Covenant News - War: Another Chaplain Reflects on Iraq

Covenant News

War: Another Chaplain Reflects on Iraq

By Stan Friedman

IRAQ (September 16, 2005) - Following is the fifth in a six-part series taking an in-depth look at the ministry of Evangelical Covenant Church chaplains in war-torn Iraq and the people they are called to serve. U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Jeff Saville, who shared his account of a narrow escape from death in Monday's first installment, today offers his reflections on various aspects of the war. To read the text of a sermon he delivered prior to the start of the war, please see Just War?

Traveling to Iraq

I have arrived safely last Friday evening to Camp Blue Diamond in Ar Ramadi after a leisurely 80-hour commute (he writes in an email to family back home).

Saville Greeted Upon Return Military Chaplaincy

It's very action oriented. I get to work with young people who are still somewhat malleable in regards to their faith and what their life path is going to be.

Living Amid Violence

Believe it or not, you get used to mortars coming in. If it's not within 100 yards of you, you just keep talking. There's a low-grade fear all the time.

Living Amid Sorrow

Lieutenant Col. Edwin L. Craft was a Marine at Khe Sanh in February in 1968 and he wrote on the top of a case of C-Rats (C-Rations): 'For those that will fight for it . . . FREEDOM . . . has a flavor the protected shall never know.' Having held the hands of the wounded and the dying, and having seen the streams of tears at memorial services on war-hardened faces, I would have to agree. I performed nine memorial services for people from our camp, three of whom died while outside the camp the same night I arrived in country. The tears on the faces of their buddies - hardened warriors - and their emotion as they expressed their grief were unforgettable.

Respect for Comrades

I met a lot of great people, many of America's finest, whether Marines, sailors or soldiers - not many Air Force here. If you had the opportunity to meet even a few of them, you would be very impressed by how bright and courageous so many of them are. Their skill and diligence to duty - along with the grace of God - are the reasons I am home alive in one piece.

Teaching Bible Study on Daniel

I preached a five-week series from Daniel chapters 1-6, about the life of Daniel. People loved it. Most of the events in those chapters took place about a 90-minute drive from our camp. Unfortunately, we could not go play tourist due to high threat, but (it is) very interesting to know that God has been at work in the lives of his people on this very ground for many centuries.

On Daily Life

The routine has been so perfected by the military here that one can barely tell one day from the next. For instance, I noticed on Sunday there was a sign outside the chow hall which read, "Today is Sunday." Apparently that is how our military folk here keep track of time. There is no sign for Monday, Tuesday, or any other weekday - only Sunday. I suppose when our people see it posted as they head into breakfast, the sign serves as a reminder that another week has passed, they are still alive and they are one week closer to home, which is an encouragement to come to Sunday services and thank the Lord. (Accompanying photo shows Saville being greeted by his family upon his return.)

News Reports - Troops Living Recklessly After Return Home

When they're in Iraq, they get into firefights, they are knocking in doors to search for bad guys. When they go in the door, they have no idea what they are going to find. Truck drivers never know when an IED (improvised explosive device) is going to be in the road. For them, that is definitely an adrenaline rush. After doing six months to 14 months, your body gets addicted to that adrenaline rush.

(Tomorrow: Additional reflections from chaplains serving in Iraq concludes the series.)

(Editor's note: this online series of articles complements other exclusive material presented in the September issue of The Covenant Companion. To order just the special September issue, call Eric Gonzalez at 773-907-3311. To order a subscription to the magazine, either call Gonzalez or order online at Companion. To receive a free daily Covenant news headline service by email, please visit Newswire.

To read earlier accounts in this six-part series, please see:

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