By: Jonann Brady
Army Reservist Sgt. Matthew Schmidt, a West Hempstead resident and Town of Hempstead employee, served in Baghdad for 14 months as a civil affairs specialist, helping to rebuild schools and police stations in the war-torn city and setting up security forces.
Schmidt, 23, a graduate of Carey High School in Franklin Square, said that while he and his team of five other soldiers were always on alert, they accomplished a great deal and felt support from a majority of Iraqi citizens. "We got the schools open in six months -- we were trying to get kids off the street," said Schmidt after the ceremony. "Eighty-five percent of Iraqis love that we were there. We were going in to get their freedom, but freedom doesn't mean it's free."
Schmidt, who worked for the New York City Police Department for a year and is a volunteer firefighter with the Franklin Square Fire Department, began work in the town's public safety department in January 2002. Just over a year later he was deployed to Iraq.
While Schmidt said he was initially shocked to be called overseas, as a reservist for over four years, he figured that his number would come up soon enough. "I knew something would happen eventually," he said.
His parents, John and Christine, brother Erick, and girlfriend, Stephanie Rauh, accompanied Schmidt to the ceremony and said they were thrilled to have him home safe. "We've been glued to the TV set, switching channels, seeing if we could get a glimpse of him," said his father, who served in his native Germany during the Vietnam War.
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray presented Schmidt with a Distinguished Service Award, the town's highest honor. "We are so proud of Matt," she said at the ceremony. "I am thrilled to be able to welcome him back and to have this opportunity to recognize his dedicated service to our country and the Town of Hempstead."
During his brief remarks to the crowd, Schmidt said he will remember the smiling faces of Iraqi children. "We made that place a lot better," he said.
During the ceremony, the "Tapping Captain," BiLlee T. Thomas, performed a tap-dance routine to the song, "I'm in Heaven," and Pat Cassetta, of the town's Veterans Committee, spoke of growing up in Italy in a Fascist regime and, after coming to the United States, enlisting in the Army when he was 16 to serve in World War II.
Cassetta, who also teaches high school American history, said, "Where else can an immigrant achieve such things?"
Schmidt will return to work for the Town of Hempstead on May 1, after making use of some much deserved vacation time. "I'll be hanging out," he said with a smile.
