The Fallujah Files

Cpl. Evan “Matty” Matthews

Squad Leader, Third Platoon, Alpha Co.

Matt was a 17-year-old Eagle Scout who joined the Corps as soon as he graduated from high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When his squad leader, Nate Fox, was wounded in Fallujah, Matt assumed his billet and led the squad through the final weeks of the battle. He struggles with survivor’s guilt for all of his Marines not making it home alive.

Matt teaches mathematics at a high school in Humble, Texas.

Lance Cpl. Bradley “The Barbarian” Faircloth

Rifleman, Third Platoon, Alpha Co.

Bradley was 20 years old when he was killed on Nov. 25, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq. He grew up in Alabama, where he played football, and spent time in Ghana and Jamaica with his mother, Kathleen. The Marines who served with Bradley all carry guilt for not bringing him home alive. Brad is the recipient of three Purple Hearts. He was not awarded for valor.

Capt. Aaron Cunningham

Company Commander, Alpha Co.

Aaron led the roughly 200 Marines of Alpha Company during Operation Phantom Fury. At the time, he was 31. In 2024, Aaron retired from the Marine Corps after more than 29 years of service, which included five deployments, commanding an Infantry Battalion, and leading the Corps’ grueling Infantry Officer Course. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor.

Aaron now lives in a rural area of Alabama with his wife, Jennifer.

Cpl. Michael “Boomhauer” Meadows

Team Leader, Third Platoon, Alpha. Co.

Michael is a soft-spoken native of Norristown, Georgia, who enlisted when he was 17. During the battle, he was regarded for his ability to kick in doors and clear houses. When Bradley Faircloth was killed, Meadows was beside him and helped to carry his body outside. He was awarded for valor.

Michael now works as a truck driver and lives in his hometown with his wife, Lisa, and their four children.

Cpl. Robert “Day Ball” Day

Machine Gunner, Alpha Co.

Robert enlisted at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama, where he unknowingly grew up a few blocks away from Bradley and Kathleen Faircloth. Robert was regarded as the best machine gunner attached to Third Platoon. Because of the size of his belt-fed “pig,” he often cleared houses using his 9 mm pistol.

Robert now lives in the mountains near Denver, Colorado.

1st Lt. Daniel T. Malcom Jr.

Weapons Platoon Commander, Alpha Co.

Dan was 25 when he was killed on Nov. 10, 2004—the Marine Corps’ birthday—in Fallujah, Iraq. He grew up in Brinson, Georgia, and commissioned in the Marine Corps after graduating from The Citadel. Dan was the first Marine in Alpha Company to be killed and was an avid chess player. He is the recipient of the Purple Heart.

Dan is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Sgt. Anthony “Meritorious Marty” Martinez

Squad Leader, Third Platoon, Alpha Co.

Anthony was a 21-year-old squad leader during Operation Phantom Fury who enlisted in Bakersfield, California, in 2001. During the battle, Anthony was knocked unconscious when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded within a foot of his head. He was not awarded a Purple Heart.

Anthony now lives and works as a police officer in Pennsylvania, with his wife, Shae, and their three children.

Lance Cpl. Thomas “Baby Huey” Brennan

Assaultman, Alpha Co.

Thomas enlisted in Boston and was 19 when he deployed to Iraq. Before Lt. Malcom was killed in Fallujah, Thomas served as his driver. During the battle, Brennan used rockets and explosives with his team leader Michael Briscoe to breach and destroy buildings in Fallujah.

Thomas now works as a journalist and lives in the Shenandoah River Valley of Virginia with his wife and daughter.

Cpl. Trevor “The Camera Fuck” Gift

Combat Cameraman, Alpha Co., Alpha Co.

Trevor was 20 when he fought alongside Alpha Company and photographed weeks of intense combat inside of Fallujah. Following the battle, the Marine Corps lost nearly all of Gift’s photographs, which precluded them from being indexed by the National Archives. Trevor lives in Amherst, Ohio, with his wife, Lauren, and their four children.

Lance Cpl. Daniel “Mudcat” Jayne

Assaultman, Alpha Co.

Daniel enlisted in the Corps from Louisiana when he was 21, and he specialized in rockets and demolitions. During the deployment, Daniel was often seen reading and playing chess. He is regarded by fellow Marines for his integrity and loyalty.

Daniel now works as a police officer and lives in South Carolina with his wife and son.