An Air Force article highlighted the services of the chaplains who serve in the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan:

Chaplain (Capt.) Gary Willeford, a member of the hospital RSTs. “Issues of faith may come up with the traumas that they have experienced. We come alongside of our patients and remind them that God has not forgotten them in the midst of their crisis.”

“We are faced with many different patients from different cultures and faith backgrounds,” Willeford added. “We try to treat each one with respect and honor their faith and culture by showing them kindness.”

Constantly caring for the severely wounded and dying can have its own toll on the chaplains and their assistants themselves. Many US troops find comfort, though, knowing that no matter where they go, their leadership tries to provide them with the spiritual support they need.

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