BOSTON, MA – On behalf of UMass Boston and UMass Boston Athletics, we extend our deepest gratitude to all those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Military. Your dedication, commitment, and sacrifices to protect our nation's freedom are truly appreciated. 

UMass Boston Athletics had the privilege of welcoming Earl Spetrini, one of our Athletic Facilities Managers, to share his experiences from his time serving overseas. He provided valuable insights into the lessons he learned during his service and reflected on how we can continue to honor those who have selflessly committed to protecting our nation. 
 

Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Earl moved to the South Shore at the age of 13, where he still resides today. He began his journey at UMass Boston in 2005, initially working as a part-time driver for then-Chancellor J. Keith Motley. Now, as the Athletics Facilities Manager, Earl has become an integral and well-loved personality within UMass Boston Athletics. Whether he's working in the Clark Athletics Center or any of the other facilities, Earl's presence is unmistakable. His enthusiastic energy and positive, fun-loving attitude has made him a favorite among student-athletes.  

What many may not know about Earl is his background in the U.S. Army. He took the opportunity to share some of the most important lessons he learned during his service, and how we can continue to honor those who have served.

Earl enlisted in the service at the age of 19, during his senior year of high school in 2000. The following year, the tragic events of 9/11 dramatically altered the global landscape. In 2003, Earl embarked on his first tour to Iraq, serving with the Army National Guard in a transportation unit. He recalls, "We were the 1058th from Hingham, a transportation company. I was stationed in Saddam Hussein's hometown, at a place called 'Camp Speicher.'" He spent 366 days there during that deployment. 

"First, we transported troops, and then we became gun trucks. We provided security for third-country nationals, hauling fuel and food from Tikrit all the way up to Mosul… Then we'd head down to Kuwait, pick up food, and drive back to Mosul, which was about a 13-hour trip one way," Earl recalls. When asked about the challenges he faced, he paused before responding, "Well… getting shot at a lot. That's something you have to get used to." 

He navigated interactions with people from many different countries, some of whom didn't get along. "We learned that the hard way," he says. Earl added that any feelings of homesickness for family or friends had to be pushed aside. "Whether you're having a good day or a bad one, the enemy doesn't care. You just have to do your job." 

He remembers that in the early days, call centers were scarce, and he could only contact loved ones while in Kuwait. Another challenge was adjusting to a completely different diet. "When I first arrived, there wasn't a chow hall, so I had to get used to eating MREs [Meals Ready to Eat]." 

During his second tour in 2006, Spetrini was stationed at Camp Taji, located about 25 minutes outside of Baghdad. For 11 months, his primary responsibility was hauling decommissioned Humvees and transporting vital resources like food, water, and ammunition. Each night, for 11 months, he would make three trips. 

On his second and third tours, Spetrini took on an increased leadership role as a sergeant. In addition to his regular duties, he was tasked with overseeing the health and welfare of his squadron. Reflecting on this responsibility, he explained, "I had to learn how they responded to situations and how they viewed certain things. I had to work on getting the laziness out of them… We had to become more like truck maintenance specialists because, out in the field, there's no AAA or 9-1-1. It was a lot of relying on ourselves and making sure our people stayed healthy." 

He recalled his final tour in 2010: "That was my most difficult one, just nine months. My son was born while I was overseas. One day, I was about to go on a mission when they pulled me aside and told me I was going home. It took three days and a lot of paperwork to get processed and head back. I had a month of leave at the beginning, then had to return to complete another nine and a half months. Those nine and a half months were tough; the worrying was draining. 

I was fortunate to be stationed in Kuwait, where the phone system was much better. Kuwait is a big city, and we had access to phones and Skype, which helped a lot. But once you crossed the border into Iraq, you had to push those thoughts of home aside. I told myself I wasn't going to have kids while in the military after seeing many of my fellow soldiers go through that. I promised myself this would be my last tour. I knew that when I came home, I wouldn't be going back on another deployment. 

The war in Iraq ended, and I thought, 'That's it, I'm done, I'm coming home.' But coming home to a baby was a whole new experience. The crying was overwhelming at first, but eventually, I got used to it." 

Spetrini's leadership evolved significantly during his second and third tours, as he took on an increasingly demanding role in an already perilous environment. In addition to caring for his troops, he was responsible for resource and time management, along with a substantial increase in "clerical work." The leadership skills he developed during his military service often carry over into his work today. However, now, in a college setting and as a father, Spetrini expresses himself in ways that uplift and brighten the experiences of those around him. 

When reflecting on the biggest lessons he learned during his time in the Army, Spetrini said, "It was learning how to deal with people, especially those from different backgrounds. I had to figure out how to work with younger people, older people, and people of various nationalities because the National Guard isn't just one group. I've met amazing individuals from the Samoan Islands, incredible guys from Brazil, and many others from different walks of life. You learn to navigate those differences, whether people get along or not." 

After nearly a decade of service, Spetrini has spent the last 20 years as a valued member of the Beacons' community. So, what keeps him coming back year after year, continuing to impact the lives of those around him? With a warm smile, he replied, "The student-athletes are just wonderful. That's what keeps me coming back—they treat me so well. I've never had a bad experience with any of them; they've all been great. I try to tone it down a bit and not be 'Sergeant Spetrini.' Not everyone on a college campus has been through boot camp, and a small minority even knows someone in the military. It can be a challenging dynamic at times, but I'm known as the goofball. I'm competitive and want to see everyone succeed, and we have a lot of fun doing that. I'm always willing to teach those who want to learn. Everyone deserves it. We all bleed the same color. It doesn't matter who you love or what race you identify with; we live in a country with freedoms, and we get to experience that every day." 

Spetrini wrapped up the conversation with simple yet meaningful advice on how to show gratitude to veterans and active service members: "The biggest thing… if you ever see someone wearing a hat or something like that, just thank them. Thank them for their service. It's that simple. Every day, just be thankful to live in a country with freedoms. We might not always see things the same way, but we live in a country where we have rights—rights to express ourselves in the way we live, and that's something to be grateful for. A simple 'thank you' goes a long way." 

Once again, UMass Boston Athletics extends its heartfelt thanks to all who are currently serving or have served in the past. We are deeply grateful for your sacrifices and honored to compete under the American flag.