winding Ogeechee River in his Jon-boat. A gifted student and athlete, he graduated from Richmond Hill High School in 1998 after winning two state tennis championships and playing saxophone in the school band. He was also an Eagle Scout and active in his church youth group. Whether in or out of the classroom, he approached everything he did with energy and dedication. In 2002, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in aerospace engineering, continuing to pursue his lifelong dream of flying.

After earning his commission in the Marine Corps, he became a C-130 pilot, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He served with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 in Okinawa, flying KC-130Js, and later worked as aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Wanting to serve more directly on the ground, he volunteered with the 4th Marines Embedded Training Team and deployed to Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in July 2009. On August 7, during Operation Brest Thunder, his team came under heavy enemy fire. He led them to a stronger defensive position and was first to reach the roof, where he stopped an insurgent preparing to fire a rocket-propelled grenade. He was mortally wounded while continuing to engage the enemy. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” and the Purple Heart.

His legacy lives on through his family, friends, and fellow service members. To honor his memory, his family founded The Matthew Freeman Project, which supports education in conflict zones and awards scholarships to local students. One of its most heartfelt efforts, “Matthew Bears,” turns the uniforms of the fallen into keepsake teddy bears for Gold Star children.