Real hero caps off experience for open house guests

  • Published
  • By Benjamin Newell
  • AFDW/PA
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AFNS) --  Oregon National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Matthew Zedwick knows what it's like to be a real American Soldier. He earned a Silver Star medal for risking his own life to save fellow Soldiers while deployed in Iraq in 2008 and is taking advantage of the Joint Service Open House here to share his experience with guests.

Sergeant Zedwick is an integral part of the Army's display at the Open House. Guests can train, deploy and fight as Soldiers in the "Virtual Army Experience" tent, and follow that experience up with a presentation by the hero himself.

"I finished up with the presentation, and after all the simulations, there was a real hero, right in front of me," said Jason Abot, of Riverdale, Md. "It brought home that the simulations and the weapons and the dog tags they give you at the end are just a small part of being an actual Soldier. They are the heroes."

Sergeant Zedwick's exploits are now part of Army lore, and his physical appearance is immortalized in an action figure distributed for free by recruiters. Fans of the online game "America's Army" might recognize the hero from a weapons training course during the early stages of the game. An avatar with Sergeant Zedwick's voice and appearance walks online Soldiers through their weapons systems.

The sergeant joined the Army in 1998 at the age of 18.

"I really wanted to get out on my own and be independent at that point," said the Guardsman.

During a 2004 deployment in Iraq, his battle buddies became dependent on his snap judgement after an vehicular improvised explosive device detonated next to his Humvee. His gunner was killed instantly, but Sergeant Zedwick knew his squad leader was trapped in the burning vehicle.

Under fire, Sergeant Zedwick dragged the squad leader to safety, protecting him with his body and an armored door that had detached from the disabled Humvee. He then helped establish a security perimeter and allowed his fellow Soldiers to evacuate.

As guests evacuated their temporary exposure to a soldier's life, Sergeant Zedwick was there to demonstrate how everyday Soldiers can become uncommon heroes.