Matthew Gene "Axe" Axelson (June 25, 1976 – June 28, 2005) was a United States Navy SEAL who was killed in theWar in Afghanistan. He was posthumously awarded theNavy Cross for his actions during Operation Red Wings, in which he was killed. He is an American hero along with Michael Murphy, Daniel Dietz, and Marcus Luttrell. Dietz and Luttrell were also awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Navy good conduct medals, where Murphy received the Medal of Honor.