ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- They're coming home. They've witnessed death on
the battlefield and led soldiers, sailors and marines to Christ. They've
baptized converts in water-filled barrels and led worship during rocket
attacks. They've risked their own lives and sacrificed time away from
their families. They are the among the nation's unsung heroes --
military chaplains.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has reported
that 33,000 troops involved in the Afghan "surge" have been withdrawn,
leaving another 68,000 U.S. troops and their chaplains still scheduled
to serve in Afghanistan until December 2014.
The last 100,000
troops in Iraq returned home last December. Since 9/11, a total of 2.4
million American military service members -- including National Guard
and Reservists -- have cycled through the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force
and Coast Guard -- some more than once.
"Our troops have been
touched and changed forever by the life-and-death issues of war," said
retired Army Chief of Chaplains (Maj. Gen.) Douglas Carver, now
executive director for chaplaincy at the North American Mission Board.
"They've seen things people shouldn't have to see. They're coming back
home now, many of them bearing the burden of painful stories and bad
memories. As veterans of war, our troops have forged lifelong
relationships with their fellow service members. They're forever linked
to a unique band of brothers and sisters -- bonded together in blood,
sweat and tears."
Their transition back to the "normalcy" of civilian life will be hard.
READ MORE
No comments:
Post a Comment