Sgt. Cherrette wounded in Iraq; presented with Purple Heart

by Amanda Polaski– Staff Writer

As a member of the United States Army, Sgt. Matthew H. Cherrette takes his responsibility very seriously. When he volunteered for his second tour of duty in Iraq back in March of 2006, Cherrette not only accepted his role as a soldier, he welcomed it. After an explosion left Cherrette injured May 31, he was honored for his dedicated service and awarded the Purple Heart, as were two other U.S. soldiers who were also involved in the explosion. Cherrette, who belongs to the 1461st Transportation Company of the Army National Guard, has been serving his second tour of duty on Forward Operation Base (FOB) Speicher in Tikrit.

On May 31, while on a mission at an undisclosed location, Cherrette was driving a five-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV), which is reportedly one of the most sophisticated and capable off-road, multi-purpose military vehicles in use today. Cherrette told his family that while driving within a convoy of other military vehicles, his truck struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which was pressure detonated. The IED was buried underneath concrete and ?concealed very well.? Further investigation found the IED to consist of three anti-tank mines. Cherrette said the blast left a 4 x 7-foot trench in the ground. Fortunately, the MTV had taken the brunt of the explosion.

Cherrette and two other soldiers sustained non-life threatening injuries. Cherrette reportedly fractured his left foot, and sustained a laceration to his lower left leg. He also suffered many cuts and bruises from the force of the explosion. Medivac removed Cherrette and his fellow soldiers from the explosion site back to F

OB Speicher where all three were hospitalized overnight, and awarded with Purple Heart medals the following morning. Cherrette remains at FOB Speicher until his injuries thoroughly heal. He is scheduled to return home from war in mid-August. Twenty-four-year-old Cherrette began his career in the Army in 2001 when he enlisted after graduating from Rogers City High School. Oddly enough, Cherrette was on his way to basic training when two airplanes took down the Twin Towers in New York. Cherrette eventually completed his training at Fort Jackson in North Carolina and was placed on active duty in Kuwait for three years.

Cherrette is the son of Jerome ?Chum? and Vicki Cherrette of Rogers City. He also has one brother, Chad Cherrette; one sister, Chrissy (Tom Delekta); two nieces, Torri and Cassidy Delekta; and his fianc?, Heather Fryske, all of Rogers City.

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