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The Wenatchee World | Tuesday, November 10, 2020
CPL. MATTHEW HEPNER U.S. Marines 1999–2003
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atthew was born in Redmond, Washington in 1980 and raised in the Covington area of Washington. Upon graduation from Kentwood Hight School Matthew shipped out for basic training the day after graduation in the summer of 1999. Initially under an infantry contract he was transferred to the Air Wing as an Aviation Electrician and he was stationed with VMA-513 attack Squadron “the Nightmares” in Yuma, Arizona. Cpl. Hepner was selected for a secondary billet as well and was one of the first Marine Corps martial arts instructors at Yuma Air Station. After 9/11 Matthew and the 513 nightmares were sent to Afghanistan from 2002-2003. While there Matthew received the Naval
BRAD HERSEL
U.S. Army 2008–2013
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rad joined the U.S. Army in 2008 as a MOS 11C infantry mortarman. He went to basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After 4 ½ months of basic training he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was placed in the 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment also known as “Rangers.” He was deployed to Iraq from 2009–2010. Then Brad was deployed to Afghanistan from 2012–2013 where he earned a combat infantry badge. Brad got out of the Army in 2013 after four years and 11 months of dedicated service. Brad’s story was proudly submitted Wayne Hersel.
Commendation Medal for his work teaching close combat, hand-to-hand and knife fighting. After being stop losssed, Matthew was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps. After his military duty Matthew moved to the Wenatchee Valley and joined the electrical apprenticeship, where he completed a program and became a journeyman wireman. Working closely with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers he helps draft policies to benefit working families. He was elected to East Wenatchee City Council in 2017 and is currently still actively serving his community where he lives with his wife Jennifer and daughter Haven. Matthew proudly submitted his story.