All Guns Blazin'

The Legend of Matt Abbate

Sergeant Matt Abbate of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines was, by every measure, a one-in-ten-million warrior — physically unstoppable, magnetically charismatic, and utterly fearless in the most dangerous combat zone of the Afghanistan war. Told through the voices of the men who fought and lived beside him, this is the story of how he became a living legend, and what was lost with his death.

By Kyle Watts    4-part series    ~40 min total read

Abbate's Gunfighting Commandments:

Thou shall never leave the wire without bandana containing at least 4 inches of slack

In any situation… Thou shall blaze

Nothing matters more than thy brethren to thy left and right… Thou shall protect no matter what

When goin’ out in a hail of gunfire… Thou shall pop dem nugz until thy body runs dry of blood… and look hella sick

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READ THE SERIES

CHAPTER 1:

The Boot

Before he was a legend, everyone who saw him already knew he was different.

2005 - 2008 | 8 min read

 READ CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2:

The Brotherhood

Off the battlefield, Abbate was equal parts chaos and loyalty — riding his Harley and dragging his teammates to the pull-up bar every single day until they were ready for war.

2008 - Sept 2010 | 12 min read

 READ CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3:

The Artist

In Sangin — the most dangerous place in Afghanistan — Abbate didn't just survive the chaos, he ran toward it, and on October 14th, 2010, he became something his brothers already knew he was.

Oct. 14, 2010 | 12 min read

 READ CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4:

The Symbol

The Gunfighting Commandments, the Rules of War, the bandana with four inches of slack — Matt Abbate left behind a code to live by, and the men who loved him are still living it.

Dec. 2, 2010 - Present | 8 min read

 READ CHAPTER 4

ABOUT THIS STORY

This story draws on 7 hours of interviews with 7 veterans who served alongside Matt Abbate throughout his time in the Marines and research collected from sources available through the USMC History Division, official award citations, and local news stories. Originally published in Leatherneck magazine, October 2025. All interviews and reporting conducted by Kyle Watts.

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About the author, Kyle Watts

Kyle is the Editor and founder of Battlesight Zero. He served as a Communications Officer in the Marine Corps from 2009-2013. Since 2022, he has been the full-time Staff Writer for Leatherneck Magazine, the magazine of the Marines, published by the Marine Corps Association since 1917. He lives near Richmond, VA with his wife and three children.

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