PFC Matthew O’Hern of West Caldwell Sends a Letter from Afghanistan

Photos

Tuesday, July 31 Credits: Leanne O'Hern
Saturday, August 25 From Matt's November 23, 2012 Letter: "I miss my younger brother Patrick. He's 16 yrs. old and I look forward to returning back home with him. I consider him more than my brother, but my best friend." Credits: Leanne O'Hern
Sunday, September 16 - Matt O'Hern: "APACHE!" Credits: Matt O'Hern
Saturday, August 4 - Megan Stout: "Nametags are up at the FD -- and a special one for our brother" Credits: Megan Stout
Saturday, August 11 - Leanne O'Hern: "Stay strong and focused. Love you and always thinking of you." Credits: Leanne O'Hern
Wednesday, September 26 - Kelly Hamstra: "Look whose on my TV!! Haha miss you Matt!" Credits: Kelly Hamstra
Wednesday, October 17 Credits: Kate Abrams
Wednesday, October 17 - Kate Abrams: "The newly promoted Apache soldiers!" Credits: Kate Abrams

PFC Matthew O’Hern of West Caldwell Sends a Letter from Afghanistan

Private First Class Matthew O’Hern

Friday, November 23, 2012 • 6:43am

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - At 3am EST, The Alternative Press of West Essex received a very special letter from Private First Class Matthew O’Hern of West Caldwell. Here it is in its entirety:

To the West Essex TAP:
I would love to share a little about what I do!
It is motivating to be reminded that people at home care, and motivation is key around here!

I am a military police soldier (31b) deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan with the 508th Military Police Company out of Teaneck, NJ. Unfortunately, due to security reasons, I can’t put out my exact location.

We are on a 9 month “boots on ground” deployment.   This means that once we hit Afghanistan soil on September 4, 2012 at 14:52 we started our 9 month tour.   Overall, the deployment is going well so far.   Some days are better than others.

I work a 12 hour shift, seven days a week, with no days off.   I usually work the night shift, however sometimes I will rotate to the day. It is often hard to stay in touch with home due to the 8.5 hour time difference and limited Wi-Fi.

I work with a squad including nine other soldiers and three K-9’s - two of which are explosive dogs and one narcotic.   We use the K-9’s daily to do sweeps of routs we will use for a mission, inspect high risk areas and for regular daily patrols outside the wire.

When my squad is not out on a mission, we work at an Entry Control Point.   This is where we do a full body search and background check of any individual trying to get through our area of operation. This would compare to a “seatbelt check” back in Caldwell.

I am also enrolled in full-time online college courses while over here.   I didn’t want the deployment to interrupt my education.   It is a lot of work and often leaves me with limited sleep but I know it will all pay off.   I have hopes of finding a local law enforcement job when I return to the states.   I also look forward to returning as a member of West Caldwell Fire Department and West Essex First Aid Squad.

As hard as it is to be away from family and friends back home, I really do enjoy what I am doing over here.   It is a great experience and it feels great to say I am defending the best country out there!

I miss my younger brother Patrick. He's 16 yrs. old and I look forward to returning back home with him. I consider him more than my brother, but my best friend.