Home at Last, Home at Last

Whew! 15 months away from Dawn and the boys was a true test of endurance. When we were first informed that our twelve month deployment was lengthened to 15 months in support of the "surge", we took it in stride. But when those "extra" months came upon us, it seemed like more than 3 additional months to us. When a 4 mile run turns into 5 miles, that last mile can seem like an eternity when your lungs are burning and your legs are rubbery. Seeing the family and friends of our Soldiers on Cotrell Field at Fort Stewart was a sweet experience. Anyone who considers the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform worthy of their respect, must also consider the sacrifices made by their families. I am humbled by the sweet support of my wife, our sons--and all those who have helped care for them while I've been deployed.



(The sign Benjamin is holding in the above picture is inspired by google/gmail's chat interface that Dawn and I sometimes used to stay connected with one another during the deployment. If she were signed in, there would be a green dot next to her name. The two green dots represent our connection. As brilliant as her idea was, I was too sleep deprived and exhausted from the previous week's travel to get it right away.)

I have included a few pictures here of our reunion ceremony. We marched onto the field with stripped down uniforms (all ammunition and other combat equipment had previously been removed), rendered a salute to the national flag as the national anthem was played, sang the "Dog-Face Soldier" (3rd Infantry Division song), and the Army Song--then we were released to our families. That's when we really felt like singing. I confess, being home seems surreal; I keep waiting to wake from this sweet dream. Please continue to keep our Soldiers in your thoughts and prayers as we reintegrate with our families and society in general. Please continue to remember the families of our brothers killed-in-action: Matthew Zeimer, Kelly Youngblood, Forrest Waterbury, Adrian Lewis, Daniel Cagle, and Steve Butcher. Thank you for your tremendous support during this last deployment.

Farewell Friends

Before leaving Iraq for Fort Stewart, Georgia, we paid one last visit to our dear friend Sheik Hayis (spelled "Heiss" in previous posts below). Our commander, LTC Silverman, has developed a genuine and meaningful friendship with Sheik Hayis, whose leadership has been influential--even pivotal--in the success in Al-Anbar in general, and Jazeera specifically. His friendship with LTC Silverman has been extended to me, and in addition to introducing me to Sheik Abdullah, he was also instrumental in that relationship's development. Sheik Hayis and I exchanged gifts (see post "Cultural Exchange" 20 August below), and you will see he displays the Prayer at Valley Forge print above his grandfather clock.

In addition to discussing the province's progress and the importance of incorporating the rising generation of Iraqis into the stabilization and growth process, we enjoyed a traditional meal of lamb, chicken and fish with rice, pita bread and fresh vegetables. As we ate, Sheik Hayis shared with us a video recording of a local group of dervishes who performed for him the previous evening. In states of religious ecstasy, these dervishes impaled themselves with swords (through their torsos, skulls, throats, etc.) burned themselves, and demonstrated other bizarre and violent skills that they believe demonstrate the limitless support God gives to those fully devoted. As fascinating as it was to watch, my appetite suffered.
It was difficult for LTC Silverman and Sheik Hayis to say farewell to one another. Sheik Hayis' place has long been associated with progress, and the members of the colonel's and sergeant major's PSDs (personal security details) were anxious to say goodbye to him and have their pictures taken with him. I am including a recent picture of many of them here.

Easter Sunrise: Up Early, Up Top

With so little time before we redeploy back to Fort Stewart and reunite with our families and friends, it can be difficult to focus and appreciate the Easter event for its foundational role in providing meaning and purpose in our lives. In an effort to reclaim this understanding, we woke early this Easter morning to celebrate Easter in a sunrise worship service. We collected what few chairs and benches remain in the area and gathered on the roof of our battalion headquarters. We were senior leaders and junior Soldiers, male and female, black and white, and represented a vast array of denominations to include those with no religious preference--only in combat do we see such unity in diversity. We opened singing "Holy, Holy, Holy" and SGT Goudy offered the invocation. SSG Smith, SPC Willis, and CSM Johnson provided our gospel readings, and COL Rathje prayed for us and led us in the Lord's Prayer. SPC Thomas played the guitar and SGT Dewalt led us in singing "Amazing Grace". SPC Thomas expressed concern that his rendition may have been a bit too country. We were also joined by several civilian contractors and interpreters whose fellowship has been a blessing to us this fifteen months.

Among the principles we discussed this morning was the renewal of life that often occurs in the desert. Whether it's ancient Israel, the Savior himself, or those deployed to combat zones in the middle east., the opportunity to set aside the clutter and clamour of the world's distractions and focus on one mission can be a blessing (as long as it's not too long, of course). We must allow him to focus us that we may remember that God calls us into personal relationship with him; he does this through Jesus. He calls us by name. It was Jesus speaking her name, that caused Mary to recognize him. It was Jesus blessing and offering his disciples food that caused them to see him. Even though, at first, their eyes did not identify him--they later recalled that their hearts burned as he opened to them the scriptures. Broken and sinful, we must not think we can be his disciples without fully relying on his redeeming grace. When we think such discipleship is too hard, it is usually because we are trying to do it all on our own. It's not too hard; it's impossible. And yet "with God, all things are possible" (Matt 19:26). Jesus' disciples in the first century were just as clueless and scared as we are in the twenty-first century. The hope that comes from his Resurrection overcomes our fears.

It has been an inexpressible joy to witness the spiritual maturity of many leaders and Soldiers during this deployment. Some of the darker moments of this tour were particular opportunities for growth and understanding. Just as we sometimes witness Soldiers who have become physical or psychological casualties--the threat of becoming a spiritual casualty is equally real. I thank God that so many of our Soldiers have developed a relationship with him and continue to find his peace.

Combined Presence

Now that we have ceased combat operations and turned over our battle space to incoming units, we are gathered together here at Camp Ramadi. Over the past 15 months, we have been spread out--so the nearly 900 Soldiers of our battalion is something we haven't witnessed since before we left Fort Stewart back in the winter of 2006. Now that everyone's returned from their respective areas of operation, it's a little over whelming to see everyone together in one place. As companies began sending their Soldiers in, we had a battalion formation with just over half of our Soldiers present. The Commander addressed a few issues relating to the turning in of vehicles and equipment. I am including a few pictures here of that early evening formation--as the sun was descending into the dusty horizon. To be sure, every Soldier dreads formations--especially if they are long. That being said, there is still an element of pride to experiencing what it means to be a part of something much larger than yourself. Hardship, boredom, and even grief can be forgotten in the moment a unit sounds off with it's motto: ours is "Speed and Power!"

Another aspect of our imminent return is award ceremonies. Soldiers and leaders receive medals for their combat service and valorous acts. We had a good handful of young men receive the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medals with Valor. SFC Rodriguez was awarded the Silver Star. Several received the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry and Combat Action Badges. Although it would be great to receive these medals in the company of our families and friends back home--our reintegration training and leave schedule precludes us from making the needed time. LTC Silverman is pictured here presenting the Bronze Star to SSG Saechow and offering our battalion's OIF V coin to SSG Weston and the Soldiers of Charlie Company 2-7 Infantry, who were attached to us the entire deployment.

Weathering Highs and Lows

Iraq has peculiar weather and terrain conditions. When I first arrived in Iraq in January 2005, I was surprised by how cold and rainy it was. There seemed to be a couple of months of winter, a month of spring, and then the rest of the time was summer. It seemed this was a land of extremes. The dust storms were particularly miserable. As stated below, the sand in Iraq is not beach sand; it's not tiny pebbles, but dust from clay; it is fine, powder like flour. This dust gets everywhere! It can destroy computers and other equipment just as quickly as it can get into every nook of your sinus cavity. We welcome the rain as it knocks down the dust and clears the air--but it sure makes it miserably muddy. I am including a few pictures of the weather here lately. Nearing the end of March--it doesn't feel like Spring--it's too hot. But just last week we experienced a memorable dust storm. The picture above is a satellite photo of Iraq. You can see the dust storm moving in on the west and the clouds on the east (right).

Reintergration & Reunion

Over the past several weeks I have been giving classes to our Soldiers in preparation for our redeployment to Fort Stewart, Georgia and our reintegration with our families. As mentioned in an earlier post below, the first class I provided addressed the issues of suicide awareness and sharing combat experiences. The ideal size of a group attending these classes is about 30-40 Soldiers, allowing me to customize the material and provide for exchange and conversation. Each class or brief was a little over one-hour long. Today, at JSS Hawas, I finished the last of these briefs; I have conducted 44 of them. LTC Silverman, CSM Sumner and 1SG Biggs have sometimes joined me in teaching—their occasional presence not only lends validation to the subject matter, but gives me a much needed breather. The repetition turns my brain to mush, but the unique dynamic of each group has helped keep me focused. At the risk of sounding boastful, I must say these briefs have been an absolute success. Soldiers’ attentiveness and engagement during the conversations have less to do with my skill and presentation and more to do with their own appreciation for the challenges that lie before us upon our return home. Soldiers always stick around afterwards with individual questions or to make appointments for counsel.

The subject matter of this second class has been divided into three sections: self-care, family-care, and the contrast between combat and garrison life. Within the realm of self-care, we discuss diet, exercise, sleep, alcohol, and finances. (The principle to remember in every case is self-discipline.) As sweet as it is to be home, Soldiers and leaders can easily become frustrated and irritated with the lack of purpose and mission they experience when compared to what they regularly experienced in combat.

One of the seven Army Values is integrity. I have explained that the root word of integrity is “integer”—yes, the same word we were introduced to in math class. Just as an integer is a whole number, such as 2, 3, or 4—and a 2 is a 2, and not a 3—having integrity is being true to who I am: who I am as a professional, as a husband, father, son, friend, neighbor, etc. Furthermore, the goal of reintegration is to be true and loyal in my roles as husband, father, and Soldier. Reintegrating is the process of finding our groove—so to speak—in being true to the roles that help define us. It’s unimaginable that one could return from combat and reintegrate without difficulty; we will all hit a few speed bumps along the way; some of us will hit a brick wall. Recognizing that difficulties are common can help us patiently endure this season of adjustment.

Among the issues of great interest is intimacy. Soldiers—and most in our society—understand this word as a synonym for sex. It is essential we understand it to mean connection and closeness, and it is therefore helpful to acknowledge there are various forms of intimacy. It is wise for couples to acknowledge their need for sexual, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical intimacies. Every Soldier has changed during his tour, and so have our family members. Change is natural and, of itself, is not a threat. The long separation makes it difficult to connect as easily as we would like, or as we had previously—but patience and time will payoff.

Intimacies or connections can be re-established. Since love is what we do rather than how we feel, we should not be alarmed if the same feelings for one another do not fully and immediately return. They are nurtured in relationships of trust, security and mutual respect. In other words, how we feel for one another (which, is important, no doubt) is largely determined by how we care for or serve one another. So when a leader—because it’s been his custom for the past 15 months—speaks to his wife as if she is one of his Soldiers, she won’t like it. But if she can keep in mind that he likely didn’t intend disrespect, then it will be easier for her to be patient with him as he becomes reacquainted with communicating in a fashion that is personal, rather than professional, and horizontal, rather than a vertical. The same is true of the Soldier whose wife speaks to him as if he is a child. Although offensive, it is wise for him to remember that the mode of communication with which she’s been most familiar during the past 15 months is parent-child. He’s going to use his business tone with her and she’s going to use her maternal tone with him—and each will do well to be patient with the other.

Unfortunately, many of our Soldiers’ marriages have not weathered this storm. Some will return single or in the process of divorce. Others expect that it may soon be the case for them. I counsel couples not to press the issues of contention prematurely. Wait until the dust settles. Seek out any one of the various resources for counseling and marriage enrichment: unit chaplain, family life chaplains, counselors available through http://www.militaryonesource.com/ , or one’s pastor/religious leader—to name only a few.

Finally, it is essential to remember that everything of value comes with a price. The cost of a loving and stable home environment is hard work and patience. That being said, many couples report experiencing increased understanding and connection upon reunion—and what work and patience is required will (for a change) be something they can finally work on together, side-by-side.

Guitars for Grunts

As you all know, when we first arrived in Ramadi in January 2007, things were pretty hot--kinetically speaking. It was immediately clear to us why others had called Ramadi the most dangerous city in the world. We lost our first Soldier--PV2 Matthew Zeimer--while we were still in our right-seat-ride (first week of being shown the area by the outgoing unit), and continued to lose Soldiers somewhat regularly thereafter. Those days were particularly heavy for us. It is with humble gratitude (and I must confess, a little effort to suppress the superstition one experiences with mentioning such things while still in combat) that I acknowledge we've not lost a Soldier since 23 May 2007--the night SSG Steve Butcher and SPC Daniel Cagle were killed in action.

We often speak of our Soldiers killed in action. We regularly pray for their families. The grief counseling I provide is something that continues long after the tragic event of death. Since that time we have been contacted by these Soldiers' family and friends with reassurance that our safety and mission remain in their prayers. A few months ago, I was contacted by Paul Hickman, a former Marine who's organized a charitable organization: Guitars for Grunts. (see http://www.guitarsforgrunts.com/ ) His network of friends provides guitars to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Paul coordinated with Frank De Gennaro to send us a guitar in memory of SPC Daniel Gagle--a Fender Stratacoustic (electric). LTC Silverman, CSM Sumner and I recently visited our Alpha Company Soldiers down at Joint Security Site Sedgwick, and presented the guitar to SPC Cagle's fellow Soldiers. Pictured here is me presenting the guitar to SFC Kelly, Daniel and Steve's platoon sergeant. SPC Dunkle took a few minutes to tune the guitar, and then played for the Soldiers assembled in the mess hall an arrangement of songs including Johnny Cash's well-loved ballad, "A Boy Named Sue". It was a memorable event. It struck me as poignant that of the various ways we express our grief and remember the fallen, expressions of creativity and art are perhaps the most therapeutic. I wish to thank the folks at Guitars for Grunts and every other organization, group, or individual who has supported us during our deployment. Your gifts help keep us from becoming calloused.

The Crew

Over the past several months SGT Tremain and I have facilitated our ministry to Soldiers by joining our Command Sergeant Major in his battlefield circulation. We're usually on the road Mondays through Saturdays. SGT Tremain and I have come to know the crew members on our respective trucks quite well. It's not uncommon for us to be on the road traveling for four hours a day. Not even the ever present threat of IEDs (roadside bombs) is enough to keep these trips through the bland desert from becoming boring.

Our crew consists of the sergeant major; he commands the vehicle. SPC Crerend is our driver and radio operator. PFC Testa is our gunner, and I am the passenger. (During my previous deployment I drove thousands of miles. Now that trucks have turrets and .50 caliber machine guns mounted to them, driving them is viewed as a violation of my strict role as a non-combatant.) Each morning we begin our trip listening over our headsets to the sergeant major reading the daily intelligence summary of threats in the battle space. Each of us wears a Bose headset that allows us to speak to one another within the truck, with the other two gun trucks, and with companies' and higher headquarters. Some of our more interesting conversations of late have concerned NASCAR (I am learning more than I ever wanted to know from the sergeant major), foods and restaurants we're looking forward to when we return to the States, and our favorite TV shows growing up. Because CSM Sumner and I are in our late thirties and SPC Crerend and PFC Testa are in their early twenties, many of our conversations are made even more interesting with the generation gap.

Specialized Ministry

During my battlefield circulation, I visit the Latter-day Saint members of our battalion. As occasion permits, we conduct brief, field worship services, in which we bless and partake of the Sacrament: the LDS equivalent of Communion or the Lord's Supper. It is a simple ceremony, but its familiarity and meaning provide us with a profound sense of peace. Of course, our services seem woefully incomplete without the beautiful distractions common to the worship experience with our families back home: holding my wife's hand, cheerios between the folds of the pew cushions and wrestling with the children to pay attention are a few of my favorites.

The group photo above is of the of Latter-day Saint Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines who worship on Sunday evenings at Camp Ramadi. I visit SSG Risperess (pictured here in his maintenance trailer) and SPC Robinson at JSS Zeimer. SFC Stock and 1LT Denning are pictured below on the occasion of our setting apart Brother Denning as an assistant group leader. PFC Dinkel is the medic for the platoon that has moved from Hurricane Point to Cop Charlie, and recently to COP Bravo. The picture here was taken of us in his aid station, where we had our sacrament meetings. The final picture is of COL Rod Allen at the Government Center. He and I met at Camp Blue Diamond and got to know one another quite well. He's since redeployed, and is back home with his family in California.

Changing of Commands

Of the highlights in an officer's career, among the most cherished is his time as a company commander. This is generally an 18-24 month period, after 5-8 years of service. The size of a company ranges from about 70 (the size of a typical tank company) to more than 200 (the approximate size of our forward support company, which includes mechanics, fuelers, cooks, etc.). A commander is especially fortunate if he has the opportunity of commanding his company in combat. A young lieutenant--fresh out of college and his officer basic course--looks forward to getting to his first unit and the sudden and serious responsibility of being a platoon leader. As a platoon leader, he often looks up to his first company commander and sees him as a mentor. He watches his commander very closely. He knows if he performs well, in the coming years he will have the same opportunity. Company commanders function under a great deal of pressure. The expectations of their battalion and brigade commanders, as well as those from his own Soldiers and NCOs, is a burden without parallel in the civilian world. Most of our company commanders are about 30 years old.

During our deployment, all but two of the eight companies in our battalion (or attached to our battalion) have experienced a "Change of Command". After his time in command, the outgoing company commander steps aside and a new, bright-eyed captain steps into his big shoes. One of the more transparent but critical aspects to this change of command process is the stability the company experiences from the leadership of the company's senior Non-Commissioned officer: the First Sergeant. It is his responsibility to plan, rehearse, and execute the Change of Command Ceremony. The ceremony is rich in tradition. In our battalion we sing our Division Song, "The Dog-Faced Soldier" and the "Army Song". The company guidon is a small flag that identifies the company and serves as a symbol of the commander's authority and responsibility. The outgoing commander passes it to the battalion commander, who passes it to the incoming commander, who then returns it to the First Sergeant. The ceremony gives the outgoing commander and his battalion commander an opportunity to speak to the company's Soldiers in formation. In addition to senior, military leaders our special guests sometimes include local leaders such as the tribal sheikhs pictured here.

Re-deployment Training at Zeimer

Although it's still a ways off, our redeployment to the States requires a good deal of preparation. As others will soon be accounting for equipment, vehicles, etc., my role in this preparation includes conducting briefings for all of our Soldiers. Over the next three weeks, the topics I will cover range from the sober--suicide prevention and awareness--to the humorous--highlights and lowlights of Soldiers' combat experiences. Quality demands that these briefs and discussions take place in small group settings--ideally, one platoon at-a-time. As spread out as our Soldiers are, this will take a while. After these topics are covered, it will take another few weeks to address the even more delicate issues related to reunion with family and life back home.

There are several reasons why those who have experienced combat choose not to discuss it with their loved ones back home. Most often, Soldiers explain that others will not be able to relate. Some explain that they're uncertain how others would react, and don't want to be judged. Quite a few acknowledge that some of what they've experienced they wish they could forget--so why would they talk about it with spouses, parents, or friends? My approach is to explain that it is always going to be easiest to discuss these events amongst ourselves. A single name of a place or a person conjures countless mental images and emotional responses--much can be communicated, though little is said. However, this is a cop out. Bonding with others always requires effort. Everything of great value comes at great effort. Our family and friends are worth the effort it takes to share. It takes effort to give the back story; it takes patience--both to find the words and to listen.

Bravo's Bridge Operation

A while back, the enemy destroyed a bridge used to cross a river in our area of operations. Then, before any efforts to repair it, they blew it up again, and again--never quite satisfied with their efforts. More recently our engineers have constructed a new bridge just upriver. Our Soldiers in Bravo company share the responsibility of guarding the bridge and the area in the vicinity. Each week a different group of Soldiers goes up to the bridge and takes shifts in the over watch towers. Iraqi Army soldiers are there too. They inspect the vehicles crossing. In the picture up top, a convoy of Iraqi Army gun trucks roll across the bridge.

SGT Tremain and I visited with SSG Knudsen and his squad, while CSM Sumner met with their platoon sergeant, SFC Rodriguez. (Pictured next to me here at the top of one tower is SGT "Q".) I took the opportunity to take a few pictures of our Soldiers keeping warm next to a fire, and a few who were snug in their beds. For the week they are up at the bridge, these guys are away from what few comforts Hawas provides: electricity, heat, Internet, phones and occasional showers.

Return to Ramadi

We are at a different area of Camp Ramadi than we were when we first arrived here about a year ago. Camp Ramadi is much larger than Camp Blue Diamond. Based on my runs for exercise, I suspect it is about 5 miles in diameter. Its roads are not paved. And now that it's rainy season--the fine powder clay/dust makes for a magically and troublesome glue-like clay. The mud is terrible.

I am including pictures here of our battalion headquarters: an Alamo-type quad. My office/living quarters is the first door on the left at the entrance. SGT Tremain lives in the back-half of the room in which we store our religious supplies--right next door. We have heat (It's below freezing at night now. We had snow last week!), electricity, and limited Internet. Although significantly less comfortable than our facilities at Camp Blue Diamond, we're still happy. We live more comfortably than many of the Soldiers we go out to visit every day. Our happiness has less to do with this, however, and more to do with the realization that we are on the downward slope of this deployment; we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

After a busy day of travel out to the combat outposts during the day, we return for exercise, dinner, meetings, counselings--sometimes a bible study, and we'll get together with the guys to watch a movie or an episode of some television show on DVD. Helicopters fly overhead on a regular basis, and there are occasional knocks on the door with personal or family emergencies--but most nights I get a decent night's sleep--something I never take for granted.

Leaving Camp Blue Diamond

These past couple of weeks have been especially busy for me. First, we have packed up and closed down operations at Camp Blue Diamond and returned to Camp Ramadi: where we spent the first two-and-half months of this deployment. Moving from place to place is common in the military; it is especially the case in combat. Closing down Camp Blue Diamond meant saying goodbye to creature comforts and the coziness that comes from knowing I was the chaplain for everyone I saw throughout each day: Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or contractor. Closing down Blue Diamond is also an indication of the success we've been experiencing this year.

Another exciting event was the visit of my dear friend and fellow chaplain, Tim Fary. His battalion is attached to a Marine regiment, so I haven't seen him much this year. Some of his Soldiers are attached to our battalion, so he thought he would come check on them and if that meant we could spend a few days together, that would be fine too. A real test of his friendship is that his opportunity to travel required him to fly when his team--the Tennessee Volunteers--were busy schooling the Wisconsin Badgers in the Outback Bowl. We had a friendly wager on the game. I lost and am busy learning the words to "Rocky Top".

Our last worship service at Camp Blue Diamond was memorable. We have spent the last ten months getting to know one another, and our returning to Camp Ramadi meant an end to our small worship community. After the service, my friend and brother, Marine Colonel William Dwiggins, presented me with a framed certificate of appreciation and flag that was flown over his team's headquarters on Christmas Day.

Finally, a few weeks ago, I was tossing the football with Sergeant Maltezo, NCO of CSM Sumner's Personal Security Detail: the convoy of gun trucks we travel with during the week. He has quite an arm. I misjudged the direction and speed of the ball, and bent my ring finger back and broke off a piece of bone. I waited until after the Holidays to have it x-rayed. I had to fly up to Al-Asad airbase, where they have a hand doctor. As it turned out, the doctor decided not to do surgery. I'll be in a cumbersome splint for three months. The most memorable event of the trip was the emergency landing we made when the Black Hawk experienced serious problems with the rear rotor. There were three fire trucks and an emergency vehicle waiting for us when we landed. Although we knew something wasn't quite right, it wasn't until we landed and witnessed the crew's sense of relief that we realized it was a close call. I presume that many--if not most--close calls in combat go unnoticed.

Santa's Super Sleigh

Early Christmas morning SGT Tremain and I enlisted the help of SPC Fuentes and PFC Hall to help load care packages we had in my office into the back of a trailer to take with us and distribute to Soldiers. We have received more than a hundred care packages (mostly from strangers) full of tastey treats and creature comforts. We left early Christmas morning as the sun was rising. Our first stop was JSS Sedgwick and the Soldiers of Alpha Company. Their mood was light and festive. The officers had all donned holiday hats and accessories, and sang Felice' Navidad and the Twelve Days of Christmas. Our travels from Sedgwick to Hawas took us through Falujah. (I snapped a picture of a mosque through the window in our gun truck.) At Hawas a Marine Major told me he had three times celebrated the Holidays in combat, and the day's Holiday Service was the best he'd ever attended. "Anytime a Christmas story involves a Harley Davidson Sportster--I'm game."


Our last stop was JSS Zeimer, were they had set up for us in the tent-shelter maintenance bay. We made it back to Camp Blue Diamond in time to enjoy some of the leftovers from the Christmas Dinner served earlier in the day. We ate together with the Commander and Sergeant Major and members of their PSD. Afterwards, we made it back down to the chapel/mayor's cell where all our neighbors were waiting on us to open the gifts we had exchanged with one another. Captain Jonas Anazagasty gave me three books that have been informative in his intellectual development. I gave Sergeant Wheeler the ESPN Encyclopedia of College Football--he seems committed to reading it from cover to cover, one-page-at-a-time. (It's an Oklahoma thing. Where college football predates statehood.)

Candlelight Christmas

All day on the 24th and 25th our Commander, Sergeant Major, and I traveled with their personal security detail to each of the combat outposts in our area of operations. During our visit with Soldiers we held a Holiday Service at each location. The services were traditional and included carols, readings, and a meditation--we concluded by lighting candles and singing Silent Night. The Sergeant Major and Commander participated in each of the services, with LTC Silverman sharing the story of the Christmas Eve cease-fire of 1914 between the Germans and the British. At our last stop on Christmas, one of our Sergeants offered that the service finally helped him "get into the Christmas Spirit".

We left Fort Stewart about a year ago with the expectation that the term would be twelve months, as it was our previous deployment for all of 2005. When we learned the 12 months had been extended to 15, most everyone took the news in stride--we are Soldiers after all. However, I expected by the time we got to the Holidays--a point by which we would otherwise have been packing and getting ready to re-deploy--the grumbling and complaining would become more widespread. That hasn't happened. I'm impressed by our Soldiers' steadiness. Don't get me wrong--there's not a single one of us who wouldn't rather be back with our families. But they seem to realize that not only will complaining not help, but that the busier they stay, the quicker time goes by. Some guys have access to web cams and tuned into watch their children open presents. Others settled for a phone call or an email.

In my meditations at these Holiday Services we discussed the qualities of Joseph and Mary--their devotion to God, to their family, and to the law of the land. We considered how the example of a young, teen-aged, Jewish girl two-thousand years ago could inform the behavior and choices of American Soldiers in combat today. We thought about the necessary humility of Joseph, how he must have swallowed his pride to allow his bride to give birth in a stable or cave where animals lived. Above all, we considered the irony not only that the Creator of this Universe would become man, and that he would do so for the ultimate purpose of overcoming sin and death--but that it would happen in what was likely a dung-scented, flea-infested cave for livestock. His birth in such a place illustrates that he is, indeed, Immanuel--God with us.

USO Tour

To support the morale of those serving in combat zones, the USO organizes celebrity shows. We don't get them very often "out in our neck of the woods", but when we do the Soldiers and Marines seem to enjoy them. (See the post on Chuck Norris below.) This past week Sergeant Tremain and a few of our Soldiers traveled over to Camp Ramadi to see Miss USA, Lewis Black (comedian), Lance Armstrong, Robin Williams, and Kid Rock. Soldiers get tired of hearing celebrities tell them that they are their heroes. It's not because they question their sincerity--it's just they don't believe they are heroes. They are much more interested in hearing Lance Armstrong talk about overcoming cancer and winning the Tour de France, laugh at Robin Williams, or hear Kid Rock perform. Their favorites were Robin Williams and Kid Rock.



The celebrities always seem different to them when they're live, and in person. The guys will comment, "She's prettier than her picture." Or, "I thought he would be taller." Some of our Soldiers invited their guests to sign the gun tube of their tank.

On Location: Re-enlisting Soldiers

When a Soldier chooses to re-enlist, the unwritten rule is he can choose the location of the re-enlistment ceremony. This is within reason, of course. Often this prerogative is not exercised. Of late, we've witnessed a few ceremonies where the location adds some novelty. As mentioned in a previous post below, the decision to extend one's contract is no light matter for a Soldier and his family. It often includes a choice of duty station or military school opportunity and a bonus--which, if a Soldier re-enlists in theater, is tax-free. Sergeant First Class Smith is our Battalion Re-enlistment NCO. He works with the Army to help Soldiers get the best options for their respective specialties. Sometimes he goes out with us to visit Soldiers, and every once in while, to conduct a ceremony.

A few of the ceremonies we've witnessed lately include four Alpha Company Soldiers who re-enlisted on the beach of Lake Habaniya, just outside JSS Sedgwick (pictured above). They asked their commander, Captain Ralls to re-enlist them. Their platoon and a few others were their to support them. Captain Chris Haun re-enlisted some of his Soldiers at Hurricane Point recently. We walked out to the steps that descend into the Eurphates River. The previous week, Lieutenant McKinney re-enlisted a Soldier and NCO in his platoon. This week SGT Dutan of our Fox Company, asked me to administer to him the re-enlistment oath; it was only my third time doing so. We held the ceremony outside the chapel. The oath follows: "I (name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

Hurricane Point

In addition to the "Gov" Center, our Delta Company Soldiers man Joint Security Site (JSS) Hurricane Point--just across the river from us on the outside of the city. Captain Haun visits regularly, but First Lieutenant McKinney, from West Virginia, is the platoon leader and Officer in Charge. Just as he vigilantly keeps his Soldiers stocked with a variety of food and other creature comforts at Ramadi and the "Gov" Center, First Sergeant Colon ensures the guys at Hurricane Point are equally cared for.

Here the Soldiers live in a long corridor that has been sectioned off into small, individual rooms that remind me of stables. At the end of the corridor is their mess hall and CP (where the radios and cameras are monitored). We hold worship services in the mess hall. On the other end of the building is a larger bay where the gym equipment, TV, and computers with internet are located.

Although these Soldiers are part of Delta Company, or the Dark Knights, for much of the deployment they have been attached to various Marine Battalions--perpetual step-children, if you will. This has also resulted in the platoon becoming unusually tight-knit. Often, when we visit, they grill meat and invite us to eat with them--just one of the creature comforts made possible by their first sergeant's attentive support. SSG Tucker, the Platoon Sergeant and griller of meats, is pictured here. Like the Soldiers at many of our outposts, these are never quite sure how long they'll be at Hurricane Point, or where they're going next.

The "Gov" Center

Once a week, we visit our Delta Company Soldiers at the Government Center in downtown Ramadi. Their primary mission is force protection: providing security from their various guard positions. This mission is considerably different from previous missions they’ve conducted while they were located at JSSs Iron, Anvil, and Lewis. From the perspective of the average Soldier, and even their leaders, their mission is monotonous and boring. The Government Center is located well behind several check points and concrete barriers. Local government administrators--including judges--keep their offices here. With the successful turn of tribal sheikhs we've witnessed this year, we've also seen Iraqis looking more to their own government officials for economic stability, security and infrastructure. Our Soldiers are present to help Iraqi Police provide the necessary security to ensure continued success. So, although boring, this mission is essential. It doesn’t take long for a Soldier to realize that the Hollywood aspects of combat are too few to sustain one’s commitment. It comes down to believing that your very limited responsibilities make a difference and that your leaders are wise.

Included here with pictures of the Government “Gov” Center, is a picture of us worshiping in the TV room. To the right is their Company Commander, and my friend, Captain Chris Haun.

Looking for the Kingdom

As we did the week before, the Soldiers of Charlie Company at JSS Zeimer and I went to the lagoon to hold our worship service. This time, however, we decided to hold it from the cliffs above. LT Chase, Captains Messer and Capastani, SPC Dhale, and SSG Risperess were among those who joined us. Before field services, I will sometimes ask Soldiers to share with the group where they're from in the states and their denominational background. We often have Catholics, Baptists and non-denominational folks, but we also see Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Latter-day Saints, Holiness, and Gospel represented as well. My favorites are those who state, "no religious preference". They often stick around afterwards and have some pretty serious questions for me. I remind those at service that more than our many differences, we are united by two facts: one, our Father created each of us, and two, as God, Jesus is our Savior, Redeemer and Judge. Where in the states will they have a worship experience with such diversity, and yet such unity? (Then again, where in the states do folks bring their automatic weapons to worship?)

On this particular occasion we discussed the nature of the Kingdom of God: the topic Jesus spoke of most often and the most common subject of his parables. Taking my message from the Gospel of Luke, we discussed the principle of the Kingdom being a state of mind, an attitude of submission to God's will and reign. Turning from our impulse for self-concern is no small task. Jesus' willingness to forgive those who crucified him is a illustration of the type of submission to which we are called. And yet, it's been my observation that we do not possess this ability on our own--which, perhaps, is the reason the Lord taught us to pray for it: "Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." Soldiers in combat work very closely with one another. Frustrations and annoyances abound. The need to forgive and ask forgiveness is perhaps more essential in this setting than any other.

Settling in at Hawas

Now that the guys up at Hawas are getting settled in, there is a noticeable sense of contentment. Soldiers' morale is often linked to a sense of predictability. Because of the success on the battlefield and in diplomacy, more and more we are moving out of the city and to more remote areas where insurgents are seeking for safe haven. As we do, we are turning over more and more of the city to Iraqi Army and police. In turn, this results in moving from one base and setting up another more often than was expected. These Soldiers are riflemen--Infantry--so they take it in stride. Hawas remains rather austere. However, the showers and hard structures make life more comfortable. Most guys make it back here to Camp Blue Diamond about once every two weeks for laundry, internet and phones.

The MPBs (plywood houses) have an airconditioner/heater in each unit. The guys are crammed in 10 or 11 to a unit, sleeping three high on bunk beds they've made for themselves. Although more cramped than the tents, they are able to keep out a lot of the dust and maintain a comfortable temperature. Sure it gets a little musky, but these are also easier to air out and keep ventilated; this is critical for fighting colds and flu.

We have slowly been issued some of the new combat vehicles called MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protectant vehicle, is what I think it stands for--pronounced "m-wrap"--there is no end to acronyms in the military). There are several types of MRAPs. I'm including pictures of two of the more common types we see. Placed between the uparmored humvees or 1114 guntrucks we normally travel in, the differences are quite apparent.

SGT Goudy, SGT Dewalt, and SPC "Blair" are three individuals who regualrly attended worship and bible studies back at Camp Blue Diamond and whose leadership helps keep things running smoothly in my absence. I am including a few pictures of us worshiping together in the make-shift chapel classroom we use up in Hawas. My friendship with them (and others I've come to know largely in worship and study) is a blessing that helps fortify me in times of struggle. It is always a joy to see them. My circulation on the battlefield often makes me wonder if my and SGT Tremain's experiences aren't somewhat like the Apostle Paul and Barnabas/Timothy's as they traveled among the various churches in Asia. It pleases me see them doing so well.

Battlefield Circulation—Streamlined

A few weeks ago our battalion Command Sergeant Major, CSM Sumner (pictured above and below), and I came up with a plan to maximize Soldier care. Both he and the battalion commander, LTC Silverman, have a Personal Security Detail (PSD): three, uparmored gun trucks, each with a three-man crew of driver, gunner, and commander. The commander's mission--in a nutshell--is to oversee the big-picture aspects of missions and to provide needed guidance to his company commanders. The Sergeant Major's mission is more Soldier-oriented; he ensures standards are maintained and helps his first sergeants see to the care of their Soldiers. Since the Sergeant Major's mission and mine are both Soldier care, we have been experimenting with a plan to work together. The companies in our battalion are spread to the four corners of our brigade's very large area of operations. Having the opportunity to travel with the Sergeant Major's PSD allows Sergeant Tremain and me to see each of the more than 800 Soldiers in our battalion once a week. Each day we leave our camp in the morning, spend the day at the outposts with Soldiers and their leaders providing worship services, counseling, and spirited debate about college football, and then we return to the camp in the evening. The next day we do it all over again for the Soldiers of a different company. Before, I used to stay the night with the Soldiers, but I could not circulate as often, and it would be much more tiring. I would have to take every third week to catch up with the Soldiers back here at Camp Blue Diamond. Now, we work just as hard--if not more so--but it is so much more efficient.

On our way to visit the Soldiers of Alpha company at JSS Sedgwick this week we swung by Camp Ramadi and picked up my good friends Captain Bolton and Staff Sergeant Moore of our brigade mental health team. When it comes to issues such as grief and depression, we also work closely in caring for Soldiers. They joined us for worship service. Afterwards, while I met with a few Soldiers dealing with marriage and family issues, they were able to follow up with a few Soldiers who had previously gone to Camp Ramadi for their assistance.

Among the events of the day, was the promotion of Staff Sergeant Kelly to the rank of Sergeant First Class. He had long since been serving in the capacity of platoon sergeant (a position associated with the rank of sergeant first class) so the joke was he would now finally be paid for the job he was already doing. As mentioned in a recent post, SFC Kelly is a fine leader. His Soldiers respect his matter-of-fact take on life in combat. After CSM Sumner and CPT Ralls replaced his SSG rank with that of SFC, and everyone insisted on a speech, he started off with: "As you know, I'm not very smart . . . " he went on to explain that if he could succeed, he was confident his Soldiers could too.

On our return to Camp Blue Diamond that late afternoon, we opted to leave the IED-pothole-riddled road for a more direct and safe route, providing us a modest off-road opportunity for exploration. It was a memorable day all around.

Worshiping with Chaos

Until recently, Chaos--our Charlie Company--has been attached to a Marine battalion. They recently left the city of Ramadi to relocate to a site on Lake Tharthar--JSS Zeimer (Named for PV2 Matthew Zeimer, of our battalion, who was killed-in-action in February of this year). I am posting a picture of one platoon's living space--typical of the others. Like the sites I've mentioned previously, this site is also quite remote. Unlike these other sites, it is located on a former resort Saddam Hussain reserved for his personal use. Since the war, the place has fallen into ruin. All of the trees have been chopped down for firewood, making it look like the rest of the terrain throughout the country--dry and barren. However, the lake--60 miles long--feeds a river and lagoon that, purportedly was Saddam's favorite fishing spot. I'm guessing the river continues to feed into the Euphrates--where we live.

When Sergeant Tremain and I arrived at JSS Zeimer this past week, Captain Phil Messer (Charlie Company Commander) suggested we walk down to the water to hold worship service. The walk down to the reservoir was peaceful, and I was caught off guard by its beauty--powerfully contrasted by the lifeless desert surrounding us. SFC Hubert, who's recently been pursuing a relationship with God, led us in our epistle reading (He's pictured here). As it was the week of Thanksgiving, my message addressed the role gratitude plays in one's humility before God. It can be difficult to be thankful for one's blessings--as abundant as they might be--when one is serving a fifteen-month combat tour away from family, friends, and the comforts of our culture. However, this beautiful setting served as a fine sermon illustration: blessings abound, the question is whether we will choose to acknowledge them?

After the service we walked up to the reservoir and visited with the Iraqi Soldiers; some of them were fishing or trolling with a huge three-pronged hook. Captain Messer and some of the other guys are waiting on their fishing poles to arrive from home. They joke that they'll arrive about the time they receive orders to relocate.

Alpha Company at Sedgwick

As a result of the success experienced here in Anbar province, our Soldiers' areas of operations have been relocated to more remote sites. Our Alpha company Soldiers who were at Joint Security Sites Warrior and Pathfinder have moved more than an hour away to JSS Sedgwick. It's dusty--although not as bad as Hawas (see last post)--but it's more roomy than their previous home, and they have internet, phones and showers (albeit wooden stalls). The area is quiet, and the nearby lake adds to the effect.

Captain Ralls and First Sergeant Gonzalez each have down-to-earth leadership styles. (CPT Ralls is pictured here in conversation with our commander, LTC Silverman.) Moving areas is something they took in stride, even though their new area of responsibility is extremely large. They share the site with Iraqi soldiers and a team of U.S. Soldiers responsible for training them. SSG Kelly is one of the platoon sergeants in Alpha company. I enjoy his candor when we discuss Soldier issues. Like most of our Soldiers, he has deployed many times. I can sense his focus on next spring, when we all will redeploy to join our families. He's pictured visiting with me in their relatively well-sourced outdoor gym.

SSG Smith, a mechanic attached in support of Alpha company, is a dear friend. I've mentioned him in previous posts because of his guitar playing skills and leadership in worship. (I am including a picture of him entering the container he's rigged to serve as an office/sleeping area. It's on the bed of a transport truck, so it looks like a camper.) Although I provide worship services each week when I visit, he leads his fellow Soldiers in Wednesday night bible studies and worship on Sundays. Nearly all who attended the four-month leadership seminar (May through August) have been assigned to one of our line companies out at the various joint security sites. As I am the only chaplain back here at Camp Blue Diamond, this fortuitous arrangement enables me to provide Sunday services here (and once at each site during the week) but these lay leaders lead Sunday services at their respective locations under my supervision. Each have their different gifts, so it is a joy to see them develop. For purposes of a worship community, we all wish we were together. But our mission being what it is, we were blessed to have the several months together to train and learn together.

Thanksgiving with Bravo at Hawas

Today is Thanksgiving. Last month "Battle"--our Bravo Company--left COP Aggressor and moved up to conduct combat operations around the Lake Thar Thar region. They live and work out of Joint Security Site (JSS) Hawas. A company of Marine Engineers and at least a company of Iraqi Army live out there with them. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to get out to them when I visit. The area is remote, and the conditions are relatively harsh. The Marine Engineers built them plywood houses with air-conditioning and heating units in them (it's cooling down, so the typical daytime high has been between 70-90, and the night time low around 30-40). They were thankful to move out of the large, dusty, drafty tents that have provided them shelter for the past 8 weeks.

SGT Tremain and I visited them for a forth time yesterday. It's always good to see Captain McCreary, 1SG Delgado and their Soldiers. As rough as they and some of our other Speed and Power Soldiers have it, their morale often seems higher than those who live in comparative comfort. These guys are seasoned. The many changes to their mission doesn't seem to phase them; they grumble--don't get me wrong--but it's merely an exercise to move them forward.

This most recent visit was the day before Thanksgiving, so the worship service we provided centered on the virtue of gratitude as the crucial ingredient of maintaining humility before the Lord. Our Soldiers have a great deal for which to be thankful--we will all be thinking of our families today. In an effort to make their dust-bowl-of-a-home as much like the real thing, our Soldiers purchased a Thanksgiving turkey from a neighboring village. He weighs at least 25lbs. (pictured above). Battle Soldiers have commo, mechanics, and cooks attached to them--so they will have someone to help them prepare the bird--although I'm not sure they are especially skilled at cleaning the thing. They have named the turkey "Arturo".

School to School

This week we witnessed a beautiful expression of childlike hope. The students at Langston Chapel Elementary School, with the help of their parents and teachers, had collected a wide variety and large number of school supplies to share with the children of Iraq. The list of items collected is impressive: writing paper, construction paper, notebooks, pencils, color pencils, erasers, sharpeners, pens, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, and most importantly . . . soccer balls. Mrs. Cindy Bozeman informed me that others, such as Steve Champion of Wal-Mart (picture in the previous post), were inspired by their initiative and provided similar donations. When I expressed concern for the cost of shipping these supplies to us in Iraq, Mrs. Bozeman assured me that they had a plan. As it turns out, the children were involved in a "Pennies for Postage" fundraising drive, the success of which covered the postage of the countless supplies they shipped to me. Others--such the Sparta Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, and Elisabeth Germann and the Ottawa Hills Mom's Club in Ohio--had heard about this initiative and provided similar supplies including books and lots of beannie babies. We were well stocked!

Distributing school supplies to students at area elementary schools is something Sheikh Abdullah and I have been discussing. As a religious leader, Sheikh Abdullah is in an ideal position to help identify area schools that would benefit most. It has long been my conviction that as rewarding as it might be for religious leaders to talk and get to know one another, the ultimate expression of dialogue is to work together. This is also LTC Silverman, my commander's, intent and the guidance I've received from our leaders at both brigade and division levels. When he heard of our plans, 1LT Conley quickly submitted a contract for $26,000 of additional school supplies to complement this initiative. Once Sheikh Abdullah had helped us identify the schools, 1LTs Conely and Davies coordinated the logistics of the distribution with the Iraqi Police. The support that swelled behind this effort was stunning. It amazed me to see the idea of children and teachers attract the attention of both American and Iraqi military and police.

At each of the two schools where we distributed supplies we first met with the headmaster or principal. We were expected at these schools, but they were surprised to learn many of the supplies were collected by elementary students in the U.S. When we arrived at the first school they were between the first and second sessions of the day (many schools have three sessions in order to accommodate the need), so there were both boy and girl students. We wanted to distribute a few of the items directly to the students but allow the teachers to distribute the majority of the items at their discretion. Not only were Sheikhs Heiss and Abdullah helping to distribute supplies, but so were some of our Soldiers and many of the Iraqi Police. It began in a very orderly manner, but it gradually became crazy, and when we started to hand out some of the candy we had on hand it resulted in a gleeful Pandemonium. Even the teachers seemed to enjoy the chaos. Smiles were everywhere. The mood became noticeably desperate, however, when we brought out the soccer balls. We in the United States simply cannot understand the passion other nations have for soccer--period. There is no equivalent. Wanting to protect the use of these soccer balls for as long as possible, I identified the gym teacher and invited him to use a permanent marker and label the balls property of the school. Even the Iraqi police were envious of the colorful, stitched soccer balls sent by Langston Chapel Elementary School.

The second school we visited had only girl students. Here the principal and all the teachers were women, and much like I have observed in my own denomination, women are generally more organized and orderly. The girls and young women formed lines in which they received a few items. The littlest things seemed to overwhelm them with gratitude. There was a group of boys who were hanging around from the previous session who were not part of the distribution; LTC Silverman found a way to include them.

As we did at the first school, I gave the principal pictures of Mrs. Bozeman's kindergarten class and letters written by her and other LCES teachers' students to the Iraqi students. The principal shared with us that their school had been hit by a mortar and attacked by a car bomb just a year ago, killing some and wounding many. She contrasted those events with what we were doing. She said she looks forward to communicating her appreciation to those teachers who helped their students better learn the virtue of giving. I shared the opinion that if we (the various leaders in her office) were the good people we hoped we were it was primarily because we had good parents and good teachers. One of the interpreters shared with me that there is a belief within Islam that when one makes a child happy, one makes an angel happy. He concluded, "today there are many happy angels".

Langston Chapel Elementary School

The faculty, staff and students at Langston Chapel Elementary School have adopted the Soldiers of 3-69 Armor Battalion. They began their concerted support before our last deployment to Iraq in 2005. LCES is located in Statesboro, GA not too far from Fort Stewart. Mrs. Cindy Bozeman, a kindergarten teacher at the school, contacted me at the beginning of our deployment this year and expressed a desire that their students continue their support of sending letters, drawings and cards to our Soldiers.

I take the children's letters and drawings with me out to the Soldiers at our combat outposts and joint security sites. More than once I've noticed these drawings and letters hanging in Soldiers' living areas. As you might imagine, Soldiers can be rather unkind and rude with one another from time-to-time; developing a tough skin can be essential to getting by in combat. As I watch Soldiers read and share with one another what these children have written and created for them, I witness pure delight on their faces. It seems to help them remember simpler times, easier times--maybe when they were home with their own children (those with families of their own) or perhaps they remember when they themselves were in elementary school. I am including a few pictures of our Soldiers reading these letters. They want the students of Mrs. Bozeman and her fellow teachers to know how much they mean to them. One letter or drawing brings an awful lot of happiness with it.

Because I am so thankful for what they do for our Soldiers, I offered to visit Ms. Bozeman's class during my two weeks of R&R (I checked with Dawn before doing so, of course). They were excited for my visit, then asked if I wouldn't mind speaking to the other classes as well. When they told me I was invited to bring my family, I couldn't resist. The class visit had turned into a school assembly. The students had shown their patriotic spirit by wearing red, white or blue. I had prepared a slide presentation of our Soldiers in Iraq complete with pictures of where our Soldiers lived and worked, local wildlife like camels, camel spiders and scorpions, and some of the jobs our Soldiers do; I even showed them a picture of our burn barrels and makeshift latrines to which they gleefully exclaimed, "eeeewwwwww!" 700 children can be quite loud. (Many of the fun pictures I shared with them are included in various posts below.) When I finished, I answered a few questions, and then the children sang a beautiful song for me about peace.

I got to meet a few of Ms. Bozeman's fellow educators, their principle, Dr. Doty, and Steve Champion, an executive at their Local Wal-Mart who supports the school and their support of us (pictured together with me and Dawn). The children's admiration of me was palpable; I felt like a rock star. Dawn is a former educator herself. Last year we decided to homeschool Benjamin--a difficult, but a prayerful decision. So I was anxious to observe Benjamin's behavior while we visited the school. Would he display regret or social uneasiness? I was slightly nervous in this regard. It was amusing to me that he was visibly amazed that hundreds of children his own age were so interested in his dad. I like to think he was proud of me. At any rate, the visit exceeded both my and Mrs. Bozeman's expectations. The day was a highlight of my family's R&R.

R&R 2007 2 of 2

After a week out west for the Church's General Conference and the Chaplains' seminar, we picked up the boys and spent the remainder of my R&R at home in the Fort Stewart area. We enjoyed ourselves without much traveling. Above is a picture of Jared napping while we wait to have tires put on Dawn's car. In those circumstances, I'm usually a bit anxious to be finished so I can get on to more important things. I didn't feel that way then; they could have taken all day. We visited the local zoo and saw cool animals like deer, buffalo, and bald eagles. I gave the boys haircuts, for which they sat rather well. We bought the video game Guitar Hero II, which allows you to use a guitar-shaped game controller to TRY to keep up while popular and classic rock songs are being played on the screen by your costumed designed band. You (your character) preform before a live audience. Benjamin is very good; his band is Ginger Power. I am alright; my band is SloppyJo. Dawn is still learning; her band is BelaBlonde. The game is a hoot, which many of our Soldiers enjoy here in Iraq. We also visited a Japanese restaurant. Jared found the flaming, onion ring volcano unsettling. However, he did enjoy the byproduct. Thanks for letting me share our travel log. These memories are precious:

R&R 2007 1 of 2

My R&R during this deployment fell within the first half of October--hence my long silence. R&R is a long waited for opportunity we all desperately look forwrd to. I trust you will not only forgive the lack of posts to this blog, but also indulge me to post several of my favorite pictures of me and my family.

Shortly after the announcement that our 12 month deployment had been lengthened to 15 we were informed that our 15 days of R&R were similarly lengthened to 18--a silver lining to be sure. For the first week during my R&R I took Dawn to our denominational conference and chaplains' seminar in Salt Lake City, while my parents cared for our boys an hour south of us. I must confess we skipped out a session or two to drive down and be with them, but the conference and seminar did allowed Dawn and me an opportunity to enjoy some alone time and spiritual renewal.

Travel from our area of operations in western Iraq to Georgia and then out West and back was draining, but oh so worth it. After nine months away from my sweet wife and our dear boys--they were just the Rest and Relaxation the doctor ordered. My parents, pictured here, were very giving of their time and energy. It was nice to see them and other family as well.

No Longer Strangers and Foreigners

Last week a group of contractors who work at our mess hall or DFAC (Dining Facility) came to the chapel an hour before services were scheduled to begin hoping to worship with us. On Sundays we have non-denominational Christian worship services at 1000 and 2000. Their work schedule prevents them from being able to attend either of these services. I learned that all of them were from Bangladesh, and they were all Catholic--our weekly Mass schedule was also outside their brief window of freedom. It was clear they were desperate. As a chaplain, I provide for the religious needs of U.S. military and Department of Defense (DOD) contractors. These men, and many others working here at Camp Blue Diamond are not DOD contractors. (They are categorized as Third Country Nationals or TCNs--"third country" meaning neither U.S. nor Iraqi. Technically, I suppose an argument could be made that caring for these brothers takes away from my care for Soldiers. I confess I was not being very technical when I invited these men to return the following Sunday at 0900 for a service of their own. They were delighted.

The following Sunday morning about 20 Bengalis and a few Nepalis showed up for worship. All of them understand some English, but none of them very well. I cut my sermon in half and asked their manager to translate some of the more key points. The liturgical structure was familiar to them, but the contemporary praise and gospel music was new--they liked it though. These men are much smaller than the typical American Soldier or Marine, and more timid. That being said, almost all of them are husbands and fathers and share with us the hardship of being separated from family and loved ones. They were clearly pleased to be in the chapel and smiled broadly when I made reference to their culture and customs. I invited a few of the lay leaders who assist with the other services to attend. The language barrier is a real challenge, but these men don't seem to mind. Afterwards, a few of the Soldiers commented that the service was a highlight of their week and definitely something to write home about.

Tag Team Training

As I mentioned below, SGT Tremain and I traveled throughout our battalion's battlespace providing Ramadan Awareness training to our Soldiers. The last of these training sessions was for key leaders, a session to which I had invited Sheikh Abdullah to join me. Sheikh Abdullah was flattered by the invitation, and enthusiastic to address our leaders. (He was of the opinion that Westerners understood little about Islam, much less Ramadan; he also never imagined he'd be invited to speak to us about his beliefs and practices.) We met prior to the training to discuss Ramadan itself, to ensure I was briefing accurate information to our Soldiers, and to plan how we would approach the subject with our key leaders. In addition to his assistant, Shiekh Riyad, he brought some of the Iraqi Police leaders to discuss how observing Ramadan might impact their mission.

The training was a complete success. It was attended by our Company Commanders, First Sergeants, Battalion Staff, and the other officers and leaders here at Camp Blue Diamond. One thing I learned was that "Ramadan" in Arabic means, intense heat. I don't know enough Arabic to confirm that, but if it is not a literal translation, it likely refers to the purifying effect observers of the month of fasting experience. (Even though right now it is very hot, Ramadan eventually rotates throughout our Gregorian calendar, so it sometimes also falls in winter.) Captain Greg Ralls, our Alpha Company Commander (pictured standing), wondered how many of the Iraqi Police, living with his Soldiers, could he anticipate would observe Ramadan, and whether they would be able to conduct missions in the heat of the day if needed? Sheikh Abdullah guessed maybe three-quarters would observe. He also explained that although the body becomes a bit weaker during the fast, the spirit becomes stronger. He expects the police will be more eager to serve. We also learned that if Iraqi Police or Army drop because of the heat, our medics can administer an IV, and they will simply have to make-up that fast day during the following month.

We conducted this training for key leaders the day before Ramadan began--so when we concluded, Sheikh Abdullah joined me for lunch in the chow hall. Afterwards, I gave him a tour of the gym we have here at Camp Blue Diamond. He was impressed. In the days that followed, several of our leaders explained that the training was a meaningful experience for them. Sheikh Abdullah mentioned to me that many of his fellow Imams were incredulous when he told them of my invitation for him to assist me in the training. "They think Westerners know nothing of Islam--it is they who know nothing, but I will tell them", his interpreter explained. Well, we know a little. However, there is hope that with our continued dialogue, we will continue to learn.

Fast Mass

Last week SGT Tremain and I escorted Chaplain "Father" Barkemeyer and his assistant to provide Mass to our Soldiers out at the Combat Outposts. This is our second battlefield circulation together. As I mentioned below we have a few things in common, and this is not the first time our paths have crossed in the chaplaincy--so we have some history as well. I look forward to John's visits. Again, as a Catholic Priest, John can do for our Catholic Soldiers what I cannot. I attend Mass every week; last week's battlefield coverage gave me four opportunities. (I wish I could say his homily on the lost sheep and the lost coin from Luke 15 got better each time I heard it.) At each stop Soldiers expressed their appreciation. One shared with me that attending Mass gave him the sense that he was back home with his mother, if only for a few short minutes. Another Soldier said, "There, now maybe that will get my wife off my back." When I asked him if his wife cramped his style, he smiled and answered, "No, if I have any style at all it's because of her."

Perhaps this is too public a place for me to share this, but attending Mass with my Catholic brothers is a sacred experience. Of course I am not invited to the table, nor would the LDS Church leadership allow me to participate. But in spite of the boundaries we all respect, I experience a sense of belonging. My familiarity with the structure, content, and nature of this sacrament causes me to consider my own covenants, and what they mean to me.

A Rough Start to Ramadan

In my post below on 8 June, titled "Al-Anbar Awakening", I briefly described the success we have experienced in this province. In large part, this is due to the support received from tribal Sheikhs who have taken a stand against AQI (Al-Qaeda in Iraq), foremost among them is Sheik Sattar. At the beginning of Ramadan last week, Sheikh Sattar and some of his personal security team were killed by an IED (roadside bomb) placed near his compound (http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/13/iraq.killing/index.html?iref=newssearch). AQI has since claimed responsibility. We heard the explosion, and grimaced as always, hoping it missed whatever its target was. The news of his death followed soon thereafter. It was depressing. The funeral was attended by his fellow Sheikhs and many of the area's Coalition and Iraqi commanders. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki said Sattar would be remembered as a martyr--a hero.

Sheikh Sattar, 39 at the time of his death, began to speak out against AQI when some of his family members were killed by their attacks. He reasoned with his fellow tribal Sheikhs: "AQI kills Iraqi Sunnis and claims they were killed by Shias, and then kills Iraqi Shias and claims they were killed by Sunnis. They don't love Iraq; they don't follow Islam." He became head of a tribal coalition that worked in cooperation with Coalition Forces to resist AQI efforts in Sunni dominated Al-Anbar. The council was funded and supported by Iraqi Prime Minster Nuri Al-Maliki. President Bush mentioned Sheikh Sattar's death in his formal address this week. The consensus is that this loss will fortify Iraqi's resolve to resist AQI and stabilize their government.

Most Soldiers and Marines I know shy from the term "hero"; it is used too loosely. Heroes are those who lived, fought, and died in ages past. I think of the "Greatest Generation"; I think of the founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine. It's very likely none of these men thought of himself as a hero. A patriot is merely someone who is committed to doing his duty, someone who places the welfare of others and future generations before his own. I believe Sheikh Sattar is a patriot. His life exemplifies the words of Jefferson, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time-to-time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." And Thomas Paine reminds us that no price is ever too high; for "the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph". I am interested to see how future generations of Iraqis value the life and courage of Sheikh Sattar. I, for one, am encouraged by his example.

Chuck Norris, No Joke

Yesterday Camp Blue Diamond had a special visitor: Chuck Norris. Now, many of you might be surprised to learn that, in my opinion, no celebrity has stronger appeal to Soldiers and Marines. Word spread that the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders were going to Camp Ramadi, and we were getting Chuck Norris. Camp Ramadi ended up sending guys over here to see Chuck Norris. The man's career rests on the bubble of what divides A and B list actors--so what's the draw? Well, for starters, the man has been made an honorary Marine, and at 67 years-old, that's pretty impressive. And sure, it doesn't hurt that he's been in dozens of testosterone-driven shoot-em-ups; he's become an icon of toughness. But the appeal is more bizarre and even cultish in nature.


In late 2005, a phenomenon occurred involving jokes that illustrated Chuck Norris' hyperbolic toughness. Nearly every Soldier can tell you his favorite; they're displayed on the inside of just about every Port-a-John in theater. Rarely does your first Chuck Norris joke get you laughing. They're really quite dumb. But once you've heard a few, and you get the gist, you can't help but smile. With literally thousands of these jokes floating around and hundreds of websites devoted to promoting them, a few really good ones have surfaced. Some of my favorites:

• Chuck Norris doesn't read books; he stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
• Chuck Norris doesn't cut his grass; he dares it to grow.
• There is no such thing as extinction--only a list of animals Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
• Chuck Norris does not sleep; he waits.
• When Chuck Norris is doing push-ups, he isn't lifting himself up; he's pushing the earth down.
• An episode of Walker: Texas Ranger aired in France. They surrendered just be on the safe side.
• Chuck Norris is so fast he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
• Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make him drink.
• Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.
• Chuck Norris' tears can cure cancer. Too bad he's never cried.
• Chuck Norris doesn't wear a watch; he decides what time it is.
• Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.
• Chuck Norris counted to infinity--twice.

As you can see, there is a certain omnipotence implied by these jokes. The refreshing thing is, Chuck Norris is a rather committed Christian, and although he takes the hyperbolic jokes in good humor--he's emphatic about the need to put God first in one's life. During his visit, SGT Tremain asked him who has been most influential in his religious development. He explained his mother taught him faith in Christ, but during his careers in fighting and film making he lost his way. That is, until about ten years ago, when Chuck Norris' then-fiancé explained that if he was going to be in her life, then he needed to get right with the Lord--and stay that way. And so we see that just like the rest of us humans, Chuck Norris knows who's boss--his wife.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Yesterday was the first day in the month of Ramadan. Over the past couple of weeks I have been giving Soldiers and leaders Ramadan Awareness training, mandated by both our battalion and brigade commands. I enjoy opportunities to draw on my background in world religions, and when such an opportunity includes engaging Soldiers, it is especially satisfying. The briefs are about a half-hour long, pending questions which the guys always have. I try to make the PowerPoint slides interesting and enjoyable to view. The issues I cover include the change in threat, an overview of the religious observance and how they can expect to encounter it, how the local population's observance will effect them, how Iraqi Police and Army's observance will effect them, and finally the importance of respect for the beliefs of others--both here and back at home.

I briefed several groups of Soldiers and Marines here at the Camp Blue Diamond chapel and several more groups out at the JSSs and COPs. The biggest challenge--from my vantage point--is that at least 99% percent of the issue is being respectful of the local population and helping them to observe Ramadan in safety and security. Of course, the other 1% of the issue is extremely important; those insurgents who are religiously motivated (we know many are not) will view Ramadan as an ideal time to kill themselves for what they believe. Of course this is a concern at all times, but it is especially the case during this month. Soldiers have to keep this balance in mind--heightened respect on the one hand, and heightened safety on the other. I have great confidence in my Commander's Soldiers.

My interaction with people of other traditions has always challenged me. By no means do I advocate tolerance--at least as it is often explained. I do encourage understanding, however. My understanding of Islam, especially as I have come to know it through dialogue with my Muslim friends here and in the Sates, has helped me become a better Christian. This is true of my prolonged interaction with people of all faiths. There's plenty of things I reject, but even then, rejecting something helps me more clearly define what it is I believe. I experience no need to witness to my Muslim friends here in Iraq. It is expressly forbidden by both the military and my denomination. However, we all give witness to our beliefs by the way we choose to treat others. Jesus taught, "by this shall men know you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). (This Arabic caligraphy reads, "Ramadan Mubarak" or "Happy Ramadan")

Rock Drill

Before missions, commanders will sometimes communicate the planned course of action using a rock drill. A rock drill normally involves a map on the ground (sometimes using what raw materials that can be gathered, sticks, rocks, sand, etc.). Recently, Captain McCreary conducted such a briefing for his fellow company commanders and Iraqi Security Force personnel at JSS Warrior--home to Captain Ralls, and some of his Alpha Company Soldiers. (CPT McCreary is holding a stick he's using to point to different points on the map laid out on the floor.) Like this one, most of the missions recently conducted have been clearing missions. Clearing roads of IEDs and other obstacles was mentioned in a recent post below. These clearing missions include searching for weapons caches and other threats, but also include introductions and exchanges with locals to increase the sense of confidence and security. As with many of our missions, this was a joint exercise. Iraqi Army and Police can help spot when something is out of the ordinary. Many of our Soldiers have the opportunity to work closely with Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). Some of our Soldiers, such as those at JSSs Arcala, Faraj, Lewis, and Youngblood sleep in the same compounds with ISF. Such interaction can be stressful at first, but after a while they come to better understand one another's differences. Sometimes this is manifest as respect, other times it is mere tolerance. In either case, it's worth considering that many of these working, living, and sleeping next to our Soldiers on a daily basis may very well have been the ones shooting at them only a year ago. The type of success most everyone wants to see in Iraq demands this level of vulnerability. We continue to pray for the stabilization of this country, the support of its leaders, and the success of this mission.

Route Clearance

Our Battalion is headquartered out of Camp Blue Diamond, just north of the city Ramadi and the Euphrates River. The approximate 400 Soldiers in our line companies man nine different Combat Out Posts (COPs) and Joint Security Sites (JSSs); the difference is JSSs have Iraqi Security Forces living there too. Our area of operations is roughly rectangular about 20 kilometers in width and 60 in length. The many roads in our area of operations are ideal locations for the enemy to place IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devises). A Reserve engineer battalion out of Utah and based at Camp Ramadi has as part of its mission to use the military's new route clearing vehicles to identify and remove the IDEs from these roads. You only have to think about this for a moment to realize it can be an unusually dangerous job. They conduct their missions with expected care and caution, which means progress is quite literally "at a snail's pace". When the routes are cleared, Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces can move freely on the roads. Soon after, the local population begins doing the same, which facilitates commerce and consequent stabilization.

Several months ago, when the heat wasn't yet oppressive, SGT Tremain and I were sleeping on the roof at JSS Pathfinder as a Pathfinder mission proceeded along the road adjacent to us. It seemed Pathfinder was detonating identified IEDs every hour or so. From our vantage point on the roof, I caught a picture of their late night clearing mission. Fortunately, the specially designed clearance vehicles deflect most blasts of IEDs that escape detection. Unfortunately, during our time here, there have been Pathfinder EOD folks killed in action. With their help, most of the roads in our area of operations have been cleared and remain clear. This is a critical aspect of the mission.

Re-Up at Aggressor

Retention and reenlistment are important missions in the military. For Commanders, Sergeants Major, and First Sergeants these can be burdensome. For Soldiers, the decision whether or not to stay in, and under what circumstances, can be very stressful for them and their families. Soldiers cannot re-enlist whenever they choose. A Soldier must be in good professional standing, and he must be in his window of re-enlistment: he must have completed a certain amount of his previous contract before he can renew it, and the Army must have the need for someone in his particular speciality. Some would argue that being in the middle of a 15 month, combat deployment is not an ideal time to ask yourself whether you're up for more. It's like trying to decide whether to run next month's marathon while running this month's. Then again, in spite of all the suffering and frustration that goes on during combat operations--this is what Soldiers have signed up to do, so perhaps it is a good time to consider one's options. If you didn't already know, officers and non-commissioned officers near the end of their careers do not re-enlist. At a time when there's talk in Washington about re-instituting the draft, I am encouraged that I work with Soldiers who have volunteered to be here. I think of my own father, who, right out of high school, joined the Marines when many were being drafted into the Army.

Sergeant First Class Smith, our Retention and Re-enlistment specialist, tells me that only a few months ago our battalion had the lowest re-enlistment percentages in the entire division (more than 30 battalions). Things have changed. We have since made mission--the quota the Army has given a battalion like ours. In fact, we currently have the highest percentage in the division. Incentives for re-enlistment include: choice of duty station, re-classing one's speciality, monetary bonus (most seem to be between $5,000--$20,000), special school admission (Airborne, Air Assault, Mountain Warfare, etc.)--although Soldiers usually only have a choice of one of these. Soldiers are told by leaders that the ultimate incentive, however, is the job itself. They encourage Soldiers to re-enlist only if they enjoy what they do. Having been in their position before, I know how intimidating "life on the outside" can seem. One should never make a career or relationship choice because it seems safe. We too easily become institutionalized and cease choosing life. Unfortunately, it seems the attitude of seizing the day--the phrase and it's Latin origin (carpe diem) have only become cliche' because they're worth repeating--becomes more difficult the older we become. In my interactions with Soldiers, I try to influence them to take charge of their own lives; I try to encourage them to identify their values, set goals, and make plans. Few things are more satisfying than witnessing Soldiers make wise choices.

Recently, I joined my commander, LTC Silverman and Command Sergeant Major Sumner to visit the Soldiers of Bravo Company out at COP Aggressor. While there, Staff Sergeant Mott re-enlisted. The Colonel and Sergeant Major took the opportunity to talk to the Soldiers about their own careers and what trends they've witnessed. I regularly visit with Captain McCreary and First Sergeant Delgado--Bravo Company's chief leadership--about the welfare of their Soldiers. These leaders are not perfect, but their Soldiers respect them and know they have their best interest in mind. I am including pictures here of that early evening at Aggressor. 1LT Clinton, Bravo Company Executive Officer, re-enlisted SSG Mott. SSG(P) Rodriguez is pictured with 1SG Delgado discussing Soldier issues in the CP.

Guard Duty

Although most people have heard it before, it's helpful to be reminded: the real killer in combat is boredom. This is true because boredom can lead to complacency, and a complacent Soldier is more apt to be distracted and make a critical mistake. Boredom is also dangerous because it can effect Soldiers' morale and unit cohesiveness. Nowhere is boredom more oppressive than on guard duty. Enlisted Soldiers each take their turn pulling guard duty here at Camp Blue Diamond, out at the Combat Outposts, and Joint Security Sites. They guard the entrance gates and the over watch towers. Their Non Commissioned Officers and Officers rotate the duty of Sergeant of the Guard and Officer of the Day, respectively. As non-combatants, chaplains do not share this particular responsibility. (Although I do have many memories of pulling guard in Germany about twenty years ago when I was a Private and a tanker.)

Soldiers will pull shifts anywhere from 2-4 hours or more at a time, get a few hours off, and return for another shift. Obviously, they don't have the music players and video games to help them pass the time. The oppressive heat finds its way through the solar shades that canopy guard towers. Guard duty is dreaded. Few Soldiers have experiences of their own that validate the time and effort the duty requires. But it only takes a single moment's vigilance to make everyone else's efforts worthwhile. Nearly everything I do is possible because of some Soldier's careful watch. When we travel, SGT Tremain is there to ensure my safety. While I counsel one Soldier in my office or his living area, others are providing constant over watch. When I lead worship, give haircuts, do staff work, plan bible studies, work out in the gym, eat in the chow hall, shower, or anything else a chaplain must do--I can do so because Soldiers pull guard, 24-7-365. Visiting Soldiers on guard is something I enjoy doing.

Twelfth Anniversary: Celebrating from a Distance

Today I am celebrating my twelfth wedding anniversary. On the one hand, it doesn't really seem that long ago. But when I consider all Dawn and I have experienced together, it humbles me. I met Dawn at Florida Southern College, where I ran a small cafe and grill. She came in to order an egg sandwich, and told me to just cook it in the microwave. I ignored her (that should have been her first clue, right?) and proceeded to cook the egg on the grill as normal people do. She huffed, but happily returned for seconds. A year and a half later we married.

She started her teaching career in Florida as I finished my undergraduate work. She then followed me to Chicago for grad school, etc. and then Fort Stewart, Georgia--my first duty station as a chaplain. Since our arrival at Fort Stewart, I have seen more of Iraq and my fellow Soldiers than I have of Georgia and my sweet wife and boys. I have no doubt that her difficulties and challenges are at least as great as those I experience in a combat zone.

I sometimes wonder whether our current hardships will be as inspirational to our grandchildren as our grandparents’ are to us? Either way, our hardships continue to help fashion us into more fitting companions for one another and parents for our children. I often tell Soldiers the greatest gift they can give their children is to love and honor their wives. I pray that, with God's help, I am giving my full effort in blessing our boys with this gift.

When I was deployed to Iraq in 2005, I was able to take my two weeks of R&R to be home for our tenth anniversary. This year I will be home for her birthday. Dawn is photogenic and has a great smile. I brought with me to Iraq--both this time and last--a few of my favorite pictures of her to help fortify me. I share these with you as a tribute to her, and an illustration of her loyalty, playfulness, and beauty. May God continue to bless the marriages of those who are serving where their families cannot follow.

Cultural Exchange

Back in May I accompanied my commander, LTC Silverman, to the newly built Jazeera Council Center to meet Sheikh Heiss. My commander had previously asked Sheikh Heiss if he would introduce us to the religious leaders in our Area of Operations: an often overlooked element of our mission. Among those Sheikh Heiss introduced to us was Sheikh Abdullah--also mentioned in posts below. Maher, my commander's interpreter explained to me that a piece of art hanging above us was a quotation from the Fourth Caliph. He translated the meaning as, "You who are able to oppress others, remember God is able to oppress you." Impressed with the beauty and relevance of the saying, I was able to casually work it into my dialogue with the imams I met that day. I shared with them my respect for this principle, expressed that I could think of nothing more wise, and shared my regret that more leaders throughout the world did not take it's meaning to heart.

Not long ago, I received a heads up that Sheikh Heiss had procured an identical piece and was hoping to present it to me as a gift. It seemed appropriate that I return the gesture--as best I could, and I ordered a copy of my favorite piece of framed art that hangs in my office back in Fort Stewart: Arnold Friberg's "Prayer at Valley Forge". It seemed fitting to present him with art that illustrates a similar principle. (Remembering one's place before God is essential for a leader's success.) On the back of the print I wrote the following: "To my friend, Sheikh Heiss: May your leadership find continued strength in your relationship with the Almighty. Chaplain J. Nathan Kline US Army 3-69 AR (August 2007)". Exchanging art that conveys the same message and hangs on each of our office walls was poetic.

During the day, I was also able to visit with Shiekh Abdullah and make arrangements for our next dialogue session. He also agreed to help me train the commanders and staff of our battalion on Ramadan Awareness. We also have plans to support company commanders' coordination with our civil affairs team to conduct humanitarian assistance missions during Ramadan, as well as distribute school supplies collected by the students of Langston Chapel Elementary School in Statesboro, Georgia. These are small ways I can help support my commander's mission as a chaplain and non-combatant. I believe these are also ways in which I give myself to be an instrument of peace.

As always, our visit included formal courtesies and exchanges as well as problem solving discussions. (Pictured here are LTC McWorter, Sheik Heiss, and LTC Silverman talking through an issue.) It seems the most productive element of these visits is the side-bar discussions that take place afterwards, which can last up to three hours. The long, ornately decorated room becomes a market place of who needs to speak with whom, etc. And the few interpreters in the room are pulled every-which-way. And, not surprisingly, the shared meal is always a highlight. For my part, the food is absolutely delicious. I love the fresh vegetables and the tender and very recently prepared lamb. Adam, who we incorrectly thought was Sheikh Heiss' son (he is his nephew) was as enjoyable as ever. I include a picture here of him and LTC Silverman in a playful exchange.

Fishing in Iraq?

That's right! The Soldiers of Delta Company have recently discovered an innovative technique for decompressing in a combat zone--fishing. In their battle space there are a few small ponds they recently learned were fish hatcheries. Incredulous, a few of them had their wives ship them their poles and reels. As they tell it--and we all know what a fish story is, don't we?--they have yet to catch anything. But, one of them claims he had a fish bite his lure in half. (SSG Crowley is pictured above. He wants to assure his loving wife he only dips while he fishes.) Because fishing in combat requires one to be in all his gear and others to pull security, it's not the relaxing pastime we know it to be back home. They are able to do so for only a few minutes. (You'll notice in this picture the manned gun truck and personnel out front.) The novelty of doing so in a combat zone has just enough of the bizarre that it also serves as comic relief.



Now to be fair, Red Platoon (featured below in the post Breaking Track at Anvil) do not do this regularly. Missions keep them pretty busy. What's more, their home, COP Anvil, has been transported a few hundred yards away to a plywood compound they have respectfully named JSS Lewis, after SGT Adrian Lewis--a fellow tanker killed in action (see post below Remembering Our Brothers). The task of transporting all their equipment and supplies has kept them busy. Fishing will have to wait. Perhaps when the weather cools. (Pictured above is their new home, JSS Lewis, and here, their old one, COP Anvil.

Pre-Combat Checks and Inspections

Pre-Combat Checks and Inspections--or PCC and PCI as they're called--are an essential part of a combat mission. Soldiers check their equipment, arms, ammunition, communications instruments, vehicles, etc. and their leaders inspect to ensure the checks were properly performed. Depending on the mission, it can be a time of routine drudgery, solemn stillness, or playful lightheartedness. Regardless of the mood--Soldiers are focused during this time. But their focus is not so intense that they don't welcome my visit. It's a moment for them to share with me any fears or apprehensions about their mission, their leaders, and as is often the case, their concerns for family back home.




I was sharing with my father just this week that I was not prepared for the amount of counseling that Soldiers would seek from me. Surprisingly, my counseling load doesn't differ much from garrison to theater. Life goes on regardless of where we are, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. About half of my time is spent counseling. The primary issue is marriage and family. Other issues include grief and bereavement, combat stress, depression, and a good deal of spiritual counseling. (Perhaps it would be useful to submit a post on counseling.)




Recently, I was at COP Aggressor visiting our Infantry Soldiers of Bravo Company. They had a mission early the following morning and I was able to move about visiting with them as they performed their PCC & PCI. Pictured are SPC Paulson in a Bradely--taken from the bottom; 1LT Marsh, leaning upon the hood of a gun truck while writing his plans for the upcoming mission; his team hanging out between movements; Major McGlathery who coordinates our air missions on top of his vehicle with a team member; SGT Clifton, loading 20mm rounds for the Bradley canon; and SPC Baulkner atop the Bradely's driver's hatch. These are great Soldiers and friends. SGT Tremain and I always enjoy our time out at Aggressor.

Overwhelming Support

Internet and phones are the number one morale issue for our Soldiers; they present a whole new dimension to the experience of being deployed to a combat zone. All-in-all, I imagine its a huge improvement over what our fathers and grandfathers experienced in Vietnam, Korea, and WWII. That being said, there is a downside to Soldiers' more regular communication with families: they experience the emotional roller coaster of their families' lives more acutely. But we'll take the ups and downs if it keeps us connected.

Soldiers have expressed to me their surprise and even discomfort/embarrassment with the support they receive from not only family and friends, but from strangers back home. It's true; we receive amazing support from complete strangers all the time. Langston Chapel Elementary School has adopted our Battalion, and the students send us handwritten letters and drawings. The charity, ComPadres, whose members support Chaplain (Father) Barkemeyer's ministry has donated six Xbox 360 consoles and support packages and a few portable DVD players for me to deliver to our Soldiers out at the Combat Out Posts (see JSS Arcala post below). (If you are interested in supporting them while they support Soldiers, not only of our battalion, but Soldiers and Marines throughout our brigade area of operations, please visit their website at: http://www.thecompadres.org/ .)

We have church groups send us care packages all the time. Recently, we had a church youth group from California donate several very large boxes with socks, shower shoes, underwear and several other high quality items that were immediately put to use. They also sent us more than 100 Beanie Babies (in the black bag I'm hefting above) to give to Iraqi children. The father of one of our leaders, and a good friend of mine--SFC Gamblin--organized his Sunday school class in Clinton, Missouri to resupply me with clippers and trimmers for haircuts, shops vacs for chapel clean-up, and study bibles for some of the lay leaders in our non-denominational worship community. A buddy of mine sent me a bunch of recently released DVDs which we show on Saturdays during hair cuts. A Boulder, Colorado graphics and signs company has offered to produce, at cost, vinyl prints of Soldiers' loved ones for them to carry with them wherever they go (http://www.peelvinyl.com/).

Arline Grant, from Hampstead, New Hampshire, and campaign director for AdoptaPlatoon (http://adoptaplatoon.org/new/, recently sent me more quality barber supplies, making it possible for me to have a field set and one I use back here at Blue Diamond--the Soldiers may be hot, dirty and tired, but they'll have a sharp haircut. Just today, I received a few care packages from a church group in Brussels, Belgium. Adults, youth and children participated in sending us letters, treats, and practical items our Soldiers will love. Most of our supporters are complete strangers. People who will never get to see our faces, and know how much we appreciate their thoughtfulness.

Of course, the danger in sharing with you some of the details of the support we receive is that one could get the idea that we have enough, or that what you might send really doesn't make much of a difference. That's simply not the case. We have just under 1,000 soldiers in our battalion, and several hundred more Marines, Sailors, Airmen and civilian employees here at Camp Blue Diamond with us--and I have never heard anything but gratitude and amazement of the generosity of others. It is humbling to witness your efforts.

Breaking Track at COP Anvil

Track vehicles run on soft, deep sand, hot, sticky hardball and everything in between. The metal track has hard rubber pads that provide traction and keep the vehicles (usually M1 Abrams tanks and Bradleys--pictured here) from tearing up the roads. When the pads wear down, or when sections wear out before the whole, it's time to repair or replace track. This is always a dreaded task.

The elements can make the job even more challenging. (My first, personal experience with this was at Fort Knox, in November 1988. I was in Basic and Advanced Individual Training. We were conducting a night field exercise, and our tank threw track in the cold freezing mud. It took us several hours to fix the track. A few days later I was hospitalized with pneumonia.) In this particular case, the 120 degree heat can be just as daunting as freezing whether.

Pictured here are soldiers from Red Platoon: an Infantry platoon from Bravo Company attached to the tankers of Delta Company for the duration of this deployment. (Bravo Company has a platoon of tankers from Delta Company as well.) The tankers enjoy harassing the Infantry that changing Bradley track is much easier than tank track. Having never changed Bradley track, I wouldn't know. It is an eternal truth in the military that your job is more difficult than the job of the guy next to you--at least it's strangely comforting to believe it is.

I would have to say that I was impressed with Red Platoon's execution of this task. Maybe it was the heat and dust motivating them to finish as quickly as possible. Whatever it was, they worked well together--communicating, motivating, and correcting each other as necessary. Let's not forget, that this is a task that even if it is done quickly, it must be done properly; no one wants to have to recover a vehicle from sector and tow it back to the COP.

Creative Programs

As mentioned below, my religious support to Soldiers can be categorized as either religious services (worship) or religious programs. Our programs range from the innovative--haircuts, which sometimes double as counseling--to the ordinary, bible studies and classes. Out at the combat outposts, the facilities and mission usually restrict me to performing worship services and one-on-one bible conversations.

Here at Camp Blue Diamond, however, I conduct a Thursday evening bible study and Friday evening leadership seminar. On Thursdays we have been working through the book of Acts. Studying the challenges of the early church is informative for our growing non-denomination community. The bible study is guided by a power point presentation of art and geography--but held together by discussing some of the more difficult questions that relate to personal discipleship and communal health. Attendance is usually between 15 to 30. Recently we took a break from the routine to discuss "men's issues". Two-thirds of the Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and contractors who attend the Thursday evening bible study are married. It was fascinating for the single participants to listen to the others' challenges and successes in marriage. Just one of the many points they walked away with after that night was that even though they may not know their future wives, they make decisions every day that directly impact what kind of husband and father they will be. Therefore, while single, they can still respect and honor their future wives and children.

Our Friday evening leadership seminar is attended by those supporting the non-denominational worship services, many of whom have experienced a call to the ministry. Some of them are interested in the chaplaincy--so participating in the praise and worship team, helping to lead worship, or even preaching a sermon on occasion is valuable experience--beyond the worship itself. The Friday evening class is a course in Exegesis--methods and principles of interpreting the scriptural text in its various contexts (historical, literary, social, etc.) to aid one in its proper application. We have dedicated six weeks to the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) and six weeks to the New Testament. We use a syllabus, and students have purchased their own text books: Gordon Fee's Old Testament Exegesis; Stewart Douglas' New Testament Exegesis. They don't understand everything, but they are walking away with a practical understanding of the majority of what we've covered. Each student preaches a sermon to his peers in class from both an Old and New Testament passage. The course is technical in nature; it is not for the purpose of fostering devotion--although that has happened. The intended purpose is to train participants involved in worship, and by extension, improve the quality of our worship experience. By all accounts, we have achieved this.

12 People attend this class--all military; their ranks range from Specialist (E-4) to Colonel (O-5). One of our class members, SSG Smith, also plays the guitar for us. His talent has been a true blessing. He is patient as we shift from traditional hymns, to old-time gospel, to contemporary praise songs. In our Non-denomination Christian worship service this week, I led worship and SSG Smith preached the sermon. It was well attended and great experience for all involved.

Sheikh Abdullah Jalal Mahklif

Lately, I have been discussing with our Soldiers the success experienced here in the Anbar province. President Bush's recent interim report mentions this province specifically; the quotation and link to the larger story follows: "The president touted successes in Iraq's violent Anbar province, a Sunni-dominated region which he said had been ‘considered lost’ and ‘because of what we call bottom-up reconciliation, Anbar province has changed dramatically.’" http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/12/us.iraq/index.html Even though they interact with the local leaders who are bringing about this "reconciliation", our Soldiers are largely removed from the stage on which this reconciliation takes place, and except for a drop in enemy attacks and a rise in cooperation from local citizens (significant improvements to be sure) they don't see the success.

In addition to speaking with Soldiers here at Camp Blue Diamond and at the various combat outposts, we also address this issue in our weekly non-denominational worship service. We make it a point to pray for the success of our mission, which includes sustaining our own leaders (resisting the urge to merely criticize) as well as praying for specific success in training and supporting local political, military and religious leaders—an essential element of our mission. We are not occupiers. We want this country to be stable and to have the skill, resources, and resolve to sustain itself. And if you think this sounds overly idealistic, we also regularly pray for our enemies—the insurgents—that God will soften their hearts and open their minds.

My developing relationship with Sheikh Addullah Jalal Maklf (briefly mentioned in the 8 June 2007 post below) is a helpful illustration of this aspect of our mission, and more particularly as it relates to a limited aspect of my commander's intent for me. Again, my primary mission, and that which occupies the lion share of my time, is caring for Soldiers and their families. However, because I am seen as a fellow religious leader, Imams and Sheiks are particularly open with me. Although he uses the title of “sheikh”, Sheikh Abdullah is also an Imam; and not just any Imam, he is the president of the Sunni Endowment, an office with ties to the local government, responsible for the distribution of local Mosques’ collections of tithes (or zakat).

Recently, Sheikh Abdullah visited me here at Camp Blue Diamond Chapel. Our dialogue on this occasion was unusually personal. I shared with him a slide show that addressed: my family, my professional and educational background, my ministry prior to being a chaplain, and what ministry to Soldiers in combat looks like. He was bewildered that my son, Benjamin, owns a snake and feeds it live mice which he buys at the same store he bought his snake. He found the religious diversity and population of the United States fascinating. I could tell he was wrestling with my conviction that such a diversity makes for a stronger society. We are looking at various ways we can sustain him in his leadership.

One of the more exciting elements of this is Langston Chapel Elementary School’s (of Statesboro, GA) sponsorship of several schools in this area. In addition to sending personalized letters, they will be helping to provide simple school supplies to over 400 elementary-aged students in the Jazeera district. One of their teachers, Mrs. Cindy Bozeman, is helping to spearhead this effort.

At the conclusion of my most recent visit with Sheikh Abdullah, I presented him with one of my chaplain’s coins (a military tradition of giving a medallion to another in recognition of accomplishment or expectation). The coin I use is designed on the theme of Ephesians 6:11-18: Paul’s admonition to “Put on the Whole Armor of God”. Sheikh Abdullah was impressed with this spiritual emphasis, and listened most attentively as I explained its meaning--as relevant to a Muslim as it is to a Christian.

JSS Arcala & JSS Eagle Base

For this deployment we have a company of tankers attached to us from our sister battalion, 2-7 Infantry. The Soldiers of Charlie Company who manned COP Falcon in the city, now secure the main supply route (MSR Mobile) that runs through our area of operations (AO). Considering the size of our AO, that's quite a task. Their mission is to assist Iraqi police in maintaining security along the MSR, especially at check points that are built-up with barricades. The primary threat is VBIEDs (Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Devises) or cars/trucks carrying bombs, whose drivers are prepared to kill themselves. Although this can be a boring and monotonous task, these Soldiers understand that insurgents would love nothing more than to drive such a vehicle up to a busy market place, a police recruiting site, or a meeting between local and coalition leaders.

Working with the Iraqi police and ensuring they follow procedures and standards can be frustrating. As our societies are vastly different, it is not uncommon to hear reports that Iraqi police manning check points along the MSR resort to bribery and extortion while conducting the duties. Of course, this is tolerated by neither coalition nor Iraqi Security Force leaders--but it is an indication that old habits can resurface.

During my visit with these Soldiers last week, we conducted a non-denominational worship service. I was particularly impressed that everyone who was not on guard at the time chose to attend. As is sometimes my custom at the start of a field service, we went around the circle and each person shared where he is from and his denomination. It's always interesting to see the diversity and breadth. Three Soldiers identified themselves as either non-religious or agnostic, but seemed genuinely interested in observing. We had a meaningful conversation afterwards. At the conclusion of the service, I delivered a few gifts. Included was an Xbox 360 donated by Father Barkemeyer's charity back in Chicago: Compadres. I also delivered pairs of ballistic sun glasses and flashlights donated by generous individuals back home.

A mission similar to that carried out by Soldiers at JSS Arcala is carried out by their fellow tankers at JSS Eagle Base. I was able to pay a brief visit to these Soldiers while traveling with LTC Silverman, CSM Sumner and their personal security detail the other day. I visited with Specialists Daniel and Darby--pictured here. SPC Darby is older than most of his peers. His buddies have pinned up an old action photo of a Soldier in Vietnam and then pasted Darby's face over the top--"that's how old he is!"

Father John

John Barkemeyer is a good friend of mine. He and I met at the Chaplain Officer Basic Course in the summer of 2004. He was in my platoon, so we were able to commiserate over life's frustrations. It helped that he hailed from Chicago, but his love for the Cubs kind of neutralizes anything gained in that regard. We have similar appreciations for the arts and seem to have a more analytical way of understanding things than the average person (read, he's smart too). Inevitably, he's a loyal supporter of the Fighting Irish. (This is his tattooed ankle pictured.)

Fr. John is the chaplain of the battalion I deployed with in 2005. (He's pictured here with his assistant, PFC Solorio.) He is also the only priest we have in our brigade of more than 5,000 Soldiers and Marines. So he is constantly on the move providing for our Catholic Soldiers, Marines and Department of Defense Civilians in ways we Protestant chaplains cannot: conducting Mass and confession. He visits us at Camp Blue Diamond once a week. His stay is never long, but we get to spend a little time each week before he's whisked off to the battalion of Marines nearby. I make it a point to attend Mass each week. Since the lectionary he follows as a Catholic is very similar to the Revised Common Lectionary I use for the non-denominational services I conduct/design each week--it's fun to hear his homily on Saturdays, and compare it to the message I have prepared to deliver to the following day.

It is a pleasant surprise that we are serving in the same brigade and get to see one another on a fairly regular basis. Seeing another chaplain once a week, if only for a few minutes, helps keep me sane. (My dear friend, Chaplain Tim Fary, is not as lucky.) Here is a link to a great article in the Chicago Tribune about Father John: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-070529chaplain,0,1654667.story

Uplifted Hands

(My apologies for the lack of entries during the past month. In addition to being out with our Soldiers, I also had a run in with food poisoning (or possibly the nasty viral flu that's going around); it took me a few weeks to get caught up. I appreciate your emails and care packages in support of me and our Soldiers.)

Our mechanics help ensure our equipment runs properly while we are out on the road. They work in the motor pool here at Blue Diamond, but also at the various COPs out in sector. I find them working in the heat of the day, the early morning hours, and late at night--supporting the mission is never at their convenience. The extreme heat and dust do not mix well with grease, oil and power tools, but these guys make it happen. CPT Bailey and 1SG Camper of our Fox Company (Forward Support Company) lead the mechanics and all the various folks who keep us and the Soldiers out at the COPs supplied with food, water, fuel, ammo, etc.

In a manner of speaking, most military jobs are "thankless", not because leaders aren't appreciative, but because so much of what we do is in-the-line-of-duty. Operations in combat are so intense our focus is on the mission and related tasks, and we cannot always stop to pat folk on the back. But that's okay, most Soldiers aren't looking for constant recognition; it's enough to know they are part of something larger, something important. And yet the routine can wear a Soldier down. After a while--whether influenced by the barrage of criticism from the media, or the fatigue of back-to-back deployments--Soldiers' commitment and dedication can waiver.



The other day while I was out in the motor pool visiting soldiers, I caught our new battalion executive officer, Major Pivik, doing his own visiting. One of his responsibilities is overseeing the maintenance and accountability of equipment and supplies. Soldiers like seeing their leaders at their places of duty: whether that's the motor pool, office, combat outpost, or guard tower.

Snipers at COP Sword

Getting situated when we first arrived at Ramadi was a challenge that kept me from making regular posts. Although we are no longer in the city itself, there is still a good deal of talk about those first couple of months. Thankfully, things have quieted significantly. COP Sword was arguably the most kinetic of the outposts our Soldiers manned in the city. They took enemy small arms fire everyday, and sometimes indirect fire, IEDs, and VBIEDs. Contact from the enemy wasn't uncommon at any of the COPs in the city, but it was especially regular at Sword.

I had my camera during one of those fights. I caught our First Sergeant, 1SG Balcer, and his staff manning the radios and coordinating with battalion headquarters back at Camp Ramadi. Although the mood at the time was intense, I knew that later, pictures of him with receivers at both ears would get a laugh.

My wife might be surprised to learn that while staying out at the COPs, I learned to sleep through gunfire. (I am an incredibly light sleeper.) It's not that I didn't hear the gunfire; I just knew what types of sounds to listen for: large explosions, shouts of desperation, and lots of running around--otherwise, I remained in a slumber with my arms over my ears. These COPs were essentially homes that had been turned into frat houses (not to imply a lack of professionalism or standards). They always made room for worship services and haircuts, but there wasn't much room when it came time get some sleep. February through April, we slept up on the roof tops, and enjoyed the cool, evening air and starry skies. Once May hit, the mosquitoes, sand flies (a real pain!), and persistent heat took the fun out of that. (Now that we're up north of the city, and the highs are in the 120s and lows are in the 80-90s, air conditioning is needed for survival--at least our survival.)

At COP Sword, we got to know the sniper teams real well. You might recall from a previous blog the fun we had beating "the twins"--Lohf and Taylor--at spades. I am including a few pictures of Lohf zeroing his sniper rifle--an M24--from the roof at COP Sword. As far as rifles in the military go, it's pretty impressive.

730 Days of Jared!

Friday our family will be celebrating Jared's second birthday. He was born while I was deployed to Iraq in 2005. He was two months old when we first met; I came home for my two weeks of R&R (rest and relaxation).
In many ways, he is different than his older brother, Benjamin, whom he idolizes. Benjamin has always been able to entertain himself for hours; Jared has to be in the mix. Jared has an intense scowl of concentration: a warning to everyone, "I'm serious now."
Jared seems more curious about things and objects. Benjamin gets focused on one thing, and it becomes his universe. Dawn and I were discussing this just the other day, and when I asked her whether she thought they were more similar or different she wisely asked, "Well, how different would Benjamin have been if he had an older brother like Jared?" It's interesting to consider the different ways we influence one another.














We're blessed to have two beautiful boys, who bring joy, and sometimes frustration, into our lives. I am including some of my favorite pictures of Jared in celebration of his adorable, yet independent, spirit. Happy birthday, Jared.

Al-Anbar Awakening

Ramadi, the capital of the Al-Anbar province, is known as a dangerous place for Soldiers and Marines. Al-Qaeda has claimed this province as their headquarters and staging ground for terrorist operations in Iraq. Like Falujah in 2005, the violence and destruction in Ramadi has been a current news topic since 2006. In September 2006, The Washington Post referenced a military document in a report on Al-Anbar: "The prospects for securing that country's western Anbar province are dim and. . . there is almost nothing the U.S. military can do to improve the political and social situation there. . . . There are no functioning Iraqi government institutions in Anbar, leaving a vacuum that has been filled by the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq, which has become the province's most significant political force,. . . Another person familiar with the report said it describes Anbar as beyond repair; a third said it concludes that the United States has lost in Anbar."

When we learned last year that our brigade was deploying to Ramadi as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force there was a sobered reaction. It's always satisfying to know that you will be in the center of the fight where your skills and training are best put to use, but that normally means not everyone will return. This, of course, is the nature of our profession.

Late last year, the outgoing brigade began to court the support of Sheikhs (local tribal leaders) in an effort to thwart Al-Qaeda. We are continuing this strategy, and the Sheikhs are responding. In fact, this success in Al-Anbar is viewed by many as a viable model to be implemented in other parts of the country. Specifically, an otherwise middle-weight leader, Sheikh Sittar, is credited with forming the Sahawat Al-Anbar or National Awakening Council. He and other Sheikhs met with Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki on March 13 in Ramadi. Although still too early to tell, I suspect he will one day be regarded as a modern-day patriot. A recent New York Times article describes Anbar as: "undergoing a surprising transformation. Violence is ebbing in many areas, shops and schools are reopening, police forces are growing and the insurgency appears to be in retreat." Still, the article balanced the optimism with caution: "Yet for all the indications of a heartening turnaround in Anbar, the situation, as it appeared during more than a week spent with American troops in Ramadi and Falluja in early April, is at best uneasy and fragile." Today, CNN highlighted Lt Gen Petraeus--Commander of US Forces in Iraq--in a report, saying: "What's taken place in Anbar is almost breathtaking." (For the entire report: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/07/petraeus.iraq/index.html )

From my relatively limited vantage point, I am witnessing this awakening--particularly in the western portion of our battalion's area of operations. LTC Silverman, my commander, continues to bring me with him to meet with Sheikh Heiss at the Jazirah Council Center--where he hosts meetings with the local religious leaders or Imams. The pictures I have included here are from our most recent visits with the imams.

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Pathfinder Patrol

Our Alpha Company Soldiers conduct missions out of two Combat Out Posts (COPs): COP Warrior and JSS Pathfinder. (JSS--Joint Security Site-- is the next level COP, where our Soldiers live and work with Iraqi Army and Police; we still generically refer to them as COPs.) Army Rangers and Navy Seals often camp out with our Soldiers at these COPs. With temperatures reaching the 120s (and it isn't even officially summer), daytime patrols are especially challenging. The body armor, Kevlar helmets, and knee and elbow pads intensify the misery. Because these COPs are so close to the river, the high grass and palm trees give one the feel you're in a place like Vietnam. Venture out a bit, and you're clearly in the scorching Middle East.

Depending on the mission, Soldiers can head out at any time, and sometimes stay out for several hours. Some larger missions require them to be out for several days. These places are bustling with activity. During our visits I regularly see Iraqi police and soldiers bring to Pathfinder IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and other weapons they've either found, confiscated, or which citizens have turned over to them--all making the area that much safer for our Soldiers to maneuver. Our military employs civilian interpreters who are an essential element in working with our Iraqi counterparts. Some of these interpreters are American, but most of them are from Iraq.

The Army Times recently reported that less than half of all Soldiers and Marines (polled) in theater during 2006 believed that noncombatants deserved to be treated with respect. I understand this is shocking for many folks back home, and I find it unacceptable--however, many of of our Soldiers struggle with this challenge, complicated by the fact that we cannot identify our enemies as they can identify us (uniforms, military vehicles, fixed positions, etc.). It is something I regularly discuss with Soldiers as we stay with them.

Celebrating Benjamin

Tomorrow, Benjamin will be celebrating his 9th Birthday. He will be having a pizza party at the bowling alley; I'm sure he'll bowl a few strikes too! He did a great job of helping his mother during my first deployment in 2005 when I missed his 7th birthday. He's doing an even better job this time around. Being away from our boys is easily the most difficult thing I experience in a combat zone. It is not only the military and contractors who support us who sacrifice--it is our families back home. Although it hurts to know our boys are deprived of their fundamental need for Dad--I have hope that the lessons of sacrifice we demonstrate and which they experience will help prepare them for a rich life experience. (It seems extreme, but should Jesus' admonition--he who loses his life will find it--only apply to adults?)













Well, Benjamin may have thrust upon him difficult experiences that force him to grow up before he's ready--but just to illustrate he's every bit a boy, I am posting here some of my favorite pictures of him enjoying life. Benjamin, we love you. Thank you for reminding us how blessed we are and how beautiful life is.

Battlefield Worship

As a chaplain, I distinguish between religious services and religious programs (worship--on the one hand, and education--on the other). Religious services are rather complicated. Chaplains either perform or provide religious services for every soldier in need. Although I am ordained and endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as far as the Army and the Chaplain Corps (although not necessarily individual chaplains) are concerned--I am a Protestant Chaplain (who simply happens to be LDS). In this role, I PERFORM worship services and conduct bible studies and other forms of Christian education. I pray, preach, teach, and counsel from the perspective of faith, without drawing on those beliefs and practices which are exclusive to my own denomination. Because my denomination restricts me from performing or participating in communion or the Eucharist outside our denomination, I must PROVIDE this for the Soldiers in my care. I do this by coordinating with another Protestant chaplain who does not have these same denominational restrictions. Similarly, Sergeant Tremain, each Saturday, goes to Camp Ramadi with a convoy of gun trucks to retrieve Chaplain Barkemeyer: a Catholic priest who PERFORMS mass for those here at Camp Blue Diamond. During the High Holy Days, we will get our observant Jewish Soldiers to Ramadi to meet with the Rabbi; otherwise, there is a Jewish lay-leader who performs Shabbat Services every Friday night.

However, when we go out to visit our Soldiers at the combat out posts during the week, worship is pretty simple. It is non-denominational and usually about 10 to 20 minutes in length. I usually preach a simple message from that week's Revised Common Lectionary. We don't sing much, but we do pray, and afterwards--if mission allows--Soldiers often linger and raise personal questions and concerns more spiritual in nature than what we normally discuss. These fighters are less concerned with their personal safety than you might think--although they often confess to me their fear for one another. They are primarily concerned with family matters and issues of personal morality. The most common message I share with Soldiers is that God is not in the business of judging them--but saving them. God is and will be our Judge, but that judgement is designed to convict us and reveal our need for his love and forgiveness. I encourage Soldiers not to restrict their sense of spirituality to the concerns of foul language and pornography. Studying God's Word, being patient with your fellow soldiers, and learning what it means to love our enemies is just as essential to what it means to be a disciple.

I am including a few pictures of what field services look like when we're out at COPs Anvil, Aggressor, and Warrior--as well as a picture of me preaching a few months ago during our Easter service at Camp Blue Diamond.

Alpha's Loss Memorialized

While staying overnight with our Alpha Rock Soldiers at JSS Pathfinder last week, we were on-hand when a squad of dismounts were engaged by the enemy in Albu Obaid. Leading from the front of the patrol, Staff Sergeant Steve Butcher was killed by a bomb concealed in a shack. One of his Soldiers, Specialist Daniel Cagle, died from his wounds while being air evacuated to Balad. Their fellow Soldiers were hit hard by the loss. Sergent Tremain and I immediately went to work, consoling members of their squad and platoon. Cagle was once a troubled teen who had found his home in the Infantry. He helped them "stay sane" his friend said in his remarks during their memorial ceremony. SSG Butcher had been in the company since 2002; this was his third deployment to Iraq. Before I could even get out of the gun truck that took us to Pathfinder that day, SSG Butcher was there to let me know that a couple of his Soldiers needed to see me. He took great care of them. Before joining the Army, SSG Butcher tried out for the part of the Blue Power Ranger of the children's television show! His martial arts skills gave him the confidence, but he was turned away because he was too short--something that never limited him in the real world. Our Soldiers will continue to grieve, and we'll continue to listen and comfort as we are able. Our prayers remain with their family members.

Sheikh Heiss

Over the past two weeks my commander, LTC Silverman, has taken me with him to visit one of the primary political leaders in this district: Sheikh Heiss. LTC Silverman believes an invitation to religious leaders to be a part of the rebuilding process is long overdue. He hopes Sheikh Heiss will be helpful in brokering a relationship with religious leaders, and wants me (his chaplain) involved as well. Anyone aware of my professional work prior to becoming a chaplain knows this is right up my alley. And yet I see such interaction as very extracurricular compared to my responsibilities to Soldiers and their family members. I am looking forward to meeting the religious leaders (imams) in the area, and discovering in what ways we can work together to further our mission of stabilizing the Jazeera province. I include a few pictures here as an illustration of our visits, the food we eat as the Skeikh's guests, and one picture of Sheikh Heiss' son, Adam, amazed at the tattoos on SGT Tremain's arm. Also included is a picture of young girls reaching out for candy thrown by the gunner on our truck.

Supporting Local Leaders

Captain Matt McCreary is the commander of our Bravo Company (infantry). During our trip to visit with him and his Soldiers this week, he invited me to join him and one of his lieutenants (Steve Lankford) for a meeting with a sheik and a police chief in his company's area of operations. I consider each of our seven company commanders a friend, but Matt also happens to be my neighbor back in Georgia; our wives and children help support one another in our absence, which makes me especially fond of him. The particular meeting was at Sheik Saad's home. The women (as is customary) were conspicuously absent. His sons were adorable and reminded me how much I missed Benjamin and Jared. Colonel Jama, commander of the Iraqi police in Matt's AO, joined us as well. The leadership qualities of both men are quite evident. The western half of our battalion's battle space is more peaceful, so these type of relationships are the norm. The eastern half is struggling in that direction.

The purpose of the meeting was to sign a contract that would fund a project to clean up the area in preparation of rebuilding the infrastructure. LT Lankford is a promising young officer, who has done the ground work for this project. It is expected it will be the first of many. These men gave me a funny look when I asked our interpreter for their permission to post their pictures on this site. I explained that some people could use this information to identify them for harm. They laughed to each other--everyone here knows we support the rebuilding of Iraq, we are happier if the whole world knew it. This reminded me of the explanation why John Hancock's signature on our Declaration of Independence is over-sized.

Combat Haircuts

As y'all know, giving free haircuts to Soldiers (whether here at Camp Blue Diamond or at any of the Combat Out Posts) is a regular part of my ministry. I learned to cut hair during my first deployment to Iraq in 2005. I quickly picked up the art, and I do a pretty good job. I can do any type of fade (strait or kinky hair), high and tight, flat top, or what I call the Air Force cut (a style that's long like John Travolta's). With it getting hotter (highs are now around 115, and it's only May!), many Soldiers are saying: "Chaplain, just take it all off." As you can imagine, many Soldiers have tough outer shells, which can restrict ministry. Because they have to trust me enough to let me touch them--come inside their personal space--they learn to trust me with the personal issues going on in their lives. While they get their hair cut, Soldiers can grieve the loss of their buddies, talk about their fears, marital problems, questions of faith, and whether SEC football is truly better than Big 10 (which it is). I cut my commander's hair, Privates' hair--and everyone in between including our women soldiers and civilian interpreters. In fact, my biggest customers are the Marines; there's something about the word "free" that attracts them in droves.

Lately I have been averaging more than 50 haircuts each week; my record is 92. I don't allow anyone to sweep up afterwards, either; it is full service ministry. Sometimes, Soldiers want to pay me or give me a tip (which is illegal for me to accept); I tell them doing so would rob me from the privilege of serving them, and that service is worth more to me than a few bucks--it makes them think. Cutting hair is both physically and emotionally tiring. It is even more difficult out at the COPs with the heat. So far, the ministry benefits outweigh the costs of fatigue and irritation caused by sweat and hair clippings.

Sergeant Tremain, my assistant, has expressed interest in learning to cut hair too! (evil grin, here) In a matter of two months, he has learned to cut most of the styles guys request. This is a real relief. (Pictured here is CPL Taylor with SGT T, who gave him a haircut that makes him look like he's 70 or a monk. This and the Mohawk below were comic, intermediate cuts; the finished products were well within regulations. Haircuts say a lot about a Soldier--even out here.) Chaplain Mason, from 5-7 CAV emailed that he and his assistant have picked up this practice too, and their Troopers love it.

Every Saturday after Catholic Mass, we set up the barber shop here in our chapel at Camp Blue Diamond. We play DVDs on the laptop that's connected to a projector that thows the movie up on the chapel wall for the guys to watch while they wait in line. (If any of you have any DVD's you want to donate for the cause: Chaplain J. Nathan Kline; HHC 3-69 AR; Camp Blue Diamond; APO, AE 09346). I've included a few pictures of this ministry I hope you'll enjoy. Thanks for your prayers and support. Please pass the link to this page to a love one?

Remembering Our Brothers

Before leaving Camp Ramadi, we held memorial ceremonies for two Soldiers we lost while they were conducting combat operations in the city. SPC Waterbury and SGT Lewis. The pictures I include here are posted with Soldiers' permission. Part of me thinks this subject matter is too painful and private to be shared in such a forum. And yet I regularly counsel grieving Soldiers and encourage them to remember fallen Soldiers and loved ones who pass on. For units who frequently experience casualties, it can be easy to become numb to the tragedy of death and injury. Repressing such pain can be selfish, and yet remembering the dead entails the risk of living in the past. Bringing with us into the future our memories of loved ones past is the challenge. Our commitment to "never forget" must not be in vain.

The cover story for this week's Newsweek article addresses maintaining faith in combat and largely focuses on the challenge faced by chaplains: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18367801/site/newsweek/ I recommend the article. Although the experiences of the principal chaplain in the article are very similar to my own, and I do experience "provider fatigue", I haven't experienced the same spiritual despair (yet, I recognize it is a possibility). Some of our Soldiers' faith has been eroded by the perpetual tragedy of this war, and I do what I am able to help. I experience a sustaining love during the most difficult times that I can only understand as God's grace in response to the prayers of loved ones and the faithful lovers of freedom the world over.

Iron for Anvil

As I have left Camp Ramadi for Camp Blue Diamond, our soldiers at the combat outposts in the city have moved into similar outposts in the nearby countryside. The Dark Knights have left Combat Out Post (COP) Iron for COP Anvil. The picture here is of the roof top of COP Anvil which the Soldiers have fashioned into a prison yard type gym: cleared away to make room to play some stick ball.

Many of these Soldiers are tankers, and my previous military service as a private and a tanker gives me some credence when it comes to ministry matters. These Soldiers' commander--Chris Haun--(pictured here) is conducting some business over the radio. This act is neither unusual nor important, but the flowers bring out the blush in his cheeks. In a similar vain of humor, SGT Tremain found a cushion for his cot that most Soldiers would have difficulty using. When it's time to work, the guys can get serious. They also appreciate levity.

Change of Plans

During the past month our battalion moved from Camp Ramadi to Camp Blue Diamond. Although these two camps are very near one another, the move was a major effort. It included moving equipment, vehicles, and Soldiers as well as handing off our battlespace to the incoming unit and picking up the battlespace of the unit we replaced. Change of this magnitude frustrates most people; and I am no exception. In fact, I am comforted by routine and familiarity--even in the extreme, where most people would become bored. And I am an Army Chaplain serving in combat; go figure.

Chaplain DiConti is the chaplain for the Marine battalion that replaced us. Like me, he believes that a ministry-of-presence (being out with the guys) is essential to ministry. We can't lead from the chapel. My commander made room in his personal security convoy of four gun trucks to help me escort Chaplain Diconti and his assistant to our four out posts in the city. The picture above is of us at COP Iron. Also pictured are some of his Marines on the burn barrel detail--a duty our Soldiers were too happy to hand over. (The barrels are the receptacles in the outhouses--the contents are burned every morning for purposes of sanitation and health--sounds healthy, doesn't it.) I enjoyed the time we spent together before moving north of the city.

Chaplain Mitch Mason was the chaplain I replaced at Camp Blue Diamond. He and I came to Iraq together --this time and last. His unit was given a new mission about three months into our deployment (which we just learned has been extended to 15 months--oh well). Our history together helped make our transition seamless--the same wasn't true for the others in our battalions. I am attaching pictures here of Mitch and his assistant Specialist Ortiz in their office (which is now mine) and another of Mitch preaching at our Easter Sunrise Service. The story is that the building we use as a chapel was used by Uday and Qusay Hussain (Saddam's sons) as a brothel. I guess if your gonna have that kind of connection--it's better to have a brothel become a chapel than the other way around, right? Chaplain Mason and Ortiz left a few days ago, but not before we were able to enjoy each other's company. They had lots of fun losing to me in Texas Hold'em--a new ministry skill I've acquired. Pictured is me gloating and Staff Sergeant Barker lamenting that my strait was one card higher than his.

Sword & Grant

A Hero Flight is the simple ceremony we conduct to honor fallen Soldiers' remains prior to loading the body onto a helicopter. When the remains are loaded and unloaded into the ambulance that takes them to the airstrip, we are called to "present arms"; at "order arms" I offer a brief, appropriate prayer. We do this at night, usually the same day the Soldier is killed. It's not for a few days later--after we've had time to prepare--that we conduct the Soldier's memorial ceremony.

This week a civilian interpreter at COP Sword, who goes by Adam, was killed while accompanying our Soldiers on a combat mission. We wanted to honor Adam as we would a brother-in-arms, so the Commander, a platoon leader, and I made comments in addition to the traditional elements of the Hero Flight ceremony. Adam's father was an Iraqi Air Force general under Saddam, who went into exile with his family when he refused the order to bomb a village. Adam shared the vision of a democratic Iraq.

A couple of days after Adam's Hero Flight, we went out to visit the Soldiers at COP Sword to see how they were handling their loss.

I want to share a few pictures from our visit to our Soldiers at COP Sword. Our trips out to the COPs are never routine. We always look forward to seeing the Soldiers who work/live out there.

We left with 1SG Balcer and his convoy of up-armored gun trucks, and returned with 1SG Delgado and his convoy of Bradleys. (Pictures inside the Bradley are below.) 1SG Balcer's gunner, PFC Swain, is coolly pictured here from his gunner's hatch.

I have also included pictures of children playing in an alley (which 1SG Balcer has identified as an area we always receive enemy fire) and a bullet and bomb-ridden building along our route.

This is the view of COP Sword as we approach it from the East--it's the one with a guard tower on the roof. We got there in time to see EOD (the Emergency Ordinance Disposal) team disarming an IED (Improvised Explosive Devise, or road-side bomb). I took a picture of their defusing explosives, which didn't work. Our guys ended up setting it off by shooting at it. It was probably good I wasn't on the roof to take that shot.

After cutting hair all day and night, SGT Tremain and I accepted the Twins' (not real twins) challenge to a game of spades. Word has gotten out that we can't be beat, and these two snipers were doubters. So far, my skill and SGT T's luck at spades has left Soldiers demoralized and in desperate need of counseling. I appreciate they choose to seek that counseling elsewhere.

Armor Chapel

There are two chapels at Camp Ramadi: Memorial Chapel and Armor Chapel. Memorial Chapel is the main chapel, where the brigade chaplain lives/works and most of the services are conducted. Armor Chapel is where I have my office, and we have a worship service for each of the Protestant, Catholic, LDS, and Gospel communities.

Today is the Third Sunday of Lent. Protestant services went well. Today's message was from the Gospel Reading: Luke 13:1-9. It addresses questions of causality and justice: Why do bad things happen to good people? Where is God's justice? I concluded with the illustration that without a necessary chemical process that turns it into rich fertilizer, manure is harmful rather than beneficial to the growth process. When we respond with humility to our challenges and trials, pain and suffering become the rich soil out of which a broken heart and a contrite spirit emerge. The fruit of God's righteousness worked through us is facilitated by life's difficulties. Witnessing the wounded and dying can cause one to ask some of life's heavier questions. Although I don't have all the answers, it's satisfying to be in place to help answer some of the more important ones.

Armor Chapel, as you can see, is nothing more than a tent. However, Private First Class Thomas (pictured here with Sergeant Tremain) put a great deal of time, skill, and effort into making us nice, sturdy benches, an alter (for Mass and LDS Sacrament Meetings), and a wood wall and door (with double hinges). The chapel is humble, but it fulfills its function. We are blessed to have it.

Hitting the Gym

Many soldiers make a habit of working out at the gym. At Camp Ramadi, we have three gyms. The larger, nicer one is on the other side of the camp, and about a mile away. Walking for a mile on roads covered with pot holes is not good for SGT Tremain's ankle, and we have a pretty busy schedule, so we go to the smaller one close by. Just as it was during OIF III with SGT Lee, working out is very therapeutic. Our routine: Day 1: chest & triceps. Day 2: back & biceps. Day 3: shoulders. Then we repeat the routine, and rest on Saturdays (the day I cut hair). The picture here is of Staff Sergeant Pates, posing under the entrance of COP Iron. The voice caption from Arnold reads: "SSG Pates, you pump me up!" I imagine the joke is lost on anyone unfamiliar with his personality. Even the COPs have little make-shift gyms. Some of the more essential dumb bells in our gym have been stolen for use at the COPs.

Working out helps us burn off stress, increase our energy, keep us healthy, and helps us feel better about ourselves. A good deal of what goes on in the gym is inspired by vanity, and I'm not so foolish to think I'm immune. As healthy as it is, it sometimes saddens me to think that some of our soldiers meet their deaths, who would have done well to devote half the time and energy to spiritual matters that they have to those matters physical. SGT Tremain (pictured here) is proud of his shoulders. I'm just proud that at 36, I can bench my weight. A lot of guys, myself included, work harder hoping to impress our wives when we return home.

Funny things happen at the gym. Some guys apparently believe that the louder they grunt, the more weight they will push. This, of course, is silly. I think it's funny, but both SGT Lee (my previous assistant) and SGT Tremain are intensely irritated by it. Sometimes the grunts and howls sound pretty desperate, as if the guy is giving birth or something.

A couple of weeks ago, someone brought in a box of small foam brains and hearts, donated by a health clinic. I guess the idea is to squeeze them for stress relief. They disappeared quickly. A few days later I found one of the brains on a workout bench, with something a Soldier had written on it in an effort to make a joke at the Marines' expense (pictured here). The irony of the Soldier's failed effort is something I won't forget, and I thought y'all would get a kick out of it. For the most part, Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen (all here at Campa Ramadi--although the Marines command the area of western Iraq) get along surprisingly well. However, one has to look no further than the insults written on latrine walls to be reminded that a healthy--albeit juvenile--competition remains between the services. From my observation, there are very few meaningful differences between us that remain; this was not the case for my Father, who served with the Marines in Vietnam.

I appreciate the letters and care packages Dawn and the boys have sent. This week, Dawn sent me peanut butter (the world's best food), raspberry jam, and a candle. The candle was pumpkin spice scented; this excerpt from her letter explains it as a substitution:

"I was feeling incredibly complete! [She had just baked me six loaves of chocolate chip pumpkin bread--never had it, but it sounds delicious.] This morning I was bundling up your package of homemade love when a loaf broke as I handled it. So I tasted it. Much to my complete horror the recipe was wrong. They had used tbsp<-->tsp for the baking soda. It tasted like Tylenol. I will do it again, just not tonight! Thought you'd like my disaster story."

Combat Circuit Ministry

Each week SGT Tremain and I spend a few days and nights with our commander's Soldiers who man outposts in the city of Ramadi. Our battalion has four outposts: Sword, Grant, Iron, and Falcon (pictured above). We're in the process of using the Arabic names for these instead. Most of these have Iraqi Army and Police at them as well. The goal is to completely turn these over to the control of our Iraqi counterparts. An outpost is simply a house or group of houses where Soldiers live and out of which they plan and execute missions. My understanding is that the military compensates property owners when we take use of a house. Missions include census surveys and security patrols. South central Ramadi is very much a combat zone, which makes simple services such as water, electricity, and garbage removal so difficult to establish and maintain. Our COPs do not have running water, and we use generators for electricity. I don't know that there has been a day without the enemy engaging our Soldiers in either small arms fire or complex attacks; I was not prepared for the intensity of the fight here.

Our visits to the COPs consist of performing religious services (generally just Protestant worship, but sometimes Sacrament Meetings for the Latter-day Saint Soldiers). My friend and fellow chaplain, Father Barkemeyer, will soon make the rounds with me to conduct Mass for my commander's Catholic Soldiers. Here is a picture of me conducting Protestant services at COP Iron. I look a little lazy leaning up against the plastic containers of hot chow, but I had just given 27 hair cuts, and my legs were pretty wobbly.

COP Falcon is a configuration of about 10 houses, which are separated by a creek that runs down the middle of them. Raw sewage drains into this creek, providing it's official name (making it unnecessary for me to use the expletive). The picture here is of me crossing the creek to visit with our Soldiers on the other side. (It doesn't look difficult to cross, but several Soldiers have already fallen in!) They have to cross it every day for hot chow. And if the smell isn't enough to motivate you to cross it quickly, the fact that enemy snipers are in the area will do the trick.

Caring for the Wounded and Honoring the Dead

In our first month of this deployment several of our soldiers have sustained wounds and two have been killed while conducting combat operations in Ramadi. A few of the wounded are receiving treatment in the States before returning; the others have or will soon return to duty. In addition to caring for our Soldiers as they come into Charlie Med (the emergency and trauma center here at Camp Ramadi) we also see Marines, Sailors, Airmen and US Contractors working with us--not to mention the many Iraqi Security Forces (Army and Police) and civilians who are rushed here. The following is an Army Times article reporting on our memorial ceremony for Private Matthew Zeimer (pictured above). An excerpt from my meditation and my commander's remarks are included: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/atramadideaths070206/ .

Last week we conducted a second ceremony for Private Kelly Youngblood (pictured left). These loses are understandably difficult, and a great deal of preparation and thought go into the otherwise simple ceremonies. Our commander concluded his remarks with these insightful words: "This war, these actions that we take here in Ramadi, is not just about the future of our world. The Iraqi people, with our help, must defeat this enemy. We cannot win this fight alone. It is only as the partner to Iraqi’s Army and police, their government and the citizens of this nation that we will defeat this threat. I’m not sure if Kelly Youngblood ever thought about that. I know that he thought about the fact that he didn't want to let his crew, his leaders and his buddies down. So he guarded, from his tank observation post and permitted US, Iraqi’s, and Americans to move freely in the streets of Ramadi."

"Sometimes we look at our actions and we think they are trivial. We take a shallow look and we see only the immediate. Private Kelly Youngblood was not on guard merely to protect us. His actions were part of a war that will protect and foster what we hold dear, Freedom, Democracy, and ultimately our way of life. Kelly, I don’t know if you ever thought about how important you are, but we just did. Thank You."

Getting Settled

The first two weeks here at Camp Ramadi are what we refer to as the RIP (Relief in Place) process. The first week the outgoing unit is in the driver's seat--so to speak--and they show us how they have been doing things. Chaplain Steve Kosylo and Specialist Reichelt helped give us a sense of how they did ministry here at camp Ramadi and in the city where the majority of our soldiers will be manning combat outposts (COPs). The second week, we're in the driver's seat, and they offer feedback and advice. In theory, the practice makes sense, but since so many of us are on our second or third deployments the process (in my expert opinion) could take place in a couple of days.

During the RIP we woke up a few hours after going to bed so we could catch the Superbowl. Both SGT Tremain and I were rooting for the Chicago Bears. I would like to say the photo above is of Soldiers/Sailors/Marines attending my religious services, anxiously hanging on every word--but it's actually of them watching the game. We watched the game at the gym/MWR (morale, welfare and recreation) on a big screen TV. The military TV system out of Europe only runs dry, uninteresting public service announcements--no commercials. This fact is bad enough during the rest of the year, but a Super Bowl without commercials--especially when your team is losing--is particularly painful! Sacrificing sleep to see your team lose is also painful; but what are you gonna do? That being said, it was a very memorable experience. Just about everyone present was pulling for either the Bears or the Colts. (Who else is going to wake up in the middle of the night, right?) So most plays were answered by either cheers or groans. A few times I thought a fight would break out. I went prepared to minister and console disappointed Colts fans afterwards--but little did I know I would be the one in need. In addition to enjoying ourselves, it was evident others appreciated seeing the chaplain and assistant there at O-Dark-Thirty.

Here is a picture of Chaplain Kosylo and Specialist Reichelt in their/our room during our first week at Ramadi. Then there is a picture of SGT Tremain sleeping in the high loft of a bed Reichelt left for him. The last picture is of SGT Tremain painting our room an ugly brown. Not only was it the only color we had (other than white) but it was exterior latex--so it is still drying three weeks later! (The previous color was actually white-turned-beige from dirty-greasy finger prints and stale cigarettes (when the place was used by the Iraqi Air Force).

We're happy with our new diggs. Our conditions were much better than were led to believe. We appreciate having a comfortable room to return to when we come back from our weekly 2-3 day visits to the Soldiers at the outposts in the city.

Pre-Combat Graffiti

During our ten day training in Kuwait, SGT Tremain and I walked around Camp Beuhring to examine the graffiti units leave on the concrete barriers before they head north. In several ways it reminded me of touring a museum. I took pictures of about 80 of the barriers; there were at least 300, and that's at Beuhring alone. The art reflects several layers of diversity represented in the units supporting Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. ("Operation Enduring Freedom" is the relatively smaller, but equally respected, mission in Afghanistan.) I will post a few of my favorites here. I like some for purely aesthetic reasons, others show the support from National Guard and Coalition forces. Our unit didn't paint anything; we were kind of rushed through the transition--presumably as part of the "surge" that's taking effect.

Back to Iraq

About a month ago, I left my family in Georgia and deployed to Iraq again. We barely had a year together since the last deployment, and much of that time was spent in recovery and preparing for our new mission--in other words, it wasn't quality time. I appreciate my little family's faith and support, as well as that of extended family, friends, and neighbors. I hope to use this blog--once again--as a tool to stay in touch with loved ones.

Once in Kuwait, we spent more than a week becoming acclimated to the desert and training. It was a good opportunity to spend time with my dear friend, Chaplain Tim Fary. The battalions we serve are identical in structure and content (except his is called infantry and mine armor), so we share a lot of the same hopes and frustrations in ministry. We are quite different. Our theological views differ, but our appreciation for reasoning and the arts are similarly strong. He's very funny, and I'm very smart, so we make a good team. Unfortunately, he's north of Ramadi, and baring special trips--we won't be seeing much of each other this year.

The picture here is of Sergeant Tremain, my chaplain assistant. We're preparing to board a plane and fly into Iraq under the cover of darkness. The interior space was huge! There is a lot more to share about the last month, but in time, I'll get caught up.

Fort Living Room Georgia

After a week of travel and jumping through many hoops, I and a few of our soldiers made it home for the holidays. We came home as part of the advanced party to help prepare the way for the many who are to follow. In addition to counseling with soldiers and setting up my office, most of my time is spent providing reintegration briefings to the soldiers of our brigade who are now coming home. A friend of mine, Chaplain Kevin Sears, who has spent the year serving as our rear detatchment chaplain (counseling with families, accompanying the death notification officers, and conducting funerals) is my partner in giving these briefs. We have to brief about 3,500 soldiers on issues addressing awareness of expectations, alcohol, driving, marriage and family stressors, etc. We present Power Point briefings, projected onto the wall of a huge white tent; the normal audience is 300-400. It was nice to be home for Christmas, but a little unsettling that the majority of our soldiers were not afforded the same opportunity. I'll breath more easily when everyone is safely home.

Time is a shortage for me, so I will post several pictures and save my words for future posts. (Besides, the super fast DSL we have in our home makes uploading pictures so much easier than what we had in combat.)

There's Something About Christmas Time

This past week our battalion conducted its holiday service. I planned ahead and ordered nice candles and pine garland for the alter. We worked with Major Roof to prepare a choir for the event; we had about thirty different soldiers in the choir, representing soldiers of all ranks. Specialist White played drums for the Little Drummer Boy, and three guitarists accompanied the choir and congregation in signing Silent Night, O' Come, O'Come Emmanuel, and O' Holy Night. Staff Sergeant Lyons sang a solo of Chestnuts, and we had several classical readings. I concluded the event with a meditation that tied together the experiences of the Nativity with our deployment. Afterwards we enjoyed refreshments--a good deal of them from various care packages soldiers donated for the cause. Despite the painful separation from our families--the evening was quite enjoyable. It was fitting that the field artillery teams were returning counterfire during our practices for the service; the loud booms contrasted nicely with our best Silent Night.

As we are planning to redeploy soon, we are packing our equipment and supplies this week. This morning we had to have everything customs inspected by our Military Police soldiers. As luck would have it, not only was there a mild sand storm this morning that covered all our gear that we had carefully taken our of containers and bags for the inspection, but it rained for the first time in months in just the hour that the inspection was conducted. Our bags are now filled with muddy articles we had worked so hard to keep clean. What a hoot.

I can't wait to see my family again.

Giving Thanks in the Desert

Thanksgiving was memorable this year. No one will forget the efforts of our cooks and KBR to make the most of what resources they have, nor the sight of their leaders serving them food in the mess hall. We won't forget that the experience was nothing like the ones to which we've become accustomed with our families around tables with home cooking and all the nice smells that permeate into every room of the house. Perhaps next year, if we have the opportunity to be home for one of these traditional Thanksgivings, we will recall unique elements of this years' celebration--the sand blowing outside; the long, impersonal tables reminiscent of school cafeterias; the food that looked special but somehow tasted like it does every other day; and of course, we will remember each other.

About the meal: we had cherry, pumpkin, and sweet potato pies; beef tenderloin, sliced ham, sliced turkey, and crab legs; mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, mixed vegetables, and stuffing. The food we have here in theater--although not bad--is not great either, especially after a year of the same things over-and-over. The problem with sharing this (after mentioning things like beef tenderloin, crab legs, and pumpkin pie) is that we can sound so ungrateful--and perhaps we are. Just last night I was visiting with soldiers in the mess hall and I asked them what it is they are most looking forward to when they get back to the States (after hugs and kisses from their families, of course). Their answers included: authentic Mexican food, General Tso's Chicken (my favorite Chinese dish), homemade bread, International House of Pancakes, and I mentioned the Cold Stone Creamery. So, the food on Thanksgiving was good--just nothing like the quality of things back home. I had the opportunity to join our battalion's commander, command sergeant major, and executive officer in serving Thanksgiving dinner to our soldiers. It was much more fun that I imagined it would be. I was able to see at least 200 soldiers in that hour of time; I got to serve the meat.

Country music star, Aaron Tippin visited our FOB on Thanksgiving Day. He visited our building, talked with the soldiers, signed autographs, and then later that night gave a free concert over in the large gym on the other side of the FOB. He was very personable; the soldiers really enjoyed him. Below is a picture of SGT Lee with him.

Work as Usual

With all the sensational headlines in the news regarding Operation Iraqi Freedom, a soldier can be a little embarrassed to write home about how much of what we do is actually routine everyday stuff--with the obvious exception of people outside the wire who are trying to kill us, it's not much different than what we might be doing back at Fort Stewart Georgia. (The picture here is of Chief Bowen, our battalion motor officer swamped with paper work.) The images on CNN and FOX news that we see on the internet and on the big screen TV in our mess hall capture brief instances of violence or controversy that make up so little of our actual day. It satisfies the ego to think families are seeing news footage and thinking of us, so we're never too anxious to explain that day-in-and-out life is full of non-glamorous work.

We still have soldiers who begin their mornings policing up cigarette butts off the ground, sweeping and moping floors, or cleaning out toilets. NCOs still have to deal with petty squabbles between junior enlisted soldiers, and everyone seems to find some satisfaction in complaining about his or her superiors. (Transporting water--our lifeline in the desert--is a draining task.) There are day shifts and night shifts. There are lots of meetings, reports, and paperwork that need to be finished yesterday. There are flu shots administered, promotion and re-enlistment ceremonies attended, physical training tests conducted, and food, water, ammunition and other supplies that need to be transported and accounted for--none of which attracts the many reporters we have scurrying about theater. (Here at FOB Speicher, we have at least two fire stations manned by civilian contractors from the states. The picture here is their response to a call when a shipping container filled with aerosol cans began exploding in the summer heat.)

War is work, whether one works in combat or combat support units it gets old quickly. Before long, the only things motivating soldiers is not letting his fellow soldiers down and getting work done, so we can all return safely home to loved ones. (The picture here shows soldiers at the computer center emailing and chatting with family and friends back home. The phones are on the other side of the trailer-complex.)

Desert Veterans

In addition to regular duties and missions, yesterday consisted of ceremonies, gatherings, BBQs, and sports events--fitting for Veterans' Day. It's never obvious to soldiers that Veterans' Day is about them; the majority of us think of our parents and grandparents and others who have completed their service or may have retired. I am proud of my extended family's military and combat experiences. My father served a tour in Vietnam and my uncle in Korea both with the Marine Corps; my grandfather served a tour in the South Pacific in WWII with the Navy; other ancestors fought in WWI, the Spanish American War, the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War--and of course many other family past and present (including in-laws) have faithfully served in times of peace. I imagine that with each of these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines--there were wives, children, family and friends supporting them with love and prayers.

Yesterday started reverently, soberly as we gathered ceremoniously in formation to observe Veterans' Day by dedicating our battalion and brigade headquarters' building as the CPL Aleina Ramirez Building. CPL Ramirez was killed-in-action 15 April, 2005 at FOB Dagger--our previous home on the banks of the Tigris. She was a military police officer and a member of our commander's personal security detail--a team of four gun-truck crews who provides transportation and security upon the battlefield. CPL Ramirez was 33 years-old, from Puerto Rico, and is remembered for her quiet friendliness and professionalism. A tree was planted in her memory back at Fort Stewart, Georgia; her family attended the ceremony. I doubt anyone who experienced the night she died will ever forget the event, but I am certain we will always remember and appreciate her. Yesterday is just one of many ways we will do so--both corporately and personally.

The battalion aide station--out of which our medics and physician assistant, Major Pam Roof, treat our soldiers--is on the other side of the chapel and my office. Soldiers commonly do their one-stop-shopping in this building. Major Roof refers some of her patients to my office and vice-a-versa. Yesterday, she and her team had a BBQ--pretty rare around here. They had a small charcoal grill on which SPC Hartley cooked steaks they bought from the PX here on the FOB. (I didn't know the PX sold steaks.) As my wife well knows--I don't care for steaks; I'll take a peanut butter and jelly on wheat bread any day. However, the medium rare, one-inch thick Porter House steak SPC Hartley cooked for me yesterday was delicious. It was so big, I skipped my post workout protein shake--then again, I also skipped my workout! Instead we listened to music, played horseshoes, and visited with each other in the 65 degree sunny weather. I ended the day with my Friday night program: Movie Night at the Chapel, where I showed and we discussed The Legend of Bagger Vance. When I woke up yesterday I wasn't ex