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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: MS.BEHAVIN
Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that information!
WooHoo!!
421
posted on
03/14/2004 9:33:34 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
To: Brad's Gramma
I think our area was OK, I kind of liked the touch screen, It reminded me off the new machines in the casinos.
Altho the odds are not very good that you are gonna win, no matter how ya vote these days. ;-\
422
posted on
03/14/2004 9:33:46 PM PST
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi Mac ... Support Our Troops! ... Thrash the demRats in November!!! ... Beat BoXer!!!)
To: faithincowboys
Thanks for the link.
Welcome to the Canteen!
To: Kathy in Alaska
Hey Kathy. I had a good day. I sat around and and did nothing(cleaned the house and vacuumed and fixed the bathroom sink and organizized the shed) basically I sat on my heiney and didn't do anything today.
How did your day go?
424
posted on
03/14/2004 9:33:59 PM PST
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: NormsRevenge; alaska-sgt
I'm not sure which one of ya posted about Spain, but I think it just proves that real men must be left to get the job done. What we have around the world are a bunch of wimps willing to pussyfoot and appease terrorists. They will rue the day they did. When that happens, MoJo will shed no tears.
425
posted on
03/14/2004 9:34:58 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
To: faithincowboys
Thanks for the link faith-- it's a good one!
426
posted on
03/14/2004 9:35:20 PM PST
by
StarCMC
(God protect the 969th in Iraq and their Captain, my brother...God protect them all!)
To: alaska-sgt
LOL!!!!!!
427
posted on
03/14/2004 9:35:26 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
No problem. Did you follow the link? It's great, although you might not be too pleased that the soldiers preferred a little vice to Scriputre.
428
posted on
03/14/2004 9:36:24 PM PST
by
faithincowboys
( Zell Miller is the only DC Democrat not committing treason.)
To: NormsRevenge
They WERE easy...I heard (or read here?) that if you wanted to do a write-in, you had to turn that dial for each and every letter.
Darn good thing Schwarz wasn't running on a write-in!
429
posted on
03/14/2004 9:36:52 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: MoJo2001
They must have the same educational system and unions in Spain as they do in California. It is pretty sickening. :=\
430
posted on
03/14/2004 9:37:03 PM PST
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi Mac ... Support Our Troops! ... Thrash the demRats in November!!! ... Beat BoXer!!!)
To: MoJo2001
Didja check it out?
Ms.B
431
posted on
03/14/2004 9:37:19 PM PST
by
MS.BEHAVIN
(Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)
To: StarCMC
*HUGS*
Doing okay. What do you think about the crap from Spain?? Grrrr!!
Anyhoo, I'm thankful we live in a country where you can find bravery, courage, and strength everywhere. Shame they don't have the same in Europe.
432
posted on
03/14/2004 9:37:22 PM PST
by
MoJo2001
(I have a dream: DIR C: 965465065464984030373436 bytes free...)
To: MoJo2001
Preach it sista -- our troops ROCK!!!
433
posted on
03/14/2004 9:37:32 PM PST
by
StarCMC
(God protect the 969th in Iraq and their Captain, my brother...God protect them all!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Great photo, I wish I was there fishing. I miss Alaska so much. (yes I said it again)
434
posted on
03/14/2004 9:37:35 PM PST
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: bentfeather
Thanks, ms feather, for
The Canteen"....a safe haven for our troops and their families.
435
posted on
03/14/2004 9:38:04 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(God Bless America and Our Military Who Protects Her)
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
You have mail, SIR!
436
posted on
03/14/2004 9:38:05 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
To: StarCMC
Your welcome, the audio of it is great too. The author served in Somalia and has a book out-- he totally upsets the jarhead stereotype. He is a helluva writer.
437
posted on
03/14/2004 9:38:11 PM PST
by
faithincowboys
( Zell Miller is the only DC Democrat not committing treason.)
To: Brad's Gramma
I didn't try any write-ins ,, I was curious how that worked tho. turn the dial, huh? cool
438
posted on
03/14/2004 9:38:19 PM PST
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi Mac ... Support Our Troops! ... Thrash the demRats in November!!! ... Beat BoXer!!!)
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
She's in Kuwait now Tonk, so that's a step closer. She'll be there a couple of weeks at least, then she'll be coming Stateside.WooHoo!!!
(She collects Penquins btw and will love these)
439
posted on
03/14/2004 9:38:30 PM PST
by
HopeandGlory
(Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
To: NormsRevenge
Yes. Turn the dial for the first letter and hit OK. Turn the dial for the next letter and hit OK. And on, and on and on...
I don't do write-in's...I just thought it goofy that there wasn't an easier way.
440
posted on
03/14/2004 9:39:56 PM PST
by
Brad’s Gramma
(Pray for America and Israel)
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