United States Army Corporal Matthew Britten Phillips, 27, of Cumming, died Sunday, July 13, 2008 while bravely and proudly serving his country at a forward operating base in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province.

Cpl. Phillips was one of nine soldiers to die that day; just days before his unit was scheduled to leave the base.

"We feel angry, even bitterly so, because our young men lived better lives, had higher hopes and more perfect love, than their attackers," Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Stevan Horning said during a memorial service held in Vicenza, Italy.

"Please help us to not become weary of doing what is good; renew our courage so we complete the mission you assign each of us."

Corporal Phillips was a member of the U.S. Army's 2nd Platoon, "Chosen Company," 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, serving for the past 2 1/2 years, during which time he was deployed to Afghanistan for 14 months.

While in the U.S. Army, Phillips was the recipient of the Bronze Star medal with one bronze oak leaf.

He also had received the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, the GWOT (Global War on Terror) Medal, the Army Service Medal, the Army Overseas Ribbon and the NATO Medal.

Born April 13, 1981 in Florence, Ala., Matt was preceded in death by his mother, Freida Lynn Phillips.

Survivors include his wife, Eve Lamb Phillips; father and stepmother, Michael Britten and Ellen Phillips; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Phillips and Perry S. Nix of San Antonio, Texas; grandparents, William Britten and Betty Jean Phillips, Fred Lee and Barbara Ann Cochran of Altoona, Ala.; nephew, Matthew Andrew Nix; stepbrothers, Spc. Dan Click and Spc. Michael Click; various other relatives also survive.

Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory of Cumming is in charge of the arrangements.