Matthew Zedwick

SSG. Matthew Zedwick, after engagement ( ())

Matthew Zedwick was born in Oregon. He was an average boy and wanted to enlist into the military because it was a tradition in the Zedwick family. When Zedwick enlisted in the military he was station in Arizona. Shorty after his deployment he was sent to and deployed to Afghanistan. He was there for several months doing work on gunship and ammunition department in their base. Then he and his squad were sent to a local city in Afghanistan for an average patrol. They were sent their to secure the local "hot spots" that were occupied by the Taliban.

Matthew was driving the squads Humvee and was hit by small arms, mortar fire and RPG's. Matthew's best friend, his squad leader was unconscious for an RPG that had dead impact on the vehicle. Matthew had to rescue him because they made a promise to each other that they wouldn't leave each other behind. He had pulled him out of the Humvee to save his life. His was hit by several pieces of shrapnel from mortar fire. He was also burned from the flaming Humvee. Matthew ran to his squad with his squad leader on his back and rescued him. He then ran back to the Humvee to gather all maps, weapons, technology, and Intel from the Humvee so that the Taliban forces couldn't scavenge from it later. Matthew and his squad were sent back to base where he had received medical attention. He later was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry.

Matthew Zedwick is a man with many traits of a hero because of what he did. Matthew Zedwick is a person of courage. He is courageous because he risked his own life to protect others around him. He couldn't see his best friend die in the Humvee so he rescued him as fast as he could, so he could go home and see his home again.

Matthew is also loyal, because he needed to be dedicated to his squad leader. Squad leaders may not be the nicest people, but that didn't matter to him because they are all brothers in battle. The squad leaders have to discipline their soldiers because of real life situations in combat. Matthew did this act of heroism because he would want his friend to do this for him in this situation.

Matthew Zedwick receiving the Silver Star ( )

Matthew is also faithful because he treated his squad leader the way he wanted to be treated if he was in the back of that Humvee. He knew that his friend was hurt, but he couldn't leave him behind. Matthew never quit on the mission or his squad leader. He didn't save him and run away. He saved him and defended him for one hour and nineteen minutes until they finished off the remaining forces. He deserves to be recognized because of what he did for his country that day.