January 21, 2004
Campbell, California
Since 1999
Reprinted with permission "The Campbell Reporter"
Now You See It, Now You Don't
He's a long way from home, but First Lt. Matthew Wadler, the son of Campbell resident Herman Wadler, still enjoys entertaining people with his magic tricks.
Stationed in Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion, 321 Field Artillery Regiment out of Fort Bragg, N.C., Wadler shares the fun of magic with Afghani orphans. The box on his knee (in the top photograph) is where he stores the cards he uses for his magic tricks.
Wadler, 31, has been doing magic since he was 10 years old. He graduated from Westmont High School and enlisted in the army in 1992 as an Airborne MP.
As for his current assignment, Wadler says, "Overall the people of Afghanistan have been overwhelmingly supportive and friendly toward the soldiers. The conditions that we live under are comparatively good, with hot meals, hot showers and regular mail."
And he added, "We are seeing overwhelming support from the U.S. in the form of care packages."