“Our men and women in uniform are making sacrifices,” President Bush proclaimed during his annual State of the Union speech. “They’re “showing a sense of duty stronger than all fear.”

Friday, December 23 Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield announced the first reduction of troops in Iraq since the summer of 2004. However, two days later Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Peter Pace warned, “The enemy has a vote in this, and if they were to cause some kind of problems that required more troops… in that case, you could see troop levels go up.”

As of Friday, January 27 USA Today reports the United States death toll in Iraq is 2,235. As we approach the three-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, not many civilians know the actual death toll, or let alone the number serving. After three years it’s easy to mistake Jessica Lynch for Lynndie England. Americans' attention spans are short, and for the Bush Administration it’s been a double edge sword. While citizens have lost interest in names faces, and claims of victory, they have also lost interest and faith in the progress of the war.

The announcement of a troop reduction may pacify some of the nations worries, however a troop reduction doesn’t do much for the service members that already know the cost of war, or those that are about to learn.

Army Specialist Matthew Carter was activated just two weeks before the announcement of the planned troop reduction with only nine months left on his contract. “I was devastated,” Matt exhales. His three-year relationship with his best friend and first love, Connie Liberto, had just ended. He wasn’t quite over it; however he was trying to move on with his life. He had planned to re-enroll at Mt. San Antonio Community College (Mt. Sac) in Walnut, California, majoring in Music. A bank teller by day for Washington Mutual, he works as a construction equipment repair man one weekend a month.

Just an hour after President Bush’s State of the Union speech, Carter shows no interest in the politics of war. He didn’t see nor did he know it was airing. While he respects everyone’s opinion he insist that no one knows how it is to be a soldier unless their enlisted.

“Whenever anything political comes on TV... like the news, I change the channel,” Carter admits.

Carter’s friends call him Matt. They describe as humble and quiet, yet outgoing. He graduated from Duarte High School. Duarte is a small suburb located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. City welcome signs dub it the “City of Hope.” Carter has lived with his grandmother, Mayor Pro Tem Lois Gaston, since his junior year of high school. Gaston has served as a city council woman for the last 10 years as well as in various church positions and on foundation boards including the Foothill Unity Center. His biological mother has lived in Colorado since 1995, after accepting a job offer with MCI WorldCom. His stepfather is a retired army sergeant. And his biological father struggles with alcohol abuse.

Carter never discussed his decision to enlist with his family. Although he excelled in sports throughout high school, during his first semester at Mt. Sac he grew tired of sports and dropped out before the season even started. Not sure what he wanted to do, he just so happened to skip class one day when he was approached on campus by a recruiter for the US Army. “Sports was sort of my ticket, but I just didn’t want to do it anymore… at the time it just seemed like something to do.” He was determined to prove to his family and himself that he was doing something with his life.

His family didn’t approve of him enlisting, but understood his reasons. Today, his dad worries, while his mother is comforted in Colorado by his stepfather. “He was in the army,” Matt explains, “so he knows how it is… he can keep her calm.” Asked whether he regrets enlisting, he’s quick to answer yes. However, he elaborates, “No matter what I think about what goes on in the military, the training I got… I think every man should receive.” Boot Camp energized him, but after returning home, it wasn’t long before the one weekend a month he had to report to duty became a nuisance.

Carter is scheduled to leave in April. There is no specific date set. Once a midnight marauder, creating music beats on his keyboard late into the night, now it’s work and partying. He insist, the new years resolution he made to cut back on the partying, has only taken a back seat until he leaves. His alcohol consumption has risen and the fear that once motivated him to enlist haunts him. “I never wanted to end up like my dad,” he confesses.

The anticipation has also made the break up with his girlfriend that much harder to get over. Iraq has become a rebound getaway. “It would be easier if I had something at home while I was over there to come back too,” he admits. He thinks in the same terms when considering the fact that he may not return. Although he realizes he has the support of many friends as well as family, the fact that he’s lost his best friend echoes through everything he has to consider before and after his tour, including the extra compensation he’ll receive from being on active duty. He can’t imagine the money serving a purpose for just himself. Finishing school is the first and only thing on his list when he returns.

He try’s not to worry too much about having to leave. “I’m just ready to go,” he confesses, “I don’t even want people to worry about me. Just keep ya heads up.” He has no plans to re-enlist, however when asked if there’s a price on the decision he hesitates, and then insist he wouldn’t. Although he does regret enlisting without considering all of the consequences he is very much aware of his responsibility, “I see it as a second job. You feel out an application, go through an interview… and if you’re late you get written up.”