Memorial Day in Iraq

Greetings from Kuwait where it’s always sunny (high temps this week have exceeded 110 degrees each day)! My Memorial Day was spent with my first trip to Iraq and meeting most of my troops based at Joint Base Balad (formerly known as Camp Anaconda). I enjoyed making the initial contacts with my Soldiers and Coast Guardsmen. One of the Guardians was from Durham and the entire RAID Team were Duke Fans! Needless to say we hit it off from the beginning! They even told me of a Duke painted T-Barrier at another base… 

Balad was depressing getting off the plane when compared to that of Bagram. It may have been the plane (a C-130 instead of a C-17). The air was very dusty there at the airport and all the trees reminded me of “weeping willows.” I don’t think they were actually willows, but they sagged and had a “sad” look about them. The temp wasn’t that bad. It only got up to 103 and my lodging was actually a “room” with a real good AC unit!

After spending Memorial Day with the troops and their combined Hail, Farewell and Promotion Ceremony, we parted ways after Supper (wonderful dates here…. the fruit). I found the USO and discovered a cool program that allows Soldiers to record themselves reading a children’s book to their kids. The book and DVD is then mailed to the children back home. I took part in the offering and am sending a book and DVD to each of the boys. Maybe April can get a break and just put in the DVD and give the boys their book for Dad to read them at bedtime! The following days were spent doing ministry of presence and informal counseling opportunities around the redeployment conference my guys were hosting.

Some of you current and former Service Members might appreciate this. So far my flights in and around Theater really haven’t been that bad… until my return trip from Kuwait. I am affectionately naming this experience the “Flight from Hell Part 1.” Part 1 because no doubt it can be worse and I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. To start off, my flight was cancelled so we scrambled to find alternate transportation. Fortunately, 4 of our return party got confirmed seats on an R&R flight. The plane was a C-130 and it was packed! Soldiers sitting on the canvas seats in full battle rattle hip to hip left and right; knee to knee with the Soldier across from you. What should have been a 2 hour direct flight turned into a 7+ hour odyssey with no opportunity to get off the plane. To make it worse, one of the guys was rather “gassy” and couldn’t help but share his fragrant offerings with the rest of us! Combine that with the tactical take off and landings and it’s a wonder the flight didn’t turn into a barf fest. I sure was praying on some of those landings, “Lord, please don’t let me throw up!“ (Yes God still answers prayers.) First it was South to drop off civilians, then back north to pick up more Soldiers to sardine in where the civilians were then finally back south to drop all of us off. We finally arrived at Arifjan about 0300 (3 am). Some hadn’t eaten since breakfast the previous day…

The base was mortared a few times while we were there. It wasn’t close to my location, but close enough for us to hear the warning siren and the explosion. No word on any casualties, but this Memorial Day has taken on new meaning for me and the risk all of our Service Members (past, present, and future) have taken on in our all volunteer force. Lt Gen Schultz referenced the following quote from Ronald Reagan in his Memorial Day Message. I certainly can’t improve on it so I’ll simply close with it.

"I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country. Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them. Yet, we must try to honor them -- not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice."
- President Ronald Reagan, May 21, 1982, Memorial Day, Arlington National Cemetery

Beautiful Bagram

Greetings from Afghanistan!

With my new chaplain assistant finally in country, we’re able to get out to see some of our downtrace units. First stop: Afghanistan. It was quite a memorable scene boarding the back of a C-17 for the first time. Sleeping sitting straight up in full battle rattle was a challenge but I did manage to sneak in a few cat naps. The scenery when we exited the plane was breathtaking with the snow-capped mountains, blue skies, and green fields of Bagram Air Field. Quite the contrast to the khaki colored everything of Arifjan, Kuwait.

Walking down the streets lined with green trees and the sound of traffic prompted my assistant to comment, “it’s like strolling down main street of a regular city.” I replied, “yeah, except everyone has an M-16 slung around their shoulder.” J

Though a quick first trip, it has already proved productive. I met one of the base chaplains to establish contact for area coverage and discuss the ministry challenges and transportation to the outlying FOB’s (forward operating base). Even though a chaplain is available for anyone that needs him/her, it can fill up one’s schedule just taking care of the Soldiers in your own unit. I saw this firsthand when greeting my Soldiers. Even though there was a chaplain right down the hall, he wasn’t “their chaplain.” The chaplain was available for the Soldier to seek out, but wouldn’t normally seek out my Soldiers. Not because he didn’t care, but because he had his own Soldiers to minister to. As a result, even though it was the first time I’d been to this location, my Soldiers were anxious to speak to me simply because I wore the same unit patch and came to see them. It was one of those “divine appointments” and made the plane trip worthwhile. I’ll be sure to get on a regular schedule to visit my Soldiers. I’ll also be more mindful of the Soldiers in my area that aren’t a part of my unit.

I appreciate the support and encouraging words from family, friends, “acorns”, co-workers and even total strangers. Of special note, I contacted Integrity Music and Keurig Coffeemakers to see if they’d like to donate to the cause. Integrity Music sent the first 6 Volumes of their iWorship *.mpg library for use in my chapel services. Keurig donated one of their top of the line K-cup coffee makers along with 200 k-cups of coffee. With 12+ hour days, 6 days a week, coffee is mission essential!

Psalm 144:1

Chaplain Tolbert