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FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ MAR 14 2004
Chaplain Jay Padgett from Mosul, Iraq
Posted on 03/13/2004 8:21:28 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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Welcome to The FReeper Canteen |
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Today's Spiritual Journey takes us to the 234th Signal Battalion Iowa National Guard |
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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.
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Chaplain Padgetts 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 sheiks 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 sheiks 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 couldnt 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 couldnt 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 |
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KEYWORDS: chaplain
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To: alaska-sgt
In many ways....many many ways.
321
posted on
03/14/2004 8:53:10 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: Brad's Gramma
Brad's Gramma!!! #300!!!
322
posted on
03/14/2004 8:53:52 PM PST
by
Fawnn
(Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person)
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Kathy in Alaska; All
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The Canteen
As a light house beacon warns
a ship away from dangerous shores...
We in the FReeper CANTEEN
offer a safe haven for our troops and their families.
May God Bless our ship FReeper CANTEEN.
bentfeather 9/05/03 Revised 01/05/04
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323
posted on
03/14/2004 8:54:01 PM PST
by
Soaring Feather
(~ I do poetry and party amoung the stars ~)
To: HopeandGlory
Hi Hope!! Good to see you this lovely evening!
324
posted on
03/14/2004 8:54:22 PM PST
by
StarCMC
(God protect the 969th in Iraq and their Captain, my brother...God protect them all!)
To: alaska-sgt
YOU'RE COMING for dinner too? WOW!!!
325
posted on
03/14/2004 8:54:51 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: HiJinx
Happy Anniversary Hi-Jinx . . . .here's wishing you many more.
326
posted on
03/14/2004 8:55:58 PM PST
by
HopeandGlory
(Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
To: StarCMC
OK! You stay all comfy....that's good. The Sgt. is coming, too! (I think)
327
posted on
03/14/2004 8:55:58 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: bentfeather
Thank You for the "Canteen"
To: MS.BEHAVIN
Good evening MS.BEHAVIN, nice to see you in the Canteen.
329
posted on
03/14/2004 8:57:52 PM PST
by
Soaring Feather
(~ I do poetry and party amoung the stars ~)
To: HopeandGlory
Hope you had a nice, peaceful Sunday!
Now you just have to wait for your DIL to get home from Iraq!
To: alaska-sgt
331
posted on
03/14/2004 8:59:02 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: Brad's Gramma
Woo-hoo! Party at Gramma's house!
She's made SGT -- according to Tonk!
Let's GO!!!!
332
posted on
03/14/2004 8:59:15 PM PST
by
StarCMC
(God protect the 969th in Iraq and their Captain, my brother...God protect them all!)
To: Brad's Gramma
I'm coming for dinner also!
To: bentfeather
Evening Ms. FEather -- good to see ya! HUGS!
334
posted on
03/14/2004 9:00:16 PM PST
by
StarCMC
(God protect the 969th in Iraq and their Captain, my brother...God protect them all!)
To: Brad's Gramma
Let's see. Get on freeway, take a left, take another left, then drive til I see a gray house with red doors. Got it. I'll be there in twelve minutes.
335
posted on
03/14/2004 9:00:56 PM PST
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: StarCMC
Good evening Star, nice to see you, also.
336
posted on
03/14/2004 9:01:03 PM PST
by
Soaring Feather
(~ I do poetry and party amoung the stars ~)
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; StarCMC
Y'all come over!!!!!! I think I better peel some more potatoes/potatos/spuds though!!
337
posted on
03/14/2004 9:01:18 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: Fawnn
WOO OO!
Spring officially starts next Sunday!
To: Brad's Gramma
NO NO No, I know that cow!
339
posted on
03/14/2004 9:02:02 PM PST
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: alaska-sgt
Oh man, if you get here in 12 minutes, YOU HAVE TO HELP PEEL THE SPUDS!!
340
posted on
03/14/2004 9:02:27 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
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