FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ MAR 14 2004

Chaplain Jay Padgett from Mosul, Iraq

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Welcome to
The FReeper Canteen

Today's Spiritual Journey takes us to the

234th Signal Battalion Iowa National Guard

Chaplain Padgett was assigned to the unit in the
Kentucky National Guard that FReeper Old Sarge is.
When the 234th Signal Battalion
of the Iowa National Guard was sent to Iraq
he was assigned to them because they had no Chaplain.
He was due home this month but has been extended until Aug 2004.

Chaplain Padgett’s Comments for 12 March 2004 Last Saturday, March 6, I went with 40 Alpha and Charlie Company soldiers to a village about 30 minutes south of Mosul. Our military convoy included nine vehicles, my assistant, an interpreter, two print journalists and one broadcast journalist from the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment from the Task Force Olympia Public Affairs Office and 63 boxes of donations and supplies. The Buwayr Village is named for a nearby well that is no longer in use. The sheik was not at home, but his son graciously welcomed us. According to Ahmed Ali Akob, the sheik’s cousin, the land, owned and inhabited by 100 villagers and lots of animals, is used mostly for growing barley and wheat and was purchased from the Ottoman government nearly 300 years ago. As we entered the village, the mud huts that made up the majority of homes instantly intrigued me. I asked how long these structures would typically last and was surprised by the answer: 30 to 40 years. Captain Dan Smith (Alpha company commander), Sergeant First Class Doug Johnson, Specialist Zach Thein and myself were invited to have tea with seven men of the village. They had left their sandals and shoes at the front door; we wore our combat boots and were assured that we were not being disrespectful. There was no furniture in the front room except for a small couch and two chairs that were pushed against a wall. We sat on a large beautiful Persian rug that covered nearly all the floor space. For comfort, vibrant colorful pillows lined the walls in which we could rest and recline. Overhead, just below the ceiling and lining the four walls, hung photographs - all were men. Most were black and white photos of ancestral leaders, including the sheik’s grandfather, all looked to me very stereotypically Arabic - with either mustaches or beards and wearing traditional head coverings. As I gazed around the room looking at the portraits, I couldn’t help but think that I was sitting in a place of honor. Maybe I was reading too much into the experience. Specialist Thein brought clarity to the moment by asking, “Would you have ever thought in a million years that we would sitting in a place like this drinking tea?” The answer was no, I couldn’t have even imagined an experience like this last year. One of the younger men poured hot tea into small clear glass cups and distributed them with the help of the others. We chatted, with the help of our interpreter Mohammed; they shared with us about the history of the area and voiced village concerns related to issues such as water and electricity. Finally, Captain Smith and I agreed that our legs were going to sleep and gratefully the session ended and we went outside. There were two soldiers from the Public Affairs office waiting to speak to the Akob; ironically, he had just left a room full of men to be interviewed and video taped by two female journalists. He told them he was very appreciative of our service and emphasized the village was friends of the U.S. Before we left, I had my picture taken with him. He grabbed my hand and held it; it was a nice personal touch that I appreciated. The visit to the Buwayr Village to meet and interact with its leaders and children worth was the trip to Iraq. And now, a week later after the successful humanitarian mission to the Buwayr Village, I think of the eleven men in the room: seven representing the village, four representing the 234th Signal Battalion; seven representing Iraq, four representing the United States of America. But most importantly, there were eleven men representing cooperation and hope. I am grateful to my God and Nation that I had the opportunity to be one of the eleven. For God and Country, Chaplain Jay Padgett from Mosul, Iraq - Psalm 23:4

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Good morning TC. Happy Sunday to you!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Good morning Tonk! Top of the morning to you!

[Valin]

Full Beard here!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Howdy Diva Betsy Ross!
Hope you are having a good Sunday!

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning to my favourite Cowboy! Happy Sunday to you.

Thanks for the Marty Robbins. (You didn't know Marty sang "A White Sport's Coat"?? ) TC, everyone knows that!! LOL

:-)

[Soaring Feather]

Hiya Aeronaut. Happy Sunday to you and yours.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning Captain. Have a great day.

[Soaring Feather]

Happy Anniversary to you and Mrs. HiJinx!

[Long Cut]

Hello, Everyone! It's been a while...far too long in fact. I've been quite busy lately, in the aftermath of VP-10's return from our difficult deployment, and also in the dealings of the tragedys which befell my family. I have to deal with all this alone, as well, as I am separated by 2,000 miles or so from Mrs. Cut and Short Cut (he's been promoted...he's getting BIG, and is now crawling).

I'm now the Assistant Leading Petty Officer of my shop, plus I am also its Training Petty officer (and hopefully, its Lead Petty Officer once my boss leaves in a few months). I have about 30 young sub-hunters to look after and train, which takes up a LOT of time, let me tell you.

I live in the barracks here at NAS Brunswick, and the kind loan of a laptop (thanks, thumperusn!)has finally enabled me to check back in. Mrs. Cut and Short Cut are still in Jax, and we're making the best of that bad situation. I'm hoping to be able to continue to write my book now that I have thew means to do it.

We lost Beagle-Cut. The poor old boy was just too sick to go on, so Mrs. Cut did what was necessary. I'll miss him...he was a good dog and a good friend to the end.

Life is tough. I miss my family fiercely, and it breaks my heart not to be there for so many things, and to not be there to support those who need it, like my Dad. The loss of my mother still affects him in many ways.

The prices I pay for doing my job cannot easily be quantified, it seems.

Anyways, I do hope all of you are well, and that I might be able to check back in more often now.

[TexasCowboy]

And a Happy Sunday to you, Diva!

God's angels are pouring out bucket fulls of rain on Houston today!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Hey Long Cut!
Thanks for the update(s).
Glad to hear you are doing well despite the seperation from Mrs Cut and Short Cut.
Looks like the Coast Guard will be sending me to a one week school in May in Yorktown VA.
When I come back myself and another Coast Guard Auxiliary
member will take ove commercial boat inspections (100' or less)
This will free up the regulat Coast Guard from this particular duty.
Hope to see you more often in the Canteen!

[HiJinx]

Well, LC, it sure is good to see you. I wish it could be under happier circumstances, but God didn't promise us an easy life...just one that He would help us through.

I don't think I had the opportunity to offer my condolences when your Mom passed...I heard about it later. I was very sorry to hear that she was gone, but I was also happy for you in that you had had the chance to be with her at the time. I know what it's like, we very nearly lost mine at the same time and are still dealing with the impact on the family.

We look forward to hearing a bit more from you in the future now that you have access...such as, becoming the Lead PO in your shop! Moving up is a good thing!

HJ

[Soaring Feather]

Hi LC!

WOO HOO on your promotion. You have a lot of responsibility.

I have been thinking about you. Just the other day I was looking at the pictures I have in the closet of you and Short Cut - promoted and Beagle Cut. So sorry you lost Beagle Cut.
Looking forward to your work on the book. This is going to very interesting.

So good to hear from you. Great to hear about Short Cut's crawling. Soon it will be walking and then hold on this little guy will go.

[TexasCowboy]

"TC, everyone knows that!!"

LOL!

Good morning to you, bentfeather!

I probably knew that at one time, but my brain has holes in it.
Important stuff like that leaks out.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Afternoon Brother!
Getting ready to see Texas Termite tomorrow?

[Long Cut]

He's ALREADY going strong...he scuttles about everywhere now that he's learned how, and it keeps Mrs. Cut on her toes. He's also got five teeth now, which it pleases him to use on his mother's shoulder, much to her dismay. Every day he looks more like a "little boy" instead of a "baby". It's maddening...I want him to be a baby a little longer.

Why does it have to be so fast?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Hope you and Mrs HiJinx are having a great anniversary.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Afternoon Your Highness!

[TexasCowboy]

Good to see you, Long Cut!

I'm sorry about your mother and Beagle Cut.
I know the feeling of being far away at times like this.

Congrats on your promotion!
Thanks for being there, brother!
Come back to see us when you can!

[Long Cut]

Glad to see you're making such a good life out of the CG, Tonk. Keep up the good work!