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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 19, 2010 - 6:16:21 PM |
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Face of Defense : Army Chaplains Help to Build Faith, Chapel in Iraq
By Army Spc. Creighton Holub, 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team
Mar 11, 2009 - 5:31:14 PM
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Army Chaplain (Capt.) Colt Randles cuts a wooden block for a new door handle for the Solid Rock Chapel at Forward Operating Base Hunter, Iraq, March 5, 2009. Randles and Army Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Roberts are working together to put the finishing touches on the chapel. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Creighton Holub |
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUNTER, Iraq - Two Army chaplains are building much more than the faith of their soldiers on this remote base near the southeastern border of Iraq.
Chaplain (Capt.) Colt Randles and Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Roberts of the 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team are building a chapel for soldiers here, one board at a time.
"I waited four months for a tent," Randles, a Muskegon, Mich., native, said. "It was me and my kit. I was conducting services with a cardboard box in the dining facility."
As they put the final touches on the building, the Solid Rock Chapel now offers a permanent structure not only for soldiers, but also for interpreters and civilians.
The chaplains have expanded the facility by adding "Holy Joe's Café," which has hot coffee available for the troops, and a large-screen television to keep soldiers entertained with movies and video games.
"Guys relate to video games," said Roberts, a Killeen, Texas, native. "They slaughter me on 'Call of Duty 4,' but it's a tool to relate with them."
He said it's fortunate he's winning 80 percent of his Madden '09 games against the troops, because it's more than pride that's on the line. Sometimes the chaplain does push-ups if he loses, but the troops have to show up for the next Sunday service if he wins.
With a permanent structure in place, the chaplains are turning their attention to reintegration. They are working on a strategy to help soldiers reunite successfully with their families when the brigade returns to Fort Hood, Texas, in a few months. Roberts is scheduled to teach classes about financial responsibility, while Randles is set to hold marriage enrichment classes.
Since the chaplains are located together here, they can share the course load the same way they share the process of improving the Solid Rock Chapel.
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Mrs. Brown at SVLC
05 Apr 2009, 03:20
You are all in my prayers for strength, success, and safety for you and for
your families.
Thank you for all you are doing. As your head chaplain has called for your
fasting and prayer on this coming Wednesday 8 April, I am moved to do the
same. If you, living in conditions of privations are also asked to take
one day of fasting and prayer while keeping up with all of your regular
work, why should not all of us?
I shall send the word to our little support group. We send boxes and
picture postcards to troops on our mailing list. There is room for more if
you contact me.
We* currently have noone in your unit.
God bless and hold each and all of you close to Him.
Yours in Christ's service,
Mrs Brown
Mother of a Soldier
*We are Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Maple Valley, WA.
THE MISSION GOES ON!
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