Sgt Matthew Jackson - My Marine Hero in Afghanistan

I want to share with all of you a former neighbor and good friend, Marine Sgt. Matthew Jackson. Matt is an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialist currently serving in Afghanistan. He disarms numerous improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to save the lives of his fellow Marines. Matt Jackson is a dear friend. He risks his life every day as he disarms those deadly IEDs.

Sgt Jackson appeared on a special CBS Evening News series, “Afghanistan: the Road Ahead,” from Kabul, Afghanistan, with Katie Couric on August 19, 2010. Here is a four-minute video clip of the interview with Sgt. Matt Jackson (www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6788412n). An IED they were disarming blew up three of his closest friends the same day of that interview. I feel very sad for Matt and his three friends. They are there protecting our freedoms and rights. Not all of them return to their families and loved ones.

I am currently writing a book titled Those Blasted IEDs! Defeating the Deadly Improvised Explosive Device. The book is currently at 250 pages and should end up being over 300 pages in length. I am dedicating that book to Sgt Matt Jackson, who I consider as a great American patriot, Marine, and hero. It is my greatest hope and prayer that he will return home safely so that I can hand him a copy of my book when it is published later this year.

Please think of and pray for the brave warfighters who are risking their lives every day for our freedom and liberty. I wish I could be with them, but my time has come and gone (as I am 68 years old). I hope and pray for their safe return.