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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
Hellllooooooooo...........????????
381
posted on
03/14/2004 9:19:53 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: MoJo2001
Mojo, I am great, I am enjoying Gramma's pictures and listening to Matt Drudge. All is well. How bout you?
382
posted on
03/14/2004 9:20:23 PM PST
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: NormsRevenge
Evening Brother!
To: alaska-sgt
ARE
YOU
READY?
????????
384
posted on
03/14/2004 9:20:54 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: MoJo2001
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
385
posted on
03/14/2004 9:21:00 PM PST
by
MS.BEHAVIN
(Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Hi Mr.Tonkin! Have you missed me?? Have ya?? Huh? Huh? Huh?
386
posted on
03/14/2004 9:21:05 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
To: Brad's Gramma
Okay. Hit ME.
387
posted on
03/14/2004 9:21:36 PM PST
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: MS.BEHAVIN
Wow! That's great! Thank you so much! I'll have to check it out here shortly!!
388
posted on
03/14/2004 9:21:58 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
To: alaska-sgt
Boy are SOME PEOPLE SLOW! SHEESH!
389
posted on
03/14/2004 9:22:46 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Howdy.
Heck of a weekend. Sorry to see our losses of troops and the debacle in Spain.
390
posted on
03/14/2004 9:23:00 PM PST
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi Mac ... Support Our Troops! ... Thrash the demRats in November!!! ... Beat BoXer!!!)
To: alaska-sgt
391
posted on
03/14/2004 9:23:06 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: alaska-sgt
I'm listening to the sweet nothings of Auntie Fawnn's voice and Ma snoring. Outside of that, nada!! Hehe!
392
posted on
03/14/2004 9:23:23 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
To: Brad's Gramma
Hey you! Kncok it off. I'm important, I am multi-tasking. LOL
393
posted on
03/14/2004 9:24:05 PM PST
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: HopeandGlory
394
posted on
03/14/2004 9:24:30 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
To: Bethbg79
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.
395
posted on
03/14/2004 9:24:41 PM PST
by
HopeandGlory
(Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
To: NormsRevenge
Hello Norm!
How are you today??
396
posted on
03/14/2004 9:24:55 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
To: MoJo2001
About time you showed up! LOL
To: NormsRevenge
Hi NormsRevenge -- good to see the NAscar King in da house!!
398
posted on
03/14/2004 9:25:04 PM PST
by
StarCMC
(God protect the 969th in Iraq and their Captain, my brother...God protect them all!)
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
I show up in spirit all the time! LOL!
399
posted on
03/14/2004 9:25:31 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
To: MoJo2001
me
400
posted on
03/14/2004 9:25:41 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
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