US Army Spc. Guenter Nyanankpe was baptized at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Afghanistan last month.
“Baptism symbolizes the death and resurrection of Christ,” said US Army Chaplain (Capt.) Seung-Il Suh…”You go under the water, meaning you are dead and buried. And when you come up again, that symbolizes resurrection.”
Nyanankpe seems to indicate he ‘grew up’ Christian, but his Chaplain Read more
It is important to start by saying that 10-year-old Braydon Nichols reminded the world a few days ago that more than just Navy SEALs died in the Chinook shootdown last week. His dad died, too; Army Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Nichols was the Chinook pilot. Seven other American military members died: the other 4 helicopter crew and three US Air Force Special Forces.
Stories are slowly leaking out, and the military has yet to announce more specifics on those killed. Family members, however, are telling some stories. [Updated below with names provided by the Department of Defense.]
As told by his widow, Kimberly Vaughn, Navy SEAL Aaron Vaughn was a “selfless” and noble man: Read more
The trial of Arid Uka, accused in the murder of two US Airmen and wounding of two others at the Frankfurt airport is set to begin at the end of August.
Authorities have said Uka confessed shortly after his capture to wanting to kill American troops because of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.
Killed were Senior Airman Nicholas Alden and Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback.
Uka faces a possible life sentence. As previously noted, his is one of nine recent “soft target” attacks/attempted attacks on the US military, some by members of the military, all apparently motivated in some part by their Islamic faith.
US Air Force General Stephen R. Lorenz recently retired as the head of Air Education and Training Command. (He is also a former Commandant of the US Air Force Academy.) He frequently wrote commentaries alliteratively entitled “Lorenz on Leadership.” On July 19th, the Air Force published his most recent article, in which he recounted a Chaplain’s run-in over pre-mission prayer:
As the troops were preparing to board the helicopters to an FOB that had recently been under attack, several Soldiers asked the chaplain if he could lead them in a prayer. A lieutenant colonel happened to be with the group and the chaplain, who was a captain, thought as a common courtesy he would ask the senior officer for permission to say a prayer for the troops about to enter combat. The lieutenant colonel replied to the chaplain that, “It would not be necessary” and walked away. The chaplain followed this senior officer’s guidance and did not lead the men in a prayer.
General Lorenz took the Lieutenant Colonel to task: Read more
An Army article notes an innovative attempt at supporting the religious free exercise of US servicemembers in the field:
The easily deployable tent structure, also known as a “sacred shelter” by developers at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, provides units with a small worship facility that can be set up rapidly in the field.
“This provides a facility for spiritual fitness, whether or not a chaplain is available, in an austere environment,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Andrew Shriver, 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion chaplain.
The “portable chapels” were based on Chaplain Shriver’s own design from 2007 in Afghanistan for Soldiers who were constructing new FOBs. They are designed to be cheap, easy to assemble, and even have partitions so separate faiths can be exercised simultaneously.
Interestingly, when the unit at Wiesbaden, Germany, tested out the prototype, the tent had a demo set up. While a “stereotypical” religious demo might have included something like a cross, Chaplain Shriver showed a setup for an Islamic prayer room: Read more
The Associated Press notes the beginning of training for four Afghan women who will ultimately be pilots in the Afghan Air Force. They are undergoing language training this year and will begin their pilot training next year.
The ladies brought attention to the fact Afghanistan isn’t like it used to be:
For women in Afghanistan, said Afghan Air Force 2nd Lt. Masooma Hussaini, it’s not like “it was in Taliban times.” Her sisters are in school, women work in offices and, by next year, Hussaini and three other young women could be among their country’s first females piloting military helicopters.
The article notes some men in Afghanistan may not be ready for the change. As the US begins its withdrawal, it will be interesting to see what becomes of the fledgling Afghan Air Force.
On 12 July 2011, Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House. SFC Petry was honored for his selfless actions when he picked up and threw an enemy grenade that had fallen among his team. The grenade discharged and catastrophically amputated his hand.
SFC Petry has remained humble throughout, thanking his family and asking for prayers for the sacrifice of military families in support of the US’s mission: Read more
In a fairly under-covered foiled terrorist attack, the Associated Press notes Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, also known as Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh, also known as Frederick Domingue Jr., have both been jailed pending their trials for planning an attack on a Seattle military recruiting station.
The two were arrested June 22 in an FBI sting after they arrived at a warehouse garage to pick up machine guns Read more