United States Marine Corps E-5 Sergeant Matthew Christie Hannon was born in Portsmouth Virginia Naval Hospital and grew up in Philadelphia, PA. His childhood was filled with blessings; he was surrounded by his grandparents and parents who did their extreme best and always shared how loved he was. He loathed going to school, but enjoyed being around people and was often outside playing or visiting his grandparents. He was a drummer, in the choir, enjoyed art, playing football and street hockey with friends and riding bikes. Before he was 8 years old, family was at the center of his life. Hannon and his youngest brother, Josh, enjoyed each other’s company. Hannon’s favorite holiday was the 4th of July with all his aunts and uncles there to celebrate with a crab apple fight always ensuing. He remembers his grandmother’s lemon sun tea while she was on the porch, the smell of his grandfather’s Winston 100’s and picking up dandelions in the back yard to earn quarters for the boardwalk. Yet, he remembered growing up pretty quickly at this point in his life when his grandfather passed away and his father moved to Washington due to the closing of the Philadelphia shipyard. He began working at 15 to make money. As a child, his grandmothers were the definition of “love” to him.
In high school, Hannon was given a choice to either go to work, go to school, or join the military. He wanted to see what was outside the United States and decided to join the military. He recognized the need to grow up and mature, and believed the military would do so. He signed up for the United States Marine Corps when he was 17 and went to boot camp in Parris Island, SC June of 1997. He served the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, out of 33 Area Camp Margarita and Camp Pendleton, California. He knew he didn’t want to be the guy who can’t be relied upon and let his team down. He wanted to put training to the test in the “real world” operations. Hannon loved the brotherhood and the shared suffering that brought each other closer than any relationship ever had/will. He received many honorable achievements throughout his time of service. He was given the distinct honor of being a Reconnaissance Team Leader, a part of Operation Southern watch and deployed to combat zones after 9/11, just to name a few.
Hannon sustained cancer in his head due to toxic exposures while in service, loss of a limb due to complications from a brain tumor, PTSD, chronic regional pain syndrome and complete hearing loss on right side and extended hearing loss on the left. Along with skin, muscle and nerves removed or shaved. During Hannon’s recovery process, he has put his trust in God and is grateful for His love, mercy, grace and saving.
Currently, Hannon lives with his parents, Robert and Donna Hannon, in Port Orchard, WA. He is thankful for his Lord and Savior and his family, especially his parents, for taking on the injury with him. He also says without Tunnel to Towers, Wounded Warrior Project, Wake of Warrior, and Marine Reconnaissance Families, he would just be a shadow of who he is trying to be. Today, Hannon enjoys bible study, church, wake boarding and sit down wake surfing, volunteering for Wake for Warriors, connecting with Marine Reconnaissance Brothers and beloved Gold Star Families, leather work, and woodworking. He is also involved in his community at church and as a volunteer on the security team for the Port Orchard congregation. In the future, Hannon looks forward to introducing other veterans to Christ, maturing in his faith and helping the veteran community heal with purpose in the ability to impact others positively. He also looks forward to helping and enjoying others at the “Let Us Do Good Village” in Land O’Lakes Florida. Thanks to Tunnel to Towers, Marine Corps E-5 Sergeant Matthew Christie Hannon will be able to live an independent life without concerns of what his injuries leave behind as a result. His parents will be able to retire. Hannon won’t have to worry about being homeless again pr scooting on his bottom because his wheelchair doesn’t work. He believes he’ll never truly be able to thank Tunnel to Towers, but he is eternally grateful of this gift from God. Through his story, he would like others to know that God was with him through it all, even with shunning, God never left him and he still has purpose to Him.