Chaplain Blesses the Vipers in Afghanistan
At Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, US Air Force Chaplain (Capt) Dariusz Barna prayed with the ground and flight crews of South Dakota Air National Guard F-16s — and then sprinkled Read more
Tag Archives: bagram
US Military Apologizes for Offending Afghan Muslims. Again.
The US military apparently conducted a leaflet drop in Afghanistan recently that offended just about everyone:
The leaflets dropped Monday night, which encouraged Afghans to cooperate with security forces, included an image of a dog carrying the Taliban flag, said Shah Wali Shahid, the deputy governor of Parwan province.
The problem, such that it is, is the Islamic verses of the Quran are venerated in Islam — and there are Islamic verses on the Taliban flag. Dogs are viewed as filthy.
So, despite the evil the Taliban represents, seeing a Taliban flag in the mouth of a dog is worse.
The Taliban subsequently Read more
The Holy Helicopters of Afghanistan
A US Air Force article highlights the religious ministry support team at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, where chaplains rotate to geographically separated units to provide continuous religious support:
Thousands of feet above Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, two Airmen, riding in a helicopter, wearing more than 75 pounds of gear, hover around the city before landing. These Airmen are not pararescuemen or tactical air control party—they’re a chaplain and chaplain assistant.
After landing, they travel to the nearby chapel, where Read more
WWII US Military Chapel Still Stands in Australia
The Stars and Stripes has an interesting write up on Saint Christopher’s Chapel, an open-air church built by the US Army during World War II:
The nondenominational Saint Christophers Chapel, built in 1943 by the Army’s 542nd Engineer Battalion, is the only structure remaining from when Rockhampton served as a springboard and training location for Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s World War II island-hopping campaign. The city hosted the 1st Cavalry Division and the 24th, 32nd and 41st infantry divisions on a half-dozen camps between 1942-44.
Somewhat interesting that journalist Marcus Fichtl makes a Read more
Army Chaplain Reaches Troops with Cigars, PT
An interesting intro in to an article about a military chaplain from the Fayetteville Observer:
When Father Luke pulls out his Bible, soldiers scatter.
So Chaplain (Capt) Lukasz J. Willenberg, also known as Father Luke, set out to reach his troops regardless — and it worked:
He started Holy Smokes – a lounge time after Sunday night mass…[at] Bagram Airfield…A division band played jazz in the background as Willenberg led casual conversations about anything the soldiers could entertain.
“We’d have over 100 people,” Willenberg said. “Here we are, in a deployed setting. We can build a camaraderie session. We’re building each other up so we can keep going with the mission.”
While Holy Smokes provided something for the troops, it also gave Chaplain Read more
Fighter Pilots in Afghanistan Contradict Commander-in-Chief
As of January, President Barack Obama declared that combat in Afghanistan was over.
A unit of F-16 fighter pilots at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan was recently quoted as saying they’re basically doing the same thing they were last year — combat.
Pilots from the 388th Fighter Wing’s 421st Fighter Squadron are still flying round-the-clock patrols, and they are still dropping bombs on the enemy. The airstrikes, which reached a 10-month high in October — are seen as vital to stopping insurgents from overrunning vulnerable areas around Read more
Capt Manry Air Force CGO Chaplain of the Year
Chaplain (Capt.) Keith Manry shakes hands with President Barack Obama at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
The Air Force recently announced that Chaplain (Capt) Keith Manry was selected as the Air Force Chaplain Corps Company Grade Officer (CGO) Chaplain of the Year for 2014. Manry is a chaplain for the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, and he was also recognized for his work as a hospital chaplain at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan: Read more
Jewish Troops Celebrate Passover in Afghanistan
US troops stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, were recently given the opportunity to celebrate Passover:
Deployed Jewish service members in Afghanistan continue to celebrate their traditions by observing holidays, adhering to dietary laws, and practicing their faith…
The celebration was led by a chaplain from nearby Bagram AB, Army Chaplain (Capt) Karyn Berger, is one of only two female Rabbis in the US Army.
The article notes that Navy LtCmdr Mahmoud Ahmed, who is Muslim, also attended the Jewish Seder.
The US military Read more