MATT FARRIS Matt Farris was a Blacksburg High junior sitting in an English classroom when televised reports of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks helped send him on a journey halfway around the world to help protect his country's freedom.

"I had been thinking for a long time about going into the Army after I graduated from high school. I made my decision there," said Farris, recalling his reaction after watching television reports about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. "It wasn't the only reason, but it was a factor in my decision."

Farris joined the U.S. Army immediately after he graduated from Blacksburg High in 2003. He completed basic training in September of 2003 and spent a short two week stint at Fort Drum, N.Y., before his military unit was deployed.

Farris spent four months in Afghanistan and returned in May from a year-long deployment in Iraq. His brother, Daniel, is a U.S. Army Reserve who is headed to Iraq next year.

Farris returned to his alma mater Friday as the guest speaker for this year's Blacksburg High Veterans Day program. He was a defensive back on the 2002 football team which went undefeated in the regular season.

"We really appreciated all the care packages from students," Farris said. "It really helped us out a lot."

Farris spent his time in Iraq as an infantryman looking for an enemy that couldn't be identified by the color of their sports jersey.

His time was typically divided into 12-hour patrol shifts followed by 36 hours of down time back at camp.

"It was very hot. The average temperature was 110 to 116 degrees. We would walk around in the heat carrying gear on our backs that weighed 60 to 70 pounds," Farris said. "I hate drinking water. I would drink seven to eight bottles of water a day. I had to drink water to keep from getting sick from the heat. When we weren't out on patrol, I would eat and sleep as much as possible."

The hot temperatures and poverty conditions for Iraqi people were a contrast to the life of luxury Farris saw inside a palace built by former dictator Saddam Hussein. Farris joined some soldiers in visiting the palace during one period of down time.

Farris described a 4-story, 127,000 square-foot palace with gold fixtures in the bathrooms.

Farris said Iraqi residents helped the troops where they could in fighting insurgents. American troops discovered hidden stockpiles of weapons, ranging from Russian bombs to AK-47 assault rifles.

The palace was a rare example of the luxury in Iraq.

"Our first couple of weeks we were staying in air-conditioned trailers and were able to take a shower every day or two," he said. "There were times when we were on patrol when we would go 30 to 40 days without taking a shower."

Faris received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army three weeks ago. He is now making the transition from military to civilian life.

"I just found out this morning I got accepted to Limestone," said Faris, following Friday's program. "I plan to enroll in January."