By Lt. Matt Spartz | Guest Columnist
Published: 8/25/2010 12:02 AM
Editor’s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, was deployed to Afghanistan in May with the 101st Airborne Division. A 2008 journalism graduate of University of Illinois, he is submitting occasional reports for the Daily Herald.
Life on a combat outpost is a modern day Sparta. Far from the “flagpole,” or larger bases with high ranking officers, daily life revolves around one maxim – training for battle.
Without delving too deep into the existential, the …

By 1st Lt. Matt Spartz | Special to the Daily Herald
Published: 8/10/2010 12:00 AM
Editor’s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, was deployed to Afghanistan in May with the 101st Airborne Division. A 2008 journalism graduate of University of Illinois, he is submitting occasional reports for the Daily Herald.
On a recent “Meet the Press,” host David Gregory seemed to try and pigeonhole Adm. Mike Mullen on the real objectives of the war in Afghanistan. Sparked by the recent striking picture on the cover …

By 1st Lt. Matt Spartz | Speical to the Daily Herald
Editor’s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, is a 2008 journalism graduate of 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.
The Army is a culture of validation. We walk around with our resumes on our chest: rank, airborne and marksmanship badges, even the perception of prestigious versus bland unit patches. But possibly the No. 1 validation of a modern …

 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 …

The Gateway to the New South, Clarks-Vegas, is showing signs of thawing. After Brittany doubled my heating bill in January (muahaha) while I was gone, my February bill is down 15 percent, with me here. What better way to celebrate than to shut off the heat, open up the windows and have a little walk in the park.
Every time I think Clarksville is boring I find something new that makes me wish I didn’t have to leave. Most of these discoveries come from my neighbor, Sara, who unfortunately just moved …