A marine from Teague, L/Cpl. Ryan T. Mathison, defied death last week when a pressure-plate rigged mine he stepped on in Afghanistan failed to detonate.

The luck of the marine landed him as a feature story in The New York Times over the weekend.

Mathison, 21, was on patrol in Shosharak, Afghanistan, Friday morning when he stepped on the buried device that contained about 25 pounds of explosives, spiked with bits of metal, spark plugs and motorcycle parts.

The bomb was powerful enough to destroy a pickup truck, or maim several men.

When Mathison stepped on the mine, his weight triggered one of two blasting caps with which it was armed, throwing several small stones into the air, but the bigger charge failed to detonate.

The marine was a member

of a foot patrol from Charlie Company, First Battalion, Third Marines that was en route to a knoll beside a cemetery in Helmand Province where they were to man an observation post.

As the marines reached a wall at the cemetery just before sunrise, Mathison was called by another marine and was walking toward him when he stepped on something hidden in the dirt, setting off the blasting cap.

He was ordered not to move, and when a metal detector emitted a signal around the marine, a bomb disposal unit was called to ensure the safety of the soldier and destroy the device.

The marine is a 2007 graduate of Teague high school and has served a tour of duty in Iraq.

Mathison is the son of Carl Mathison and Leah and Tim Hedrick, all of Teague.