Members of the Mineola's volunteer organizations - the fire department, ambulance corps and auxiliary police - are some of the most dedicated residents in the village. One member of Mineola's bravest showed his dedication and courage half a world away. Matthew Doyle, a member of Engine Company #3 of the Mineola Fire Department, returned from Iraq to an overjoyed family and will now spend Christmas in his hometown of Mineola.

It was over three years ago that Doyle joined the Mineola Fire Department and since his return from Iraq and Fort Carson, Colorado, where his infantry division is based, he simply wants his pager back to answer calls for the fire department.

But Doyle's commitment and dedication stretches far beyond the borders of Mineola. Upon graduating from The Wheatley School, he enlisted in the United States Army on August 10, 2004, even at the time when the nation had begun military operations in the Middle East.

"I would say the events of September 11 had a lot to do with it," said Doyle about his decision to enlist. "Also, I was looking for some direction and the Army definitely gave it to me."

On December 3, 2005, less than a month before Christmas, Doyle's unit, the 1st Battalion, 8th Regiment of the Fourth Infantry Division, was deployed to Iraq. "I knew exactly as soon as I joined that I was going to be going over there," Doyle said. "As soon as I finished basic training, I remember this distinctly, one of my drill sergeants said about 80 percent of you guys are going to be going over to Iraq or Afghanistan within the next year or so. I was a little nervous, but I knew with the training I had, we would get the job done the right way and that we'd get through the year."

Stationed at Forward Operations Base Paliwoda near the town of Balad, 60 miles northeast of Baghdad, Doyle served in a bomb squad for the Army, providing escort and security for Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams. It was a dangerous assignment considering the roadside bombs. "It was tough because we didn't have any sleep schedule. We were on call 24 hours a day. The heat was really bad and the bugs were really bad," he said.

In Iraq, Doyle was faced with dangerous situations but he got through it with the knowledge that he had a loving family and friends and home in Mineola to go home to. "It feels great," said Doyle about being home.

He will spend Christmas with his parents Nancy and John, his sister Elizabeth and brothers Brian and Christopher. It will be the first Christmas he will be home since 2003.

Having their son home for Christmas is just fine with Nancy and John Doyle. "It's really a Christmas," said Nancy Doyle. "We're extremely proud of what he's done because he knew what he was getting into and it was a very brave choice."

At the Village of Mineola Board of Trustees meeting last Wednesday, Mayor Jack M. Martins and the board of trustees as well as the Mineola Fire Department welcomed Doyle back with a ceremony during which he was given a proclamation and applauded for his service to the nation.

Doyle said mostly everything in Mineola looks the same. He may have grown as a person from his experiences in the Army, but he is happy to be home with family and friends. His homecoming has been the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for.