I regret I had to get away from this blog for the last few weeks. Things have been crazy for me lately. Long story short, I got the call to deploy on short notice. It’s taken the past month for me to complete predeployment training, get over here, and hit my stride. I expect to update this blog when time permits.
As I mentioned, I was unexpectedly and rather suddenly deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force assigned me temporary duty at Marine Forces Central Command over here. My primary duty here is patient/decedent affairs. As the only chaplain with the Marine Corps permanently stationed in this immediate area, I’m tasked with tracking the movement of our USMC wounded, visiting them at our medical facilities in the region, providing pastoral care, and playing host to our Marine Corps religious ministry teams moving in and out of theater.
Since I’m the only chaplain here at this hub, I also have the unhappy duty of conducting ramp ceremonies for all of our U.S. forces who have died in the line of duty. I am working with the Army’s Theater Mortuary Affairs Evacuation Point here. KIA’s from every branch of service are processed here before they are shipped to Germany and then on to Dover AFB. This task keeps me busy with inbound and outbound flights daily.
We have a very small U.S. presence at this base. It’s mostly elements of an Air Force expeditionary squadron. The nearest worship services are about an hour away. So I plan to begin worship here in one of our conference rooms soon.
Please pray for the Lord’s blessings on the ministry to our Army and Air Force personnel here. Also, please remember my family in your prayers. This is the first time I’m going to be away for more than 3 months. I expect to return to Hawaii in mid-October.
May the Lord bless you and yours.
For the Gospel,
The Chaplain