Oregon State University Student, Oregon Army National Guardsman, Military Hero, Silver Star recipient, action figure, and now Deal or No Deal contestant. Matt Zedwick will go for the $1 million prize on a special two-hour Deal or No Deal on Thursday, Christmas night, airing from 8-10 p.m. PST and will answer the question: Deal or No Deal?

From KTVZ, Zedwick is “an Iraq veteran and modern day hero, Zedwick, a staff sergeant with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 162 Infantry, based in Corvallis was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star after he pulled his squad leader from their burning HMMWV after it hit an IED in 2004. He became the first Oregon soldier to receive this honor since WWII. The Silver Star is the third highest medal a soldier can receive.”

So what will he do with the money if he wins big? Zedwick hopes to use his winnings to provide for his wife and donate some money to a charity for children who lost their parents in the war in Iraq. His wife, the former Kristin Van Dusen, grew up Astoria and is also a student at OSU.

The Army has previously honored Zedwick by creating a character in his likeness for the America’s Army Real Heroes program, which tells the stories of heroic soldiers. As part of the program, Zedwick is featured in the America’s Army computer game and has his own action figure (or as the Banker on the TV show refers to it, a “doll.”)

Best of luck, Matt! Below, I’ve posted some photos from KTVZ and The Daily Astorian and a youtube video on Matt’s story. (longer version here). Read his bio by visiting America’s Army Hero website.

Also, support a troop! Buy a soldier a ticket to see the OSU Beavers play in the the Sun Bowl by clicking here. Learn more about OSU’s Army ROTC program here.

–mko

On my gorgeously sunny drive to campus this morning I heard a great story on NPR about OSU Alumnus, Joshua Mater, a US Army Captain. Mater was recently wounded in Iraq when a rocket exploded near him in May.

From the Oregonian:

Capt. Joshua Mater, now stationed at Fort Bragg, has gathered about 200 engineering textbooks donated by the faculty at Oregon State.

They’re intended to help students at Dhi Qar University in southern Iraq learn how to construct roads, provide electricity and build bridges. The school has 10,000 students, one of the largest in the nation.

snip

Ron Adams, dean of the College of Engineering, said the texts were worth about $20,000, and they’re of recent vintage.

“The specific request was for 21st century textbooks,” he said.

It goes without saying that well trained engineers will make a huge difference as Iraq sets to the task of rebuilding itself. Just goes to show, that Land Grant service before self attitude, never fades! Kudos to Capt. Mater, keep up the good work.

-jm