Hamden Hall Campers Honor School Grad Who Fought in Iraq

President Obama and other political leaders continually laud the efforts of American service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Friday 175 Hamden Hall summer camp children joined them, passing out cards and donated gifts in honor of Capt. Matthew Peterson, a 2004 Hamden Hall graduate who commissioned in the Army and spent a year in Iraq.

Peterson, 26, visited the campers at the Hamden Hall Athletic complex on Skiff St. as part of Heroes Week, which was held at the camp prior to the July 4^th holiday. Representatives from Hamden’s Squad 1 Fire Department met campers earlier in the week.

Bruce Rich, a Hamden Hall math teacher and leader of the summer camp program, which is attended by 4 to 12 year old children, introduced Peterson to the campers.

Peterson took questions from the campers, including one who asked him why he joined the Army.

“I always enjoyed playing with GI Joes,” he joked, before explaining how he likes the structure of the military and the opportunities it provides to see the world.

After graduating from Hamden Hall, Peterson attended St. Joseph’s University before attending the Army ROTC training program at Drexel University. He trained at Fort Benning Airborne School in Georgia and the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland before he embarked on his
tour of duty in Iraq in November 2008.

He served in Baghdad at a joint service station where American and NATO forces trained the Iraqi police and army.

“I was in charge of managing all the concrete to be moved to slice up the divisions,” he said, explaining that “military police platoon trained Iraqi personnel while I was cutting up the base.”

Peterson trained to participate in airfield seizure operations with the 82^nd Airborne Division, but didn’t do that in Iraq. He is currently completing a captain career course at Fort Lee, VA and will be transferred to the 101^st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, KY when he completes the course in September.

He may be deployed to Afghanistan depending on the deployment status of the 101^st Airborne division.

Peterson was proud to serve in Iraq.

“It’s very different being in Iraq, it’s a totally different culture,” he said. “You don’t get out much but I worked with Iraqis and they’re a great people. You know you’re helping them out and they appreciate you just as much.”

When one of the Hamden Hall campers expressed interest in joining the military, Peterson said, “The Army provides great opportunities. They’ll pay for your education. The more you give to the Army,
the more they’ll give you. It gives you leadership and management skills and helps you mature.”

After he finished answering camper questions, the campers lined up to donate gifts to the troops in Afghanistan. Some donated Beanie babies, which soldiers give to Afghan children.