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Have Easter, will travel: Spartan chaplains deliver special services to forward-deployed Soldiers
By Army Sgt. Amber Robinson, Task Force Spartan Public Affairs
Apr 10, 2007 - 5:46:04 PM
Army Sgt. Ryan Gifford, a gunner with 4th Battalion 25th Field Artillery Regiment, sings from his hymnal during a Protestant service held outdoors at Gardesh Easter morning. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Amber Robinson)
Blackanthem Military News, JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — People conjure images of eggs, chocolate rabbits, church services and festive dinners when they think of Easter. For a typical priest or preacher, the day may consist of one church service revolving around the resurrection of Christ. The responsibilities of the average Army chaplain might revolve around one special service in one place for one congregation.
But for the chaplains of Task Force Spartan, Easter Sunday was as frantic as it was holy. Their congregations are scattered throughout a large task force area of operations in Northeast Afghanistan. But thanks to the efforts of two chaplains, one Catholic and one Protestant, TF Spartan Soldiers who wished to have such things as Easter communion or a special blessing were not left wanting. All told, the pair conducted services at five task force facilities, three in remote Northeastern locales.
“I enjoy travelling to bring Easter services to the Soldiers,” said Army Capt. Hermes Losbanes, a Catholic priest and TF Spartan chaplain. “These Soldiers are trying to do the best they can to finish their deployment. Many of them have struggles aside from the rigors of combat. Many of them have personal struggles and if I can help to alleviate that for a moment by bringing services to them then that is my mission.”
Throughout Easter Sunday, Losbanes and Army Capt. Doug Weaver, the chaplain for 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, TF Spartan, travelled to several different firebases in the course of several hours.
At each stop, chaplains and their assistants had little time to get the word out, set up and provide services. Turnout varied from stop to stop.
“Sometimes when we travel to provide services there will be as few as one Soldier,” said Losbanes. “That one Soldier still makes it worthwhile. It doesn’t matter if it is one or one hundred. We would still come. A lot of the time, Soldiers at these smaller (forward operating bases) are out on patrols and can’t make services - that’s why we try to travel out to see the Soldiers as often as we can.”
On the small firebase of Gardesh, only two Soldiers attended mass. The camp is so small there’s a good chance it had only two practicing Catholic Soldiers. The same applied for Kamdesh, an equally small camp along the Nuristan River.
“It was very special to have Easter mass all the way out here,” said Army Staff Sgt. Alex Almeida, a squad leaders with Alpha Company, 4th Battalion 25th Infantry Regiment, who is stationed on Gardesh. “Especially given there were only two of us.”
The appreciation extended to all the Soldiers who attended the services.
“It was comforting to be out here in the sunshine and have Easter services,” said Army Sgt. Ryan Gifford, a gunner with 4-25 Field Artillery. “For a lot of these Soldiers it’s been months since they have been able to attend an organized service.”
As Losbanes provided Easter communion in the Gardesh dining facility, Weaver ministered to a small gathering of Soldiers in the near vicinity outside. The bright blue Afghan sky and picturesque snow covered mountains set the stage. Hymns the Soldiers sang outside mingled with the readings of Losbanes’ service. Easter sentiments expressed in their various forms swelled for a quick moment to a climax before the Black Hawks moved in to retrieve the chaplains and shuttle them to their next stop.
Travelling from camp to camp in a whirlwind of Easter services can be trying. Losbanes dons the formal priest’s robes at each service. Formal communion is set up at each stop, complete with a shining silver chalice for the “Blood of Christ” and warm glowing candles. Setting up and disassembling in less than an hour over and over again is quite a challenge.
“I do not mind it ever,” says Losbanes. “I never feel physical tiredness when I am doing these types of missions. The Soldiers we go to visit go through so much more on a daily basis. They are the ones on the battlefront.
“All I think of is spending time with these Soldiers,” he added. “I hope I can help them to find more strength. I must emanate that strength, so they feel they can come to me.”
In the day-to-day life of an infantry, artillery or cavalry Soldier living on small firebases like Gardesh or Kamdesh, men are expected to be tough and ready for combat at all times.
“Soldiers are taught to be tough,” said Losbanes. “They do not show their feelings easily. I go to remind them that they can show their feelings of love, gratitude and happiness or be of help if they need to talk of pain they are feeling from their personal affairs.”
Easter Sunday is but one mission for many for the chaplains and chaplain’s assistants of TF Spartan. Their area of responsibility extends far beyond the comfort of their home base.
The Easter mission was special because of its symbolism, the beauty of the day and the grace that was spread with full hearts.
“Today served as a reminder to us of God’s fidelity to us as his children,” said Losbanes. “It was a reminder that God is always with us.”
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
Army Capt. Hermes Losbanes, a Catholic priest and Task Force Spartan chaplain, prays over the Easter sacrament during a special service provided at Kamdesh in Nuristan Province. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Amber Robinson)
Army Capt. Doug Weaver, chaplain for 3rd Battalion, 71st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Spartan, reads a few passages about the resurrection during a special outdoor Easter service at Gardesh. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Amber Robinson)
Army Staff Sgt. Alex Almeida and Army Spc. Lee Vasquez of 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Spartan, read along during Easter mass on the remote firebase of Gardesh. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Amber Robinson)
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