Commander’s Comments: A Spiritual Journey as a Commander
The following appeared as an article in the 180th Fighter Wing publication The Stinger, but was removed by order of the Wing Commander, Col Craig R. Baker, because of a complaint by Michael “Mikey” Weinstein that it was “odious” and “offensive.” (See discussion here.) The sentences in which Col Marquinez mentions his faith are highlighted.
Colonel Florencio Marquinez
Medical Group Commander
First, I want to honor and thank you, present and past veterans, for your dedication and service to our wonderful, great nation. Every military branch has their own creed, serving as a guidepost for our actions. Each creed has similar themes and values reminding us of our responsibilities and duties when we put the uniform on. Of course, the most important to us, and my personal favorite is the Airman’s Creed.
I am an American Airman.
I am a warrior.
I have answered my nation’s call.
I am an American Airman.
My mission is to fly, fight and win.
I am faithful to a proud heritage,
A tradition of honor,
And a legacy of valor.
I am an American Airman,
Guardian of freedom and justice,
My nation’s sword and shield,
Its sentry and avenger.
I defend my country with my life.
I am an American Airman:
Wingman, leader, warrior.
I will never leave an Airman behind,
I will never falter
And I will not fail.
As your medical group commander, our mission is to keep our Stingers medically ready at all times. We all must be fit to serve the Governor of Ohio in times of a natural or man-made disaster, civil disturbances or for the President of the United States during war or peacetime contingencies.
For the past 36 years I have been in the military. I started out as a young enlisted member reaching the rank of sergeant and worked my way up to colonel. Over the years, I have moved between three branches of service including the Marine Corps, Army National Guard and now as a member of the 180th family in the Air National Guard. There have been many challenges and adversities along the way that really impacted my life. I was challenged with the loss of my father at age 24, discrimination, career advancement, college, exposed to all walks of life; drugs, alcohol, immoral lifestyles and the many challenges of patient care. It is my strong spiritual foundation that has kept the light shining on my path. I would not be the man I am today if it wasn’t for my mother leading our whole family to Jesus Christ. Her creed to us five children growing up is God first in your life, then comes family and third work.
The Air Force core values of service before self, integrity first and excellence in all we do also serve as a foundation in my life. I believe God expects us to live our lives by these values. As a commander, I deal with a diverse group of medical specialties, medical logistics, administrators, nursing service, medics, dental, optometry, public health, bioenvironmental and physicians. I try to emphasize that everyone is unique and have their own special talents that can create a successful organization when combined. I encourage empowering people with their talents and strengths no matter how young or old and regardless of if they have rank on their sleeves or collar. Humbleness and the ability to listen and respects the ideas of one another are vital because they work towards sustaining successful organizations.
My career both in the military and civilian world have brought many challenges and struggles but one verse from the bible that helped me get through them is from Matthew 19:26: With God all things are possible.
So no matter how stressful your life can be with juggling family issues, relationships, career advancement, work, school, or any burden that life throws your way, cast it upon the Lord and He will sustain you. In 2006, the phrase “In God we Trust” was the 50th anniversary of its adoption, the Senate reaffirmed it as the official national motto of the United States of America. This phrase can also be found in the bible in Psalm 118:8, Psalm 40:3, Psalm 73:28 and Proverbs 29:25.
Our DPH, Alina Fuller, emphasized the four pillars of wellness: spiritual, social, emotional and physical. The goal is to achieve a healthy balance in all four. When we slip in one of these areas the others become unbalanced causing a lower ability to achieve resiliency in life.
The military has many resources through the Director of Psychological Health, Chaplain’s office, medical services and various training opportunities to help you achieve success in your professional, personal, and spiritual development.
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GOD bless HIM i am blessed by his words I will be praying for him You can tell he loves his job and all that goes with it
My experience as a retired Naval Radioman Chief; if you don’t want to know, don’t ask him to write the article.
God bless the Colonel. It was men and women like you that helped shape this country and with the help of God, laid the foundations for a country where people could worship God freely. If people would read our Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights (there are plenty of other writings as well), we would see that the Colonel’s conduct is protected and respected. We wouldn’t have this country with its liberties if it were not for people like you.
We should circulate this beautiful expression of faith in God and Jesus Christ far and wide…. for infinitely more readers than would have read “the Stinger”! He is to be applauded for giving credit where credit is due and being the stalwart defender of our country as well as our faith. The minority atheists are sooo very afraid of the truth. Fortunately, disregarding or denying God does not change Him at all. “The anvil has worn out many hammers.”
Well said Colonel Florencio Marquinez. And to demonstrate the excellant company that agrees with your article, here is a quote,:
“Soldiers! Let us humble ourselves before the Lord, our God, asking through Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, beseeching the aid of the God of our forefathers in the defense of our homes and our liberties, thanking Him for His past blessings, and implorign their continuance upon our cause and our people.”
“knowing that intercessory prayer is our mightiest weapon and the supreme call for all Christians today, I pleadingly urge our people everywhere to pray. Believing that prayer is the greatest contriburtion that our people can make in this critical hour, I humbly urge that we take time to pray-to really pray.” “Let there be prayer at sunup, at noonday, at sundown, at midnight – all through the day. Let us pray for our children, our youth, our aged, our pastors, our homes. Let us pray for the churches.”
“Let up pray for ourselves, that we may not lose the word “concern” our of our Christian vocabulary. Let us pray for our nation. Let up pray for those who have never known Jesus Christ and His redeeming love, for moral forces everywhere, for our national leaders. Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be our practice.”
Written by: General Robert E. Lee, 1863
You forgot to mention “general” Lee and his quotes on slavery and the bible. Another wonderful christian practice until secular law stopped it.
Yes, General Lee is good company.
Mr. Whiteside, were you thinking of this quote: “In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country”? Or was it this one? “So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interests of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this, as regards Virginia especially, that I would cheerfully have lost all I have lost by the war, and have suffered all I have suffered, to have this object attained.” Maybe this, concerning the emancipation of the slaves he and his wife inherited from her father: “As regards the liberation of the people, I wish to progress in it as far as I can… I hope they will all do well and behave themselves. I should like if I could to attend to their wants and see them placed to the best advantage. But that is impossible.” It would have been difficult for Lee to get home to attend to these matters: he had just fought the Battle of Fredericksburg
I was touched and enlightened by Colonel Marquinez’s story of how his faith had a lot to do in molding not only his personal life, but also the character of his life in the military……..and he is not afraid to speak out about it. This alone shows that he is a strong man: he stands up for what he believes in; he loves and defends his Country; and also gives credit to the Military Service that he is a part of. I admire that.
I hope and pray that Colonel Baker will change his mind about removing Colonel Marquinez’s article and allow it to be printed. It will help all who read it who have open minds and hearts.
God loves you, Colonel Baker.
This is addressed to Mr. Weinstein and Colonel Baker:
Sirs, two of the fundamental rights in our constitution ,in the Bill of Rights, is the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. Please observe, it doesn’t say freedom FROM religion, but freedom OF religion. You have every right to believe as you choose… the true God is a gentleman and doesn’t force Himself on anyone including you! At the same time, if one (in the military as well), chooses faith in God, that too is his choice and freedom!
We live in a free country, and we want to keep it that way! We don’t live in Russia, or in a middle eastern country where only one way to believe is acceptable. Let’s preserve this wonderful freedom, instead of walking all over it. People can read this man’s article, and take it as inspirational as it was meant to me, or they can disregard it because they choose not to believe.
KEEP AMERICA FREE!!
Amen! Well stated!
Amen!!! I feel that the reason… wait.. no.. it is the reason we are in the mess we are in today because we practically shoved Christ out of our lives and our country and we’re constantly looking for a longing and a belonging in this world and we’re trying to direct our own country rather than letting God to direct us and lead us. There’s a void in every mans heart that can only be filled with Jesus Christ and we tend to try to fill that emptiness with things of this world and nowa days the world thinks “it’s all about me and what can I get out of this world.” Think about this.. if you think you are important here is a reality check… once you die and your gone the world is still going to be going without you in it and our life is only a vapor.. (“Yet it’s here.. then it’s gone.. what you do with your life is what matters. We are made to worship and glorify our father in heaven that has made us and “yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. I’m an airmen with a instrument private rating and almost commercial rated and I would love to serve my country but the way that the military is going and the influences would be just badd. It’s a shame that I can’t serve my country because of this issue within our military and country. GOD is the answer and is the only answer for our country. They can kick God out of our country but we will still worship the one and true God and we will serve him he is always faithful to his word and God still loves us. I’m ashamed of our country and how the government and the people of the U.S.A are trying to justify their actions. Our country was founded on Christian principles and our fore father’s has laid such an awesome foundation for our country and each year we let it slip by.. we need to base our law on the law of GOD and only on his word. We are never going to be able to recover without God. People let’s stand up for what’s right according to God’s word. Let’s stop!! Stop sitting around doing nothing!! Our future is in our hands and we need to carry our foundations for our future generations! God bless this man and his services and praise God! That there are still men out there praising God and serving God while in the military!!!! Bless you all who have served our country!
I believe the oaths given in the service are to God and should not be altered by anyone with lower power.
You have correctly spoken. With Gd’s help victories are won.
I gree with bikerbro.
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Thank you Colonel Marquinez for your many years of service and your very inspirational article. What a great testimony of your faith! God Bless You.
Shame on you Col. Baker for violating your oath of office to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. That’s the same oath I took many years ago when I enlisted and even though I am retired I still feel bound by that oath.
Col. Baker, do you not think that if someone on your base has a problem with an article in your paper they cannot write a letter to the editor to voice their own beliefs? or maybe an article in rebuttal? Do you really think it necessary for you to bully another officer?
You, sir are not the big guy on the play ground here. There is One Who is Mightier!
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;(1 Corin. 1:27 KJV)
By giving in to the atheists you have spread the word of your evil deeds much wider that you could ever have imagined. Any warrior who would have wanted to serve under your leadership will probably have second thoughts now, knowing that you have no respect for the Constitution, nor personal beliefs, nor God Almighty.
I pray that you will come to saving Grace through Jesus Christ and that He will show you what a great life you have been missing and is ahead of you!
God Bless you.
The post/ comment by BikerBro is well said and written though wish he would have used his name, but this said , I am the father of a Army First Sargent who is just retiring after 28 years of service, SHE has been through many times when her faith in GOD – pulled her through many bad situations and we both appreciate the letter written by Colonel Marquinez. Colonel Baker should be reprimanded by his actions toward Colonel Marquinez and his First Amendment right to acknowledge his faith and belief in GOD, our Supreme Commander.
Respectfully, Walter G. Kiefer Concord NC
Thank you Colonel Marquinez…………… the Bible says that ” the preaching of the Cross, is to them that perish, foolishness”……….. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation”…………… God bless you sir !!!
So you interpret the Colonel’s remarks in that official National Guard publication as “preaching of the Cross,” i.e. something of a sermon on the Christian religion? And yet you and others can not see why his overt and sectarian endorsement constitutes a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment? Rethink that, David. Your statement could well be Exhibit A in the case against Col. Marquinez.
What has happened to free speech in our Great USA. Have people gone to sleep? As a retired USAF
Man we need to remind our leaders that all that have served have earned the right to speak that Freedom
is not free. “GOD BLESS AMERICA”
Thank you Colonel Marquinez for your courage to lift up the name of JESUS CHRIST.
It seems that as God has been taken out of our lives,our country is in turmoil. Without God, there is an emptiness in one’s life. We have allowed this to happen and it is a tragedy. When young men and women are away from home they can feel so lost and alone. The military has taken away their ritual life by discouraging religious beliefs. We all need to pray for the future of our country. I see it populated by people with empty lives – searching for some meaning. To life.
I was stationed at Ft. Sill and I would have been sorely deprived if Mass could not have been celebrated in the field on the hood of a Jeep. I can find absolutely nothing to censure in the Colonel’s publication. Our Country needs to get its priorities straight ASAP.
Mr. Weinstein needs to be put in his place, and the USAF needs to STOP the madness.
To Mr. Weinstein and Colonel Baker:
Our constitution in the Bill of Rights grants freedom of speech and freedom of religion. (it doesn’t say freedom FROM religion, but freedom OF religion). You have the right to believe as you wish…our God doesn’t force Himself on anyone–including you. Also if someone (in the military tool), chooses faith in God, that is his choice and freedom.
We live in a free country and want to keep it that way. We don’t live in a middle eastern country where only one way to believe is acceptable. We must preserve our wonderful freedom, instead of curtailing it. People can read Col. Marquinez’s, article and be inspired, or they can disregard it because they choose not to believe.
I urge you to change your decision about his article and thus not break the constitutional right to free speech. I believe our constitutional rights apply to the military as they do in all walks of life in the United States of America.
Dear Col. Baker:
“ ******* REPENT TO JESUS ONLY-GET RIGHT WITH THE BIBLE-STOP ASSAULTING THE TRUTH/CHRISTIANS-I HIGHLY RECOMMEND WORLDWIDE SONLIFETV.COM / 730 AM RADIO IN TOLEDO AREA TO YOU!!!!!!! ”
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees an airman’s right to express his faith, and the National Defense Authorization Act specifically states religious beliefs must be accommodated by the Armed Forces!!!!!!!
I am outraged that you have taken orders from civilian and advocate Mikey Weinstein to remove an article written by Col. Marquinez from “The Stinger!!!!!!!”
To deny Col. Marquinez his right to write a story about his personal faith, while allowing others to post non-religious material clearly demonstrates a distinct case of religious assault-discrimination!!!!!!!
I demand you personally restore and protect religious liberties airmen are entitled to, and clear up and right this wrong matter quickly!!!!!!!
“ ******* REPENT TO JESUS ONLY-GET RIGHT WITH THE BIBLE-STOP ASSAULTING THE TRUTH/CHRISTIANS-I HIGHLY RECOMMEND WORLDWIDE SONLIFETV.COM / 730 AM RADIO IN TOLEDO AREA TO YOU!!!!!!! ”
******* OUTRAGED ANTHONY ASMUS (US REGULAR ARMY VETERAN) FROM ROSSFORD, OHIO (SUBURB OF TOLEDO, OHIO) ON 11-1-2014!!!!!!!
I am very inspired by Colonel Florencio Marquinez’ article! Millions such as he would be an asset to our great Country and Military! Please Colonel Craig R. Baker allow the article to be published in the Sentinel, it will greatly boost the morale of those serving in all the U S Military, which could only help and certainly not hurt. Thank you!
I am grateful for men like him in the military and other places. I admire people who stand for right. We all need to be brave enough to stand where we are, encourage others, and do great good in our lives. May the Lord bless him in his service and all areas.
What a terrible thing when a man or men yield to a minority opinion that is in opposition to everything that this great nation was founded upon. These people who want to change our country need to go to a country where there is no belief in God. The majority of the US still want to live by the Truths of our founding fathers. Why do we have so much evil? Because the minorities are ruling. Who started “politically correctness”? It began with professors from the University in Frankfort, Germany who began infiltrating our US back in 1934 under John Dewey. Their phrase was Culture Marxism, but they couldn’t use that. The American people would have come against it. They changed it to PC and little by little they infiltrated our Country. It is time to say “NO” to PC and let the God of Israel and Christians be lifted up. Those who disagree have the freedom to leave our Country. All of our laws that our founding fathers laid out came from the Bible. Check it out. It is undeniable. God have mercy on the one who removed this letter of commitment to God and Country and God bless the man who wrote it.
I am thrilled that Col Marquiness gives God the glory He deserves. That’s who I want to represent our great Nation. Keep it up Colonel Marquiness. I am proud men like you represent our armed forces. I feel safe when you and God are there watching over our Nation!! God bless you and your family.
This blog/article by Col Marquinez is a very uplifting and encouraging one. Because of one man, Mikey Weinstein, Col Baker has kept many others from being encouraged. Too bad.
“He will keep you safe. But to Israel and Judah, he will be a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare. Many will stumble and fall, never to rise again. They will be snared and be captured.” Isaiah 8:14-15
Amendment I of the Bill of Rights
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The United States military and it’s commanding officers should be subject to the Constitution of the United States. Col. Marquinez, as a US citizen, has those rights guaranteed by the Constitution. He was making a statement of personal belief in a forum in which military personnel were encouraged to just that. His comments about his religious convictions were just a portion of the article in which he expressed the things that were inspirational and a support to him personally in his military service and career. His comments were not required reading nor did they dictate or force action upon others or coerce unit members to profess agreement with them. Censorship of him and his article was unconstitutional and wrong.
We personally find Col. Marqinez’s article inspirational and motivational, but that is not the point. Whether we find it motivational for someone to express a personal belief and encourage one to live with personal and military integrity or not, he has the constitutional right to express such things in the forum in which he did. That right should be safeguarded, especially by US military commanders who take an oath stating:
“that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
Col. Martinez’ is due a public apology in The Stinger and his uplifting, inspiring, and motivating article that faced unconstitutional censorship, should be printed and made available.
Milton and Christine Johnson
former Naval SeaBee Reservist and wife
They hated HIM need I say more. God bless you for your service to our our country. We need more men who are not ashamed to declare Jesus Christ is Lord!!
Please! Let’s cut to the chase. Col. Craig R. Baker has failed to perform the duties to which the oath and obligation he freely took demands. His failure to “defend the Constitution of the United States” (including its articles and amendments) has proven him to be unfit for command.
As a former member of the United States Air Force, I can tell you that a person found to be unfit for duty should be discharged. Col. Baker should do the right thing, for a change, and resign his commission.
I applaud Col. Floencio Marquinez and the eloquence with which he expressed his abiding faith in his Maker! Col. Marguinez, you sir, are a true credit to your unit, the United States Air Force, and the United States of America. This nation needs more men and women with your willingness to speak truth in a dark and increasingly unbelieving world.
Eloquence? Maybe in some sense, but that “eloquence” would have been more impressive if he had obtained the services of an editor to correct his numerous errors of grammar and punctuation. The “Stinger” needs some quality control!
Excellent article and I personally am offended that a complaint by one person with an agenda is being allowed to dictate his hatred over the many who have a deep abiding love for the God who created all. Just maybe IF our spineless military leaders would stand up to these HATE spreading atheists and return our military to openly express faith in the Creator of all that they wouldn’t have the sexual assault problem they are dealing with today.
Great article by Col. Marquinez. Col. Baker has been neutered as so many of our military leaders have. Very few have the b_ _ _ _ to stand up and be counted anymore. After serving in the ANG for 35 years, I am glad to be out with this stuff happening. He should tell “Mikey” Whinestein to sit down and shut up.
To Gary Hall..
Don’t infringe on the “whiner’s” rights, just give him the opportunity to reply with his beliefs (if he has any). Isn’t that what FREE SPEECH is all about?
I have never understood how anyone expressing one’s faith and belief somehow takes away from an Atheist who has no faith or belief system. How can an atheist be offended by something they have no understanding of? Our right to freedom of religion and freedom of speech grants us the right to speak openly whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, etc. To censor one faith is to censor all. Please reconsider the decision to censor Colonel Marquinez. May God continue to Bless the United States of America! Praise be to God.
Well done, continue lifting up the LORD JESUS and he will continue lifting you up to the FATHER. If you denied the LORD HE will denie you.
The battle is not ours, it’s the Lord’s. God bless you for sharing such a rich and beautiful testimony!
Thank you Col Marquinez for your love of Jesus, love of our country, but especially for your strength of conviction. You are what our nation needs to protect her! The hedge of protection is around us because of strong, god fearing people like you. God bless you, sir!
I am praying for Col Baker to see he needs to make some changes in his thinking!
Thank God for Col. Martinuiz. Col. Baker should be rerimanded and I believe this last election will show Co. Baker that God is still in control. I spent over nine years in the Army and God got me through many hard times. Praise His name! Please continue to take a stand for Jesus Col Martinuiz
I want to encourage each commenter here to do more than leave a comment of support to this fine man and servant of the American people. Get involved! Overload the Media, the Governors office with calls, emails and faxes. The odds of he or his staff reading our posts are slim but when the mail lands on their desks, or the voice of the people hit their ears they will know that such subversive behavior cannot be tolerated and is well outside the role and purpose of government.
I am not just standing with Colonel Florencio Marquinez, I am fighting with and for him.
I cannot add anything to these comments by former service members, except
I agree with them and urge action be taken to silence this attack on ‘Freedom
of Religion and Speech’………especially when that attack comes from the
likes of Col Baker!!! Print Col Marquinez’s Article in it’s entirety!!!!!!!!
Retired SMSgt , First Sergeant
Col. Baket. It’s ok. Your scared and yoi don’t want your air wing to be sued. The issue here is not important but your eternal life is.
God loves you so much Col Baker. Your job my life they are momentary; But after this life what? Where will you Co Baker spend eternity
Seek the Lord Jesus while he may be found.
God Bless are men and women in the United States military
Col.Marquinez,as a Marine Vietnam vet. I thank you for your faithfull stand of our rights as stated in the constitution, you are a blessed man by Gods grace thru Jesus Christ,and may God bless all our troopes.even the fools col baker and mr Weinstein who are odious and offensive to us believers. thank you Col. Marquinez for your service for God and country
Reading the Col’s letter I felt that he expressed his experience’, right to fredom of speach and religeon, which he and others present and past has served to maintane. At no time did I detect bashing, degrading or malicious comments specifically made toward any other religion or faith. He did not try to site a HOLY war or target a religeous group for genesis. He clearly expressed situations that guided him through and up to his present. I am sure that if the other person (which ever his religious beliefs, may be) Was to post a similar letter it would be accepted,or we would be discriminatory and politically incorrect. Yes Christianity as we knew it is taking a lot of FLACK. Be headings of thoughs wishing to help, parliaments not allowing Christmas decor, large retailers afraid to use CHRISTmas in their advertisements (they call it Holidays, my Q. is: what holiday are we celebrating) schools refusing children to ware costumes at Holloween (called it a black and orange day), and my biggest peeve,me being a Veteran, excuseing a certain religion from our Remberance day (Veterans Day) ceremonies,are we afraid of offending a certain religion. that we forgot the very staple that both Canada and the U.S.A. were basically weened on.
Yes we welcome them with open arms to our Countries, but they have to remember that it is not all about them. We also want to express ourselves and thats exactly what the Col. did. I commend you.
On that note I wish to express a Happy Hanukkah,Happy Kwanzaa, a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
p.s. sorry if I missed anyone.
Keep your Faith
The devil spreads his evil through people like Col Craig R. Baker.
Col. Manquinez,: I want to thank you for being so open and real about your life. Through GOD you have brought true and light to a subject many would not, but GOD is not a GOD of darkness or fear! In these last days GOD is looking for people that will stand for him, I believe you are not only a true soldier for your country but a true man of GOD!! You are not only standing for the career in which you have been blessed with but an awesome loving GOD that has been your biggest cheerleader! Our Father gave his only son so all that believe would be forgiven and saved through his blood. So here comes why we all need to hear this and wake up!!!
The real reason for this story: Michael Weinstein is a man afraid of the unknown, sin is darkness so my brother’s and sister’s lets pray for his salvation and for GOD’S Love to be the light in his heart because after all the name Michael mean Like GOD!!! With that said, I want to thank moms who knowing or unknowing plant a seed because GOD has a plan. The Lord has told as to go after the one, if there were 99 sheep and 1 is lost he will go after the 1. The Lord wants no one left behind!! This is why this story comes to light for the unbelievers!!
So you see Col Baker the story is not about religion but about relationships a man pressing through and being proud to say I did it because of others who were there. His mother and family with support, values and love, a career that helped shape and mold him with education, experience and amazing people to work with and for, one of which is his Heavenly Father who gave him life, that came with wisdom, strength, grace, joy and choices a few among many gifts. And one of those choices is to stand for what he believes and for those that are alone, afraid, hurt, disappointed away from loved one, family and friends, a few among many things a person goes through in life and the reason why Col Marquinez speaking out is so important and what he said be known he has been there himself so he knows first hand how they feel and having a relationship with GOD is the most important of them all. The Lord says, I am here always !!!
Praying that strongholds be broken and that the Lord GOD almighty will make himself real to Michael and Col Baker for their salvation, so their hearts would be full of love and through it change by GOD’S grace and forgiveness. So they may be lights in the dark days to come.
Colonel Marquniez gave the advice that a commander should give his subordinates. It was placed in the context of his personal faith, but it covered a wider field. He should be commended, not condemned.
On the other hand, Colonel Baker, is easily swayed by a single complaint and is afraid to make any “waves”. Such “politically correct”, but “integrity wrong” commanders should never be placed in leadership positions. They fail to understand what “command” means. In wartime, they are utter failures. They have no backbone and bend to the slightest wind.
He should give a personal and public apology to Colonel Marquinez.
Sincerely,
Ken Jayne
Colonel, U.S. Army, retired
Col Marquinez’s article included the following:
“So no matter how stressful your life can be with juggling family issues, relationships, career advancement, work, school, or any burden that life throws your way, cast it upon the Lord and He will sustain you. ”
That is, unequivocally, an endorsement of a particular religious belief system by a senior officer to his subordinates. It is not simply a statement of his personal faith and experience. The difference is substantial and the difference is what makes his article a violation of the Establishment Clause. Hold your ground, Col. Baker.
I believe everything he has said and I was in the US Air Force from 1963-1969. He has the right to say what he wants and if you don’t believe in our God, Then don’t read it.
Thank you for protecting our Country and keeping this Country and our allies, free and safe. I wish I had more control over our Commander In Chief, Mr. Obama. Some of the things that He does I would improve. I would make our military larger and stronger, pay higher wages and do my best to keep GOD in our lives, bases and our hearts. I send my prayers and thanks to you, all of you that have done and are doing to protect us and our military families and all our ally fighters too, to be protected and watched over and to keep each and every one of you safe, sound and bring you all back home safely and well, to your families and to your Country(s) and again Thank you for all you do, have done, will do in the future and have endured for our safety and freedom. God Bless You All and God Speed.
I come from a family of individuals who have served this country even when this country was not interested in serving us. My grandfather served in the army in WWII. My father served in the army during the Korean War, my brother served in the USAF briefly during the Vietnam War. My brother served in the first Gulf War and his son served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I served in the USAF and was honorable discharged in 1986. Our faith in Christ was central to each of us as we served. To see him so disrespected by our leaders is just another sign of the decline of this nation.