Letters from Iraq

The Palace, The Kingdom and The A-Team

11 May 2004
FOB KMTB (CALDWELL)

Greetings from Camp Happy and the location of our elderly Command Sergeant Major who turned 50 years old today!

Last week I had a meeting in Tikrit, location of FOB DANGER, which is headquarters of the First Infantry Division. The flight northwest on a Blackhawk helicopter without the doors was most revealing. The flatness of the land is overwhelming. It just seemed to go on forever as I looked out. Flying close to the ground with another helicopter on our right, made me feel as if I were in a movie about Vietnam. We flew over small villages and remote homes, with the villagers looking up at us and the grazing sheep huddling close together because of the disturbance in the air over their heads. Most homes have a compound, which is clearly seen from the air. This is where they park their car and where small children tend to play. Outside the compound of the private home, usually a cow is tied up, neat gardens are planted a little distance away and hay fields fill the landscape devoid of trees and highways. Canals run neatly throughout the inhabited areas where the wheat is harvested, mainly with a scythe, although I did see two combines along the way.

As we were flying through and to some of the more industrialized parts of Iraq, we often came upon high voltage power lines. Since we were flying nap of the earth, the helicopter would quickly elevate over those lines and then quickly descend once clear of them. On each rapid descent my stomach would end up somewhere close to my heart. It was as good as any roller coaster ride I have ever been on.

As we landed at LZ Texas in FOB DANGER, a most welcome sight were six members of the Brigade staff awaiting their chopper so they could return to Camp Happy. The ride in the back of a cargo HUMMWV was curvy and hilly. We were headed to DMAIN (Division Headquarters). It is located in the largest palace among the 12 or so situated around a tributary of the Tigris River that we understand was diverted for Saddam's pleasure. Where we are used to rickety civilian vehicles located around our FOB that belong to the Iraqis who work here, such is not the case at FOB DANGER. We passed one new GMC Suburban (no Yukon's over here) that was all black with two large round antennas and two small round antennas. Mercedes-Benz cars were numerous. I stayed at the MWR building which is actually one of the palaces that I understand has a large swimming pool and a complete theater. In a large room on the first floor, there was a band singing and a refreshment bar serving non-alcoholic beer, Gatorade, soft drinks, chips, pork skins, salsa, and a large single wrapped pickle. There was also a large screen TV set up in the corner and two pool tables. This MWR palace is the newest palace and is where the Division Chaplain and staff live. I only went into two of the palaces, but one of the other Brigade Chaplains said that he and his wife have toured much of Europe and never seen anything like Saddam's palaces. Each large room has intricate marble columns. The rooms are filled with ornate wood furniture and sofas and those same plastic chairs that the military has an abundance of in Iraq and look so out of the place in these palaces. The walls and ceilings are a mixture of pastel colors and inlaid carvings. Elegant chandeliers grace every room such as you would see in a 5-star hotel meeting room. They are the only source of light inside the palaces but it is a gracious plenty. Saddam must not have liked fluorescent lighting.

It was good to see and interface again with my Active Duty counterparts. At our opening meeting, Chaplain (LTC) Mike Lembke said, "It is not what we are going through but where we are going to!" His point was well taken. As each of the Brigade Chaplains reported the ministry in their Brigades, I couldn't help but be a little proud of our numbers in relation to their numbers. Where they may have had 50 to 75 people a week in Protestant services, we average over 500 every week. The priest told everyone how I had scheduled him for three hours of confession and how he thought I was crazy. He then shared the fact that he was booked solid the entire time and that that had never happened to him before in his military career.

On day two, we moved into a large room in the main palace where the walls, floors, and columns were all marble. The 10 feet solid wood doors into the room were overly intricate with gold hardware. They had raised panels with detailed carvings and two colors detailed into the wood with one being gold. The bathrooms featured a regular commode, a bidet, and an open shower with 3 inch raised marble molding to hold the water. The sinks had gold hardware, as did the bathtub. The mirror was large and encased in a beautiful frame.

Shortly before we adjourned, MG (Major General) Batiste addressed us and shared how another First Infantry Division soldier was killed that very morning by an IED. We all felt the pain of the 3rd Brigade Chaplain as he received this dreaded piece of news. It was obvious that the ministry is personal to each chaplain gathered and that although we may do our work differently, every one is serious about the task that is ours.

On Sunday, 02 May 2004, at 0900 hours on the New Iraqi Army Parade Field at FOB KMTB (Caldwell), the Kingdom of God increased. Over 200 soldiers attended the 2nd Baptismal Service. I welcomed everyone and offered a prayer for our service of worship and those who would be baptized today. Then our Praise Team lead us all in the old gospel favorite, "I'll Fly Away," followed by a much more recent song, "Open the Eyes of My Heart." CH (CPT) Kevin Wainwright sincerely spoke a Prayer of Confession and words seeking God's presence among us that day. The Praise Team with their guitars (both acoustical and electric), banjo, keyboard, and drums then did a spirited rendition of "Oh Happy Day." This is one of their favorites and it shows. CH (CPT) Walter Graves read the scriptures and we sang another old favorite, "Love Lifted Me." CH (CPT) Darrell Brumfield, 230th Support Battalion, delivered a wonderful message and asked for those who desired to be baptized into the Christian faith to come forward. We set a new Diyali province record this day, 12 baptisms! I was privileged to counsel with two of the soldiers. One was BG Hickman's Secretary (SPC Lisa Jean Wade-Wellington) and the other was a member of his Personal Security Detail (SPC Clifton Norris Thompson.) Like our last service, there was cheering whenever a soldier was lifted out of the water and I personally hugged each one as a new member of the family of God. After all were baptized then CH (CPT) Walter Graves invited us to renew the vows we made at our baptism. There was a spontaneous outpouring of soldiers out of the bleachers as each walked down to the baptistery. Some simply put their hands into the water and paused to pray and meditate on this moment. Some cupped water in their hands and splashed it on their heads. A few placed their hands in the water and then knelt to pray beside our camouflaged baptistery. It was an unexpected holy moment and a wonderful conclusion to another outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives of our soldiers. It was impossible to leave that parade field not knowing that today was a wonderful day in the spiritual life of the 30th. We are so blessed to have had the support and presence of our leadership, BG Hickman, CSM Morgan and many other members of the Brigade Staff.

Let me now share one side note surrounding the baptism service. After the first baptism service, the baptistery that was constructed by the Chaplain Assistants from the 230th Support Battalion was placed behind their tent and someone wrote on the side of the large wooden box. The culprits were identified as being from a particular company and they agreed to paint our baptistery with green paint so as to hide the writing. The baptistery was then moved in preparation for its painting. It quickly disappeared. I was somewhat livid when I discovered that someone had cut it into pieces and made shelving out of it for their rooms. BG Hickman, in an attempt to deal with a mad chaplain, said at his next commander's call-in that whoever stole the chaplain's baptistery would be punished by an authority far higher than himself. I had the MPs (military police) investigate the matter. No one owned up to it, especially since the General now seemed to be involved. If the baptistery mutilator had been identified then I was going to march him into the General's office and he was going to talk to the soldier. It was actually going to be done with a smile on our faces. A few took us much too seriously. The engineers then constructed another baptistery. It was constructed very well but upon close examination, we discovered that it was too large for the plastic liners that keep it from leaking water. So, the 230th Support Battalion Chaplain Assistants then went to work cutting it down to size. This actually became a blessing as SGT David Parker had just returned back to us, having gone home for the funeral of his Father. The tedious work of reducing the size of the baptistery became a great way to work off the grief of his Father. I just figure God worked the whole thing out. We have learned a valuable lesson and now the baptistery is locked away in my CONEX (large trailer-sized container that was necessary to transport all my junk.)

One of the major morale issues addressed by more than half of the Division chaplains in attendance was the recent change in the R & R policy. First, the policy changes often and is directly affected by current operations. Second, it seems a little unfair on some level to be sending folks home for two weeks while we have soldiers whose tours have been extended for 90 days or more because of the threat level. Third, 14 days of R & R is a privilege and not an entitlement. We always knew that 100% of the soldiers would not be granted the opportunity to return home. We had hoped that the figure would be in the 85% range. Now that seems unlikely. And, fourth, we hope that the initial numbers will be increased with time and settle on a level more manageable to our troops and their families. We need the understanding and support of everyone back home as the R & R numbers fluctuate. These decisions are being made at levels above brigade and all we can do is come up with as equitable a plan as possible. For many, any changes in R & R will be the cause of extreme disappointment. Please help us help our families understand that we will send every soldier that we can home on R & R.

On a lighter side, it seems that a certain Command Sergeant Major has issues. Painted on the bumper of his HUMMWV is the phrase, "A Team." We all want our section to feel a sense of pride but isn't this a little ridiculous? What is the General's crowd then supposed to be called, the "B Team?" Anyway, a member of the supposed A-team made some comments in jest to CSM Morgan. It seems that he acted like he was taking it personally. SPC Matt Wesley then took a teaspoon full of BG Hickman's birthday cake and wiped it on the Command Sergeant Major's cheek. A little later, the CSM Morgan, being a man that likes a little fun and will do anything not to allow his image of being "one tough dude" be tarnished, picked up a large slice of the General's birthday cake and smeared it thoroughly all over the poor Specialist's face. This is certainly A-team behavior. Then SPC Wesley was driving in a convoy and noticed a rather large puddle of water directly ahead. Being a member of the A-team required that he plow right through the water as if it were not there. The HUMMWV and the front seat occupants were fine. The 50-caliber machine gun gunner received an early bath and vowed revenge. Revenge is a quality exemplified on the highest levels among the A-team. Later, SSG Scott Schnack was on the Internet sending a message to someone important to him. Since dial-up at home is infinitesimally faster than any of our connections, any time you can actually send a note by e-mail home is a precious gift. I called SSG Schnack into the General's office to ask him a question. While he was gone, his good friend and fellow team member deleted everything he had prepared to send on-line and also closed AKO (Army Knowledge Online) down. It usually takes about fifteen minutes to just pull up the web page and log in. Remember, revenge is revered on the A-team. The next thing I know, there seems to be a scuffle outside the General's door as SSG Schnack is attempting to pour hot sauce down the mouth of SPC Wesley. SPC Wesley quickly gets on his feet but not before drinking excessive amounts of hot sauce and having it cover both sides of his mouth and cheeks. The A-team certainly exemplifies adult behaviors for all of us. They set a standard no one seeks to emulate. Go, A Team!

The generosity of the home folks to the soldiers of the 30th has been nothing short of phenomenal. Each day we place donated items to either BG Hickman or myself on a table. Soldiers mill around the table and can be seen picking up those items that they need. It often brings a smile to a homesick face to receive such simple expressions of love and support. A Girl Scout from Lumberton sends 10 boxes of cookies she has persuaded friends and neighbors to contribute. MAJ Cliff Wilkins' Mother generously shares with our soldiers and always wants to know how to help more. BG Hickman's brother and wife send boxes upon boxes of assorted items that seem tailor fit for our deployment. Over one hundred individuals, churches and civic organizations adopt soldiers and send them letters and care packages. No one but the deployed soldier can fully appreciate what it means to see your name outside the door of the mail room and know that someone cares enough to pay the postage and take the time to send a gift of love to you. Thank you all for your generosity and your faithfulness to the soldiers of the 30th! You keep our spirits up and give us greater reason to return home to folks like you.

CH (LTC) Dennis Goodwin
30th BCT Chaplain

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