Soldier collapses and dies during training
‘He was the best,’ father says of medic
HOLLYWOOD Matthew Hester, a soldier from Hollywood, collapsed and died Monday morning after a routine training run at Fort Carson in Colorado, Army officials said.
Hester, an Army Specialist and combat medic, was 28. His cause of death remains under investigation.
Hester’s father, a teacher and pastor in Hollywood, described his only son as a Renaissance man, saying he had earned a degree in anthropology from theUniversity of Florida in 2010 and a second in nursing from the University of South Florida in 2013.
“He was the best,” Ronnie Hester said of his son. “Joyful. Grateful, too. He was just the epitome of greatness. Hewas genuine. Humorous. He had all the great qualities. That was my son.”
Hester had been golfing since age 3, using clubs made by his jack-of-alltrades grandfather.
He learned to play the saxophone at 13, making music with the band in both high school and college.
“He still played for the church choir whenever he came home,” his father said.
Hester planned to go into the ministry when he got out of theArmy in 2019.
Lt. Col. Jason Sabat, Hester’s brigade commander, called him a selfless soldier who always looked after the well-being of those around him.
“Just as Matthew cared for others, we cared deeply about him,” Sabat said. “His loss greatly hurts us, andMatthew will be sorely missed. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends at this time.”
Hester enlisted in the Army in March 2015 with the intention of seeing the world while serving his country, his father said.
“He had friends everywhere — in the military, from home, from work,” his father said. “Wherever he went, he was just a natural. He had an affinity for attracting people. And they just loved him.”
Hester, who spent his early years in Tifton, Ga., arrived at Fort Carson in September and was assigned to the 3rd Armored Brigade CombatTeam, 4th Infantry Division.
“The Army is still investigating to determine what happened,” his father said. “I don’t believe it was foul play. After his physical training, he just collapsed.”
One of Hester’s four sisters, Candace Ferguson, died of heart failure in 2012. Shewas 35.
In addition to his father, he is survived by his mother, Christine Hester, of Hollywood; and sisters Katrina McIntosh, of Miami, Rebecca Mitchell, of Tifton, Ga., and Roneka Hester, of Aventura.
A funeral service is planned for Aug. 6 at Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church at 2390 NW 87th St. in Miami.
A viewing will be held Aug. 5 at Mitchell Funeral Home, 8080 NW 22nd Ave., Miami.
The times for each service had not been determined as of Wednesday afternoon.