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

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hellllooooooooo...........????????

[Jet Jaguar]

Mojo, I am great, I am enjoying Gramma's pictures and listening to Matt Drudge. All is well. How bout you?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Evening Brother!

[Brad’s Gramma]

ARE

YOU

READY?

????????

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Good evening!
I told Grammie about Mr.B's band website..
I just went there myself for a few minutes!
It is great to be with you all again tonight..
Thanks so much!
Ms.B

[MoJo2001]

Hi Mr.Tonkin! Have you missed me?? Have ya?? Huh? Huh? Huh?

[Jet Jaguar]

Okay. Hit ME.

[MoJo2001]

Wow! That's great! Thank you so much! I'll have to check it out here shortly!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Boy are SOME PEOPLE SLOW! SHEESH!

[NormsRevenge]

Howdy.

Heck of a weekend. Sorry to see our losses of troops and the debacle in Spain.

[Brad’s Gramma]

[MoJo2001]

I'm listening to the sweet nothings of Auntie Fawnn's voice and Ma snoring. Outside of that, nada!! Hehe!

[Jet Jaguar]

Hey you! Kncok it off. I'm important, I am multi-tasking. LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Me too, Hope, me too! I love your "Pledge" graphics!! And your other ones too.

[HopeandGlory]

Doing good Miss Bethy . . . have you been enjoying the rain? Probably not, seeing as it came over the week-end. (Grin)

We won't need to be doing this for a while at least.

[MoJo2001]

Hello Norm!


How are you today??

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

About time you showed up! LOL

[StarCMC]

Hi NormsRevenge -- good to see the NAscar King in da house!!

[MoJo2001]

I show up in spirit all the time! LOL!

[MoJo2001]

me