US Army chaplain rebuked for citing Christian faith in suicide prevention effort [Brave New Army]

The Washington Times ^ | 1/01/2015 | Rowan Scarborough

[Jan_Sobieski]

Traditional values groups are rallying around an Army chaplain who was rebuked by his commander for distributing information on Christianity during mandatory suicide prevention training. Twenty nonprofit organizations dedicated to religious freedom have signed a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh, urging him to overturn action against Capt. Joseph Lawhorn, an evangelical and onetime infantryman.

His commander, Col. David Fivecoat, who heads the brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia, that molds new Rangers, issued a “letter of concern” on Thanksgiving. He took action after one soldier complained to the website MilitaryAtheists.org, which posted an article. The atheist group later said it “appreciates and commends” Col. Fivecoat.

Capt. Lawhorn had spoken and distributed one page of religious material to soldiers Nov. 20 on how his faith helped him overcome bouts of depression. Suicide in the ranks has been a major Army problem amid deployments to long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Michael Berry, a reserve Marine Corps judge advocate who is representing Capt. Lawhorn, called Col. Fivecoat’s letter “knee-jerk.”...

[OldNavyVet]

Before WW-II, Sporrer taught at St. Monica's Higs School in Santa Monica California and preached against America going into WW-II. Then, after Pearl Harbor, he went into becoming a Navy Chaplain.

His Chosin service was a topic discussed at a 50 year reunion of a 1940's era HS class and the point there was his Chosin action ... It was there said that he removed his chaplain insignia (and non-combatant status) and took on a combat command status - saving many American lives

The story was probably "cleansed" ... Chaplains aren't supposed to be combatants.