According to the New York Times, St. Elijah’s Monastery was damaged during the initial fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  It was subsequently occupied by a US Army unit as a garrison:

The division then made the site a garrison and painted its emblem on the stucco above the low door to the monastery’s chapel. The insignia remained there until a chaplain contemplated the righteousness of having “Screaming Eagles” adorn a house of God.

“That’s not right,” the chaplain said, as the story goes.

The US Army unit now occupying St. Elijah’s now aims to do what it can to restore the historic structure.  The support for refurbishing the site seems to be largely unofficial, though Army engineers have spent time evaluating the architecture.

Army engineers have drawn up plans to shore up the roof and walls of its main sanctuary — believed to have been built in the 11th century…

On the other hand, Master Sergeant Howard Miller, a hospital nurse by trade, is “either by coincidence or higher purpose,” also a stone mason experienced in historic preservation.  He is restoring some of the structure during his off hours.

Known for the monks who died rather than convert to Islam, the sanctuary is used even today by American troops for Christian services.

“May I be committed like those who lived here and perished instead of denouncing their faith,” Maj. Julian L. Padgett, a Baptist chaplain, prayed after leading soldiers and contractors on the weekly Friday tour of the monastery.

It has been fairly common over the past few years to read articles about the US military repairing and supporting the operation of mosques in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Since the religion in these regions is largely Islam, such “humanitarian” efforts seem to be aimed at “winning the hearts and minds” of the local citizens.  While some American groups vehemently oppose such interaction between religion and government, there have been no notable complaints from church/state focused organizations.

It was fairly unusual, then, to see a positive article covering the US Army’s attempt to refurbish a Christian site in Iraq.  The Army’s attempt to leave the site ‘better than it found it’ is an admirable acknowledgement of the historical nature of the site, as well as a nod to those in Iraq who value the vast cultural richness of their nation.