On January 22, 2023, United States Army E-5 Sergeant Mathew Tate Whetnall passed away as a result of service-related cancer caused by toxic exposure.
Whetnall was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Pataskala, Ohio. Whetnall was raised by his aunt and uncle, and loved to spend his time listening to music and playing video games. Later on, when Whetnall was 23 years old, he and his future wife, Cassandra, met while they were both employed at Circuit City.
Believing that the military would give him broader career options paired with wanting to serve his country, Whetnall enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was very proud of his service and loved the technical aspects as a forward observer. Whetnall’s goals were to make his family proud and be the best at his job for his fellow soldiers. On October 18, 2010, he was awarded with a Purple Heart after being hit by an IED while on patrol in Afghanistan. He was also involved with many insurgent attacks during his deployments. In 2021, after years of suffering from migraines after returning from Afghanistan, Whetnall was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic lung cancer as a result of toxic exposure. The cancer spread to his brain and ultimately took his life.
Currently, Cassandra is living with two of their children, Trevor and Liam. She is grateful to Tunnel to Towers for allowing her to continue to raise her children in the home that her loving husband passed away in and where he wanted them to grow up. Cassandra would like others to know that Whetnall was much more than a brave soldier. He was her best friend for 19 years, an amazing and loving husband, and a devoted father. His family was his entire world.
United States Army E-5 Sergeant Mathew Tate Whetnall leaves behind his wife, Cassandra, and his children, Trevor, Liam, and Serena.