Soldier describes Iraq tour

Matt Reichert, a 2003 graduate of Wahkiakum High School, has returned home after spending a year in Iraq. Stationed outside Tikrit, he spent one tour at Cobspeicher as a member of the 1041st unit Engineer Company of the Army/National Guard.

On August 5, 2007, Reichert was traveling with members of his unit escorting a convoy back to base. On Main Supply Route (MSR) Tampa, which is like an interstate, the Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) they were riding in struck a roadside bomb with the rear passenger tire. The vehicle rolled and caught fire. Reichert and the three others in the vehicle managed to crawl out the side door.

“Nobody was seriously injured,” Reichert said. “Cuts and bruises; we were all wearing our seatbelts.”

Reichert suffered from a concussion. After the accident, the four were transported by helicopter to a hospital and all checked out fine.

“We went back to work,” he said.

After high school, Reichert attended the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Wyoming (UW). In April 2004, he went to boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri to join the Army/National Guard. In July 2006, Reichert entered Camp Shelby, a Joint Forces Training Center located in Mississippi to train for deployment to Iraq.

“Our whole unit trained there” he said.

The biggest danger for Reichert's unit were the roadside bombs.

They weren’t a common occurrence, just “every once in a while,” he said.

Reichert said he tried not to let the danger bother him.

“You can’t sit there and worry. If you worry, it will just run you down, wear you out,” he said.

Although the group didn’t interact with the Iraqi people a lot, Reichert said that the vast majority didn’t mind the American presence.

Most people waved, he said, and most people are just trying to get on with their lives. Businesses are beginning to grow, and people are finding the freedom to do their own thing.

“I think we are doing a good job over there; I think we are helping the people,” he said. “The average Iraqi is just trying to live and support his family.”

Entertainment and means of communication was readily available for the troops to contact family and friends back home. They had a phone center that was pretty well set up over there, Reichert said. There was the Armed Forces Network (AFN) for the troops to watch news or sports, or whatever.

“Nothing like Fox, but an AFN Prime, with sitcoms and various things,” he said.

There was recreation available, a gym was set up or there would be an occasional concert.

“We weren’t bored at all," he said. "There was stuff to do if you had to.”

Reichert said his family was very supportive when he was deployed to Iraq. His dad, he said, had family who served in Vietnam and knew about their past experiences.

“They weren’t worried at all,” he said. “The military takes good care of you.”

Reichert’s official title is Spc. Matt Reichert. His job is 21 C, which means he is a bridge engineer. He is still attending UW and is looking into International Studies. Reichert says he still isn’t sure what direction he will take.

“I have time, I guess. That’s what people say,” Reichert said, adding that he does not consider himself a hero.

“I just did my job.”