Lombard soldier’s intro to war: 10% violence, 90% excruciating boredom
 
Editor’s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, is a 2008 journalism graduate at University of Illinois. He recently was deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division. From there, he will be submitting occasional reports for the Daily Herald.
When the suicide bomber and squad of reported Taliban dressed in U.S. Army uniforms used grenades to breach the gate at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, the morning of May 19, my eyes shot open. I pulled one ear out behind …

I have worked a deal with the Chicago Daily Herald to be a contributing guest columnist while serving my tour in Afghanistan. I am extremely thrilled to be working with a professional publication, and also to share my stories with friends and family.
Here is my inaugural piece!
Lombard soldier ‘excited to get off the bench’
Editor’s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, is a 2008 journalism graduate at University of Illinois. He recently was deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division. The is the first of occasional reports …

On the final day before deploying to the Land of the Afghans, Britt and I went on one of our characteristic adventures. In the heart of Clarksville hides Dunbar Cave recreation area. Never missing a moment to snap a few pics, and needing an excuse to break in my new boots, I grabbed the Nikon and we hit the trail.
The flood line from last week’s disaster was visible throughout the park. Giant trees found their way up 25-foot hills and the stone walls were striped with dirt.
I can’t wait to …

Here are my pics from the Great Tennessee Flood of 2010!!
Some of you know that my townhouse is at the top of a hill, right above a Gary Matthews car dealership. Well, the road next to the dealership is also the only road accessible to our hilltop subdivision. That road entrance is also at low ground, about 100 meters from the Cumberland River. After more than 13 inches of rain in the last few days, the swollen river has continued to rise, trapping us like ants on a hill.