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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Feb 3, 2012 - 5:53:02 PM |
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Flight of faith - chaplains visit eight forward operating bases in three days for Easter
By Army Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Apr 19, 2007 - 11:04:26 AM
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| From Left to Right: Pfc. John Benson, Crew Chief, Spc. Stephen Blazer, Crew Chief; Warrant Officer Brandon Shelton, Pilot; Warrant Officer Timothy Shrewsbury, Pilot in Command of 2-82 Aviation - Task Force Corsair stand by their UH-60 Black Hawk one of two aircraft dedicated to chaplains eight forward operating base in three days Easter tour in Regional Command-South. |
Blackanthem Military News, KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Significant events in history have been defined as a synergy of man, moment, and machine. This phenomenon was recently demonstrated here in theater when Air Force Lt. Col. Javier Cassanova, 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron commander, decided to support the chaplain corps with two dedicated helicopters to transport two chaplains to eight forward operating bases over the three days of Easter weekend.
Air Force Chaplain (Maj.) Fredrick McFarland, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, and Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Laserian Nwoga, of the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Force Base, Japan, called the mission a blessing.
"We all plan, using the ring routes, this is a blessing to do this," said Nwoga, who is one of only five U.S. Catholic priests in the country. He has been serving at Jalalabad Airfield and was sent to Regional Command-South to help out with Easter services. "I'm here to help out for Easter, the problem is transportation," he said.
Nwoga brought the transportation issue up in casual conversation to Cassanova with whom he shares a home station.
"I'm an individual augmentee," Nwoga said. "I was in RC-East and I was only able to get to five FOBs in three months because the ring routes and weather would cause delays."
Cassanova also had concerns about troops not having the opportunity to meet with chaplains on a regular basis after finding out some Soldiers at FOBs had not seen a chaplain in nine months.
So when Nwoga brought up his plan and concerns Cassanova looked at his flight chart and determined he could get them to eight FOBs in three days.
"I knew we were going to have an availability of assets so I looked into what we could do," said Cassanova. "I went to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing chaplain and offered our assets. Especially because it was Easter weekend, it was nice to be able to give Soldiers out there a chance to have a service."
Cassanova dedicated one of his HH-60G helicopters to the mission and coordinated with Task Force Corsair for a UH-60L helicopter to provide enough space for the chaplain team and a supply of Easter dinners for the Soldiers supplied for by Army Maj. Christopher Clay, commander of Company B, 1-4 Infantry Battalion.
Cassanova went further and also arranged for a Palm Sunday visit. "He came and picked me up and went to FOB Laghman to do a Palm Sunday service," said Nwoga. "When it was finished he personally came and picked me up."
Nwoga was ecstatic with the special plan. Chaplains not only provide services, mass and confession, they also do counseling. The need for chaplains circulating the battlefield was dramatically highlighted during the trip when Co. B, 1-4 Inf. Bn. had one of the medics killed in action Easter morning. McFarland was there on hand at the FOB ready to provide counsel and solace to the affected unit.
"Our troops need this because there are issues that troops can talk to chaplains that they can't talk to their supervisors about," said Nwoga. "We deal with these issues. [We] try to calm them down, especially when it is a family issue, when they can't go home. I can connect them with a chaplain back home."
"The chaplains really are a force multiplier," said Cassanova. "Usually chaplains have a tight grip on the issues facing Soldiers. They give Soldiers a confidential place to talk."
"This should not be a one-time thing. Soldiers are out there for a year. It bothers me to think that they don't have a chaplain," Cassanova continued. "The solitude can get to you. You can't judge the way people are living by what you see on Kandahar Air Field or any of the other built up locations."
In remote locations, under austere living conditions with limited communication assets, Soldiers face daily threats from a variety of sources. The potential for enemy action is only one such source. Morale and sense of personal well-being are also challenged by the monotony and isolation of life on remote FOBs.
"This should be a priority because the troops need to see a chaplain. I'm going to come back again on a two week tour, maybe get back to a couple FOBs on the ring route," Cassanova said. "This can be an ongoing thing if we can get a dedicated helicopter at least every two months."
Nwoga expressed his hope to be able to continue planning similar trips.
"I can't find a nobler mission, other than medical evacuation, than supporting the chaplains," said Cassanova. "It is also a great training opportunity for young pilots to get out there to these FOBs to see them. Usually they only see them at night during high stress missions."
Cassanova definitely feels his Squadron should be able to support more frequent missions, potentially making this a monthly occurrence. "This doesn't have to be U.S. only either, chaplains can minister to all forces not just U.S." If a regular schedule can be maintained to give predictability it would also strengthen the effect, he continued.
"I owe it to him for making this happen. This has never happened before. To have a dedicated flight for a holiday, all eight FOBs, this is amazing," said Nwoga. "Lt. Col. Cassanova is dedicated to the Soldiers. At least the Soldiers can talk to their families and say they had Easter services."
The chaplains were greeted by Soldiers who expressed their thanks to them at each location. "Thank you for coming," said Spc. Andrew Toia, part of the mortar team attached to Co. B, 1-4 Inf. Bn at FOB Beylough. These were words that were echoed at every stop.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| From Left to Right: Air Force Chaplain (Maj.) Fredrick McFarland, Pfc. Gary Layman, Pfc. Gerardo Santos, Pfc. Patrick Higdon at Easter service held in newly constructed FOB Mizan DFAC. |
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| Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Laserian Nwoga delivers combined Easter service at FOB Laghman, Qalat. |
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