Faith Under Fire: A Commander’s Journey in Afghanistan
How faith, brotherhood, and resilience shaped one soldier’s life | Guest post from Matthew James Hersch
It was early morning in Kabul, Afghanistan, and the day began with what I mistook for distant fireworks—until the unmistakable roar of incoming rockets shattered the illusion.
As an MRAP truck commander yelled “INCOMING!” I dove for cover, feeling the pressure waves from the missiles pass overhead before they exploded just 200 yards from our CH 47 helicopter staging area.
After tense silence and a cautious hour, we finally radioed the helicopters into the landing zone and boarded for what would be a harrowing four-hour journey south to Forward Operating Base Lightning/Thunder in Gardez, Paktia Province.
During the flight, we stopped at seven bases, “hot fueling” helicopters and shuffling troops in and out amid the cold December air. As we approached our destination, we crested a treacherous mountain saddle. As both helicopters were struggling and laboring to make the elevation height of the pass, the lead CH-47, which I was on, lurched violently to the right and then back hard to the left as all three door gunners opened fire on multiple targets below, and our pilot maneuvered us through the pass.
When we landed, shaken but safe, my shipmates and I collapsed in the bitter cold on that desolate LZ, trying to process what had happened.
One teammate asked, “Commander Hersch, WHAT were you thinking?”
He related how everyone else was making as small as they could get and he saw me sitting up straight against the fuselage with a very peaceful and content look on my face. He had noticed my calm demeanor amid chaos and wanted to know the secret behind it.
With a laugh, I explained that my first thought was that we were not going to get out of this situation alive. The mountain we were cresting was made of the sharpest and sheerest rock I had ever seen and there was no way we were going to survive if we went down.
My second thought was that I hoped the pilots and crew were good at their jobs. I mean, really good.
My last thoughts had turned to God, Family, Country, and Friends. As a devout Catholic, these four pillars guide me in moments of prayer and crisis. I felt ready to meet God, confident after a good confession the day before.
I knew my family, though heartbroken, would find strength in their faith. I knew my wife would be generously compensated and that she would be able to continue her life in a manner and direction she chose. My country, which I serve proudly, gave me a sense of purpose.
And my friends, men of faith, would remember me fondly, knowing I died for something I believed in.
Brotherhood and Transformation
Fifty years ago, I graduated from Cathedral Preparatory School for Boys in Erie, Pennsylvania. Transferring in after ninth grade from the public school system, I was welcomed by classmates who had 9 years of strong Catholic education and formation.
Overwhelmed at first, I soon found myself embraced as a prodigal son, joining a Band of Brothers that changed the course of my life. I married a classmate’s sister, fathered six children, and am now blessed with six sons- and daughters-in-law and seventeen grandchildren.
At my 40-year class reunion, I was devastated to learn that half my classmates had drifted away from the faith.
It was a painful realization—how could those who had embraced and taught me the Catholic faith so well leave it behind?
Renewal and Hope
Today, thanks to the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance (CMLA), we are in a unique position to help men rediscover their faith.
Through dedicated evangelization and support, we strive to bring those searching for meaning back to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
God bless and fight hard.
Matthew James Hersch
Founder – Roman Catholic Knight
“Out of every one-hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior and he will bring the others back.” Heraclitus