Massachusetts Active Duty U.S. Marine Sgt. dies at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina

HINGHAM — Director of Veterans’ Services Keith Jermyn and the Town of Hingham regret to announce the passing of Active Duty U.S. Marine Sgt. Matthew P. Partyka.

Sgt. Partyka died by suicide on Sunday, July 3 at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where he was stationed. A native of Springfield, he moved to Hingham in 2000 and was a 2015 graduate of Hingham High School.

Matthew enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina on August 1, 2016. In 2017 he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The majority of his career was with the 2nd Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines onboard Camp Lejeune as an Infantryman.

Sgt. Partyka’s decorations include Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2nd Award).

Sgt. Partyka’s body will be returning to Hingham under Massachusetts State Police escort on Monday, July 18 immediately following planeside honors at approximately 6:45 p.m.

The Downing Funeral Chapel hearse will be led from Boston’s Logan International Airport down Interstate 93-South onto Route 3-South, exiting at Derby Street in Hingham. From there the procession will travel along the following roads in town:

Whiting Street to Gardner Street; to Farm Hills Lane; to Whiting Street (Route 53 South); to Main Street (Route 228 North); to Pond Street.

The procession’s arrival at the Hingham town line is expected to be at approximately 7:15 p.m. The Town is asking all residents of Hingham who are along these areas to silently stand in respect, accompanied by American/USMC flags if possible.

Sgt. Partyka will be waked at the Resurrection Church in Hingham on Tuesday, July 19 from 4-8 p.m. Burial Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the following day, Wednesday, July 20, at 10 a.m. His body will be laid to rest with full military honors at St. Paul’s Cemetery.

The family strongly request that, in lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Sgt. Matthew P. Partyka be made to any of the following charities:

– The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

– Military Friends Foundation, 212 Humphrey St. Swampscott, MA 01907

– The Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando USMC Memorial Scholar Fund: Town Treasurer, 210 Central St. Hingham, MA 02043

– Misson22 – National Veteran Non-Profit Organization

– Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Flag