Marine Corps Capt. Bancroft was assigned to Marine Aerial Transport Refueler Squadron 352, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar California. Bancroft was killed in a refueling tanker crash in Pakistan. Matthew grew up in Burney, California, graduating from Burney Jr-Sr High School in 1990 where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball and served as the student body president his senior year. He decided not to play football his senior year for fear of receiving an injury and not being able to attend the Naval Academy. Former teachers at Burney said he often talked about going to the Naval Academy and becoming a pilot. He was never showy, but he was always a leader and people just naturally followed him. Matthew worked hard in high school, tutoring others and even taking algebra in the seventh grade. After high school, he did go to the Naval Academy, graduating in 1994 and then joined the Marines. He was so proud of his hometown that he couldn't resist "buzzing" by the remote mountain area in a KC-130 refueling jet after he earned his pilot's wings with the Marines. Matthew loved his wife, Mary Ellen, and his three children, the San Francisco Giants, his red Pathfinder truck, his hometown of Burney and pickup basketball games.
Marine Corps Capt. Bancroft was assigned to Marine Aerial Transport Refueler Squadron 352, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar California. Bancroft was killed in a refueling tanker crash in Pakistan. Matthew grew up in Burney, California, graduating from Burney Jr-Sr High School in 1990 where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball and served as the student body president his senior year. He decided not to play football his senior year for fear of receiving an injury and not being able to attend the Naval Academy. Former teachers at Burney said he often talked about going to the Naval Academy and becoming a pilot. He was never showy, but he was always a leader and people just naturally followed him. Matthew worked hard in high school, tutoring others and even taking algebra in the seventh grade. After high school, he did go to the Naval Academy, graduating in 1994 and then joined the Marines. He was so proud of his hometown that he couldn't resist "buzzing" by the remote mountain area in a KC-130 refueling jet after he earned his pilot's wings with the Marines. Matthew loved his wife, Mary Ellen, and his three children, the San Francisco Giants, his red Pathfinder truck, his hometown of Burney and pickup basketball games.
Bio by: Brenda N
Gravesite Details
His Memorial in Arlington Nat'l Cem is 15122465
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
