A tale of two soldiers

The Washington Times ^ | October 4, 2003 | By Michelle Malkin

[aculeus]

There's something terribly wrong when an American soldier overseas can't receive Scriptures in the mail, but a Muslim chaplain can preach freely among al Qaeda and Taliban enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay.

This is a story of two soldiers, one Christian, one Muslim. It's a cautionary tale that suggests how religious double standards and politically driven hypersensitivity threaten not only our troops, but us all.

[pbear8]

'Religion of Peace' Bump

(Jesus is Prince of Peace!)

[Support Free Republic]

A Recall AND a Fundraiser? I'm toast.

Let's get this over with FAST. Please contribute!

[FRMAG]

Chaplains are available to ALL soldiers. If this young trooper wanted access to materials for study or inspiration he could have approached any chaplain and simply asked. One of the duties of all chaplains is to minister to all soldiers not just those of their denomination.

Also, it is quite common for chaplains to conduct "General Worship" services that are strictly non denominational.

[xzins]

I am a retired chaplain. Please read the post on the editorial sidebar entitled, "In Defense of Military Chaplains."

Chaplains do have literature available, but that is no reason to discount our right to mail packages to our soldiers.

I don't know it, but my guess is that this father could have used an APO address for his son, and it would have gone through. Had he used an address that would take it through the Arabic country's postal system, then it would be subject to that country's laws.

Had he used our APO system, then it would have stayed within our system the entire way.

There was a big fight during gulf war I where chaplains were asked to remove their crosses in deference to their "hosts," the Saudis. The chaplains refused and the US State Deptmt backed down.

I was held in a Saudi airport for 3 hours once because my chaplain kit contained bibles and communion wine. My "hosts" were all wearing "uzi's" instead of crescents. I don't know the machinations the unit went through, but it got cleared up, and I came out alive (obviously) on the other side.

Stand for the right for our troops to fully practice their religion no matter where they are. That is the only place to stand.


Xzins
Chaplain (Retired) US Army

[kitkat]

BUMP

[inPhase]

Thanks for your clarifying post,

[xzins]

Thanks for your support.

We have a host of great chaplains out there. Pray for them. There are very few (if any more) Chaplain Yees.....if the charges against him are proven true.

[FRMAG]

I am an Army retiree (1SG 26 yrs) I ran into the same rule when sending my son in Saudi a care package. Careful reading revealed that ihe prohibition included booze and pork products.

A little research revealed that the restriction was put in place by USPS possibly at the request of either state or the pentagon the postmistress was not sure.

Sent him a bible anyway just did not declare it. Snuck it inside a box of something else.

[xzins]

We do not need to put a customs declaration form on a product that is mailed to an Apo/Fpo address.

Address should read:

GI Joe
C Co, 234 Engr Battalion
APO AE 03236

The Apo means that it is a UNITED STATES address. We don't put customs declaration forms on US addresses.

[moodyskeptic]

God bless you.

[xzins]

Thanks.

[VOA]

The Apo means that it is a UNITED STATES address. We don't put customs declaration
forms on US addresses.

Thanks for the info. I'm getting ready to prepare some packs to send to some
home-town fellows in Iraq/Kuwait.

[xzins]

Make sure you have the APO/FPO address.

Use it only.

Don't put a customs dec form on it. Drop it at your local post office.

Our normal addressing method has city, state, zip.

Look at the APO as the city, the 2 digit Alphabetic as the State, and then there's the zip.

[VOA]

We have a host of great chaplains out there. Pray for them.

Amen to that.
Although my age is too advanced, if I had it all to do over again, I'd follow the
example of a fellow that was profiled on that "current affairs" portion of The Coral Ridge Hour
(D. James Kennedy).

The story was about a soldier (IIRC, US Army) that did a long hitch, I think as
a paratrooper. After 10 years or so, he had his Damascus road experience and
became an Army chaplain.

Aside from service in the inner city or at hospitals, I can hardly think of a
place where a person could help more people in the least amount of time.
I'm sure it's a stressful calling, but I suspect the reward are...priceless.

[DianaN]

This is an absolute outrage. If I knew how to start a petition concerning this matter I certainly would.

[xzins]

A chaplain has more counseling in a week that civilian pastors have in a year.

That's no exaggeration. Their opportunity to influence young lives is limited only by the number of hours in a day.

[RippleFire]

bump

[boxerblues]

Wrong! you have to fill out a detailed customs form for anything over 16 oz. Bibles can be sent to an individual just not in mass distribrution

Q. Does that mean I can’t mail a Bible?

A. The intent of this customs prohibition was the host country's concern about distributing these materials to its citizens. Mailing a Bible or other individual religious item as long as it is solely for the personal use of the service member should not be an issue.

http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/supportingfaqs.htm

[FRMAG]

Been to the pest orifice lately? They will not accept the package unless the declaration is filled out and attached. Its USPS rules. This goes for all overseas destinations APO and FPO included.

Its a matter of treaty law in most cases.

Recall mailing my folks gifts from overseas years ago and I had to fill out the same forms for packages sent from the APO. My filks wound up paying duty a couple of times.