Shaken by war, Army chaplain quits before Easter service

Chicago Tribune, By way of Seattle Times ^ | Saturday, April 19, 2003 | Ray Quintanilla

[Friend of thunder]

BAGHDAD, Iraq — When the battles are over, officers regularly tell their soldiers they can turn to the chaplain for counseling to deal with what they have seen on the battlefield or what they have done.

But what happens when it's the chaplain who says he can't deal with the horrors of war and quits the battlefield? Word of the chaplain's abrupt departure hit the Army's 2-70th Battalion hard this week. Plans for a Easter Sunday service have been canceled.

[Friend of thunder]

I don’t know what to make of this. If the man lost his faith he would be less than useful – but he walked away. I have not served so I cannot, perhaps, make a judgment. I would be interested in the opinion of others.

[Conservababe]

My opinion...he should be court marshalled. He deserted his post.

[xJones]

I haven't searved either, but here's what hit me:

Word of the chaplain's abrupt departure hit the Army's 2-70th Battalion hard this week. Plans for a Easter Sunday service have been canceled.

[Shermy]

Suppose he would run away from the horrors of Calvary too?

[Friend of thunder]

here's what hit me:

Word of the chaplain's abrupt departure hit the Army's 2-70th Battalion hard this week. Plans for a Easter Sunday service have been canceled.

The only excuse I can see for that – and an authority higher than the pentagon will, I believe, make this decision – is if he was so troubled in his faith that he could not face the troops. Even with that, there better ways to handle this.

[rllngrk33]

When those that depended on him needed him the most, he abandoned them. It appears that his faith was not as strong as it should have been.

[Friend of thunder]

Suppose he would run away from the horrors of Calvary too?

Or deny Christ three times that day? Again I was never in that position either, I hope I would have acted better, I believe I would have acted better, but…

[dwswager]

I think he should be disciplined for how he left the theater. There may have been legitimate reasons, but it should have been triggered thru channels.

One thing I have noticed in some of the round about discussions is that some of the battles were literally killing fields. There were apparently battles where the Iraqi forces (whatever nature) just rushed U.S. troops and we mowed them down. I think this might have an impact on me.

[Conservababe]

Faith my patooti....his faith or lack of it had nothing to do with his desertion of his duty. He is a soldier and he is not excused because he had a bad day in the field.

God will punish him but I hope the military has first crack at him.

[Friend of thunder]

I think he should be disciplined for how he left the theater. There may have been legitimate reasons, but it should have been triggered thru channels

I believe that I agree with you. While I would that argue – and in some ways I am surprised that I would argue this – that his first duty, as a chaplain, is not to his country but to Christ; there ways he could have left with more honor. If he did not believe, because of things he had seen, that he could adequately preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, then there would have been other ways to not do it.

[joesnuffy]

What if everybody who could get away with it ...said I cant handle this I'm leaving..

A chaplain is in a unique situation...he is looked upon as the last brick in the wall...that a man can lean on and not have it cave in...to support him when he needs it...to get him back in the fight..to give him the encouragment and the spritual inspiration to go on when he wants to run.

This poor chap is gonna have a major breakdown over this....if he has a shred of decency in him he wont be able to face himself in the mirror..

I hope he finds redemption...God is willing..but he has a lot to atone for...a lot..I would hate to be in his shoes..so much responsibility and to turn one's back on it...whoa boy..

[Sci Fi Guy]

If the man lost his faith he would be less than useful – but he walked away. I have not served so I cannot, perhaps, make a judgment

I don't see anywhere in the article where he "lost" his faith. It seems like a case of battle fatigue. That he simply reached his limit and broke.

[Let's Roll]

He let our guys down. He put his needs above theirs.

[Conservababe]

that his first duty, as a chaplain, is not to his country but to Christ;

His first duty was to the men and women who needed him on the battlefield. He was a Captain and a Chaplain.

[garyhope]

Throw his butt into the stockade, court martial him and let him do some hard time. Let him learn some humility.

[garyhope]

Throw his butt into the stockade, court martial him and let him do some hard time. Let him learn some humility.

[Friend of thunder]

His first duty was to the men and women who needed him on the battlefield. He was a Captain and a Chaplain.

His first duty was to their immortal souls. I am not excusing his behavior, but, as a Chaplain, if he could not preach the message of Christ than he would not be doing his job. This does not excuse him leaving his post, but it could make it the lesser of two evils.

[Conservababe]

This poor chap is gonna have a major breakdown over this....if he has a shred of decency in him he wont be able to face himself in the mirror..

I hope he has not the luxury of a nervous breakdown, but a court marshall.

He, this Chaplain, is a Captain in the military. He draws pay to do his duty. He ran.

How many nineteen year old privates did he leave in the field, waiting for Easter services? How many nineteen year old privates did not run, but stayed and did their duty?

[Cicero]

I would oppose disciplining a chaplain if he claims to be acting on his conscience. But I also think it's inexcusable behavior. If he has a principled opposition to war, then why on earth is he a chaplain?

The sooner he's cashiered from the service, the better.

[Conservababe]

His first duty was to their immortal souls.

Yes, indeed, it was to their souls, not his. If he lost his faith, he should have still been there for his men and women.

I loathe this coward.