CPT Matthew C. Ferrara, 24, of Torrance, Calif., died of wounds sustained when his patrol was attacked by direct fire from enemy forces in Aranus, Afghanistan, on Nov 9. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy. He was one of six killed in the ambush. The ambush had occurred after the soldiers had been meeting elders at a nearby village.

CPT Ferrara was born in the United States and had dual New Zealand/US citizenship. He attended South High School in Torrance, California. He is survived by his parents, a brother who graduated from West Point in 1997, a brother who is currently at West Point, and another brother who is attending USC , where he's in the ROTC program and his uncle, New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff .

Proceeds from the CPT Matthew C. Ferrera bracelet will be donated to Legacies Alive.