Real Heroes at E3

Well the rumors were true, the US Army showed up to this year’s E3 convention in force. I’ve spent the last few hours bouncing between the static displays outside (which, rumor has it, attracted some anti-war protestors) and the America’s Army room in the West Hall of the convention center.

I showed up hoping to get the real story on the impact of America’s Army (official game of the US Army) on recruitment. That plan went straight out the window after I met the a few troops from the US Army’s Real Heroes program.

Troops like Staff Sergeant and Silver Star recepient Matt Zedwick:

I had the opportunity to sit down with Matt for a few minutes yesterday. We talked about his actions in Iraq, and the Real Heroes program. It’s exciting stuff folks.

You may have heard that the Army commissioned a toy company to produce action figures based on real soldiers. This is part of the same effort, only now the America’s Army team is putting guys like Zedwick into the latest version of the game.

The idea behind Real Heroes is simple: mainstream actual Army troops through the internet, the America’s Army video game, and action-figures.

You can read up on the program here, and be sure to check out Sgt. Zedwick’s Silver Star write-up below the fold.

SGT Zedwick was the driver of the third vehicle, in a four vehicle combat patrol north of Camp Taji when a vehicle borne IED hit and destroyed his HMMWV, killing his gunner and severly wounding the vehicle commander. Despite sustaining extensive wounds himself, SGT Zedwick pulled the truck commander from the flaming vehicle and immediately went back for the gunner. The burning HMMWV subsequently became the target f intense small arms fire. SGT Zedwick instinctively returned to his injured truck commander despite the increasing barrage of enemy fire and insured that he was safely behind cover. With the truck commander’s saftey established, SGT Zedwick again ran back thru the enemy’s assault to the HMMWV to attempt to retrieve the body of the gunner. Unable to do so, SGT Zedwick retrieved weapons and the radio before rounds started cooking off in the flaming vehicle. Again facing heavy enemy fire, SGT Zedwick returned with the sensitive items and continued to administer aid to the wounded truck commander and defend against the enemy ambush until they were both medically evacuated. SGT Zedwick’s actions embody the warrior ethos. His repeated disregard for his own personal safety to ensure the safety of his comrades and the completion of the mission is a testament to his character and bravery. His gallantry in the face of the enemy reflects great credit upon himself, the Ghost Battalion, the First Cavalry Division and the United States Army.