Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq and Afghanistan

by Jane Hampton Cook

  Prayer:

  Lord, help us focus our attention on others and the mission you have for us. Amen.

  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25)

  November 21

  RELYING ON THE LORD

  Sergeant Major “Ted” is a special operations medic

  Peace amidst turmoil comes from faith. If you don’t rely on God or have faith in his sovereignty, then it’s all up to you, and that is absolutely fatiguing. You have to figure it all out and lean on your own understanding. Your hands will fail at the critical moment, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You have very real physical and mental limitations. Simply put, without faith you will fail. Faith allows you to persevere. You will continue to do what you must do, knowing that God is the one in control of what happens.

  During that incident outside of Kandahar, I felt like I was completely alone. But I wasn’t ever alone. Even the people who trained me contributed to that success. The men who were not trained medically but were performing medical tasks because I was yelling instruction at them contributed directly to saving lives. There was a lot of noise and a great deal of chaos. But through it all there was an underlying peace that is difficult to explain.

  I have been on a few assaults that have lasted many hours. Those situations, just as the tragedy of December 5, simply call for persistence, all the way to the end. You can’t just stop when you meet resistance. Persistence requires faith.

  If we found ourselves assaulting a well-defended position, we would use what we had to reduce the target and reduce the threat. Fortunately, we have a lot of combined arms technology, which we can leverage to our advantage. At the end of the day somebody has to go on and occupy the ground. It’s not until you’re there that you can say the enemy no longer owns the objective. To move forward through the barriers and instinct to stop requires more than human initiative can accomplish. And through those times of conflict and struggle in your life, peace is still present if you believe.

  Prayer:

  Lord, help my unbelief. Help me to move forward through the barriers of life. Help me not to trust my human strength but depend solely upon your strength.

  “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

  November 22

  WAR IS THE DOMAIN OF FRICTION AND VIOLENCE

  Sergeant Major “Ted” is a special operations medic

  Understanding the commander’s intent is very important to success on the battlefield. In life, we have our Commander’s intent laid out in the Bible. Unfortunately, we are focused on ourselves and have moved away from the commander’s intent: to have the free will to glorify him instead of ourselves.

  The great military thinker and strategic theorist, Clausewitz said that “war is the domain of friction and violence.” Not only war, but also the fabric of our life exists in friction. In your daily life, you are in a war of expectations and trials. We talk about periods of peace but there’s never a true world peace. When one area of sovereignty bumps up against another it creates friction. It’s true at the international level and the individual level.

  We have friction because we have free will. If you put free will into the military context it doesn’t work well. Everybody cannot make up their minds about whether or not they shoot back at the enemy or engage in combat. We have to bury the idea of free will to have the unity required to accomplish the commander’s intent and survive as a unit.

  The winning strategy lies in applying our force and resources in a coordinated way to accomplish the bigger mission. It involves having our free will inline with the commander’s will and committing to the success of the team above our own glory or survival. Don’t lose yourself, your ethics or your honor by losing sight of the commander’s intent. It wasn’t a part of God’s intent for you to focus on yourself or become self-reliant. Success is measured by your commitment to each other and your commitment to the commander’s intent.

  Truly we have a war without end now. And it’s an issue of conflicting ideologies. The fight we are in is a big one. So all the little things matter, like how you prepare, how you pray, and how you conduct yourself. Understanding the creator’s intent is the key to your success. He intended for you to have peace regardless of what is happening to you or around you in this world and he wanted you to not only have life, but also to live it more abundantly.

  Prayer:

  Prepare us, Lord, for spiritual warfare. Embolden us. While we are in battle, grant us the peace that passes understanding. Amen

  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

  November 23

  THE WAR COMES HOME

  Terry Mitchell, Senior Editor, University Communications, Whitworth University

  Forrest and Oaken Ewens, identical twins, were students in my discussion group at Whitworth University in fall 2000. When I asked them if they really wanted to be in the same group, they were resolute: “We like being in the same classes,” one said. “It’s never been a problem.”

  During that semester, one I can’t remember which one consistently turned in better papers than the other. Neither cared about that. There was no one-upmanship. The twins rarely spoke up in class, but their occasional comments and their papers reflected strong convictions, heartfelt beliefs, and love of God, family, and country. Their companionship was easy and supportive; their bond was tight.

  Perhaps that bond expanded a bit when Oaken left for West Point and Forrest stayed on at Whitworth, helping to lead the track-and-field team to a conference championship and learning everything he could about history and his other passions. Other tests came as the young men pursued their military careers, first in ROTC, at the U.S. Military Academy, and then in the U.S. Army.

  But nothing would break the bond; not even Forrest’s death in Afghanistan’s Pech River Valley on June 16, 2006. He was leading his men on a mission to distribute medical supplies when a roadside bomb went off. At barely twenty-five, Forrest was gone.

  Two weeks after his brother’s death, Oaken wrote in an online memorial, “I prayed so hard that God would stop my heart the night I heard.” Saying that he was “beyond tears,” Oaken continued, “I miss you and I am so very proud.”

  Everyone who knew Forrest echoes that last sentiment. Though none of us can know the depth of his twin’s anguish, nor the pain and pride of the rest of his close-knit family, all of us can join with another young man who wrote in Forrest’s guestbook a PFC who’d served under Forrest in Afghanistan. His final words were both an inspiration and a knife through the heart to those of us who went to the Web looking for comfort and camaraderie after Forrest’s death: “Climb to Glory, Sir!”

  Prayer:

  Lord, may your glory be seen even in suffering.

  “A brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)

  November 24

  A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING

  Capt. Amy Malugani, United States Marine Corps

  (Excerpt from an email that Captain Malugani sent to her friends and family, November 30, 2005)

  The Thanksgiving holiday was an opportunity to take time out to give thanks for all the blessings of my past, the present, and the ones to come. We had a memorial ceremony for the Marines who were killed in Operation Steel Curtain. I can’t think of a better day to celebrate the lives of these young men, and give thanks for their courage and sacrifice. The sun shining, tears running behind sunglasses, and undoubtedly, God was present. Profound and sincere words were shared: life is precious a gift and one’s spirit touches so many in such a short amount of time.

  Later that day, I went running with a friend and we shared gratitude lists to pass the time. The first list the people we are grateful for in o
ur lives. The second list gratitude for our bodies. The third list gratitude regarding the deployment. We used the alphabet to guide us. I was amazed at the length of my list, considering many challenges throughout the deployment and homesick many times. After the run, I view my current situation differently. The lists were evident reminders that I am exactly where I need to be. There is such comfort in accepting this perspective.

  When I returned from Iraq last year (March 2005) I was uncomfortable overwhelmed with the daily life in the states. The simple life deployment seemed so comforting, safe, and easy. Ironic, considering I spent a significant period of time outside the base, and our base received incoming fire more times than I would like to remember. However, there was a sense of safety in the simple life. After several weeks in the states, I realized it wasn’t the deployment, but the people in my life and the choices I consciously made on a daily basis. I can have a simple life anywhere in the world, and I can ask God for help from anywhere for where I am he is there too.

  A chaplain shared with me, “Instead of the simple life, how about a special life.” I came into this second deployment anticipating and expecting the simple life. Unfortunately, I was confronted with everything but the simple life. The chaplain’s words stuck with me. I don’t have control over the daily pressures, demands, and expectations of the world but I do have control over the way I respond. I can make my life as special as I want it’s my choice.

  Prayer:

  I choose to make today special, giving thanks to you for the gifts you’ve given me.

  “He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Romans 14:6)

  November 25

  ARMY VALUES: HONOR

  Maj. John Croushorn, MD (retired veteran)

  “What is life without honor? Degradation is worse than death.”

  Lieutenant General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson

  Thanksgiving in Iraq was a bittersweet event. It is hard to be thankful when you are away from home. However a warm meal, good friends, and a good mission is as comforting as any soldier could ask for. As we walked into the DFAC there was a familiar face behind the serving line. The Colonel and the CSM were serving everyone and smiling from ear to ear.

  The contract workers were getting a kick out of it. The commander and CSM didn’t miss an opportunity to thank each and every soldier that passed through the line. Later that evening, the Colonel and I were talking while puffing on a couple of cigars and I asked him if he enjoyed himself. He smiled and said, “You have no idea how thankful I am to be here, now, with these men and women. They’re the best people I have ever served with.”

  A man of integrity, a man known as intrepid these terms are used by many to describe those who live in a manner above reproach. These are strong men and women with a moral bent for strength of character and justice. But beyond the public persona, the honor lies in their actions and motivations. The man with honor is seen for what he does for others and not for himself.

  The Army values honor as a sacred virtue. Without it men are thrown by circumstance. Their decisions are based in self-centered vision instead of the outward concern for others. This is what makes a commander great in the eyes of his men. It is what motivates them to fight for him and sacrifice. It is truly a powerful thing.

  Prayer:

  Allow me to place others before my own interest. May my focus be on you, Father. Protect me from my own selfish pride, that through humility I may honor you by honoring others.

  “The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:3)

  November 26

  TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME

  Col. Joe Wood, Chief of Clinical Operations for Multinational Corps Iraq

  I was the Chief of Clinical Operations for Multinational Corps Iraq (MNC-I). A large part of my job was establishing policy and procedures for the coalition from a medical standpoint. It did provide me a theater-wide perspective. I reviewed the security updates and battle reports each day. But no matter how much perspective you have, at some point the war becomes personal.

  It was 0500 hours. The sound was not what I remember most. The concussive blast seemed to take my breath away. The discomfort of awakening to the feeling of having the breath knocked out of you is a disheartening experience. I struggled to get my body armor as debris hit the sides and roof of my trailer. Then I had to consciously get up and out of the trailer. I remember thinking, “That was close; someone is probably hurt.”

  We had received a lot of incoming rocket fire that week. Only a few days before, fifteen rockets had impacted the living area. When the Quick Reaction Force arrived at the point of origination they discovered almost seventy more rockets that had not yet fired. I didn’t know if more rockets were on their way, I just knew I needed to help if I could.

  I did not have an aid bag at the time. It would not have mattered for the soldier who was killed. The trauma was devastating. After the attack, the command directed that pre-positioned medical supplies be put in the living areas and other areas with large numbers of people. All I really changed was that I made sure I carried with me at all times a pressure dressing and a tourniquet, basic life saving items. I can recall numerous occasions in the past when I forgot to have those things on my person at times; I always had them after the attack.

  I came away with a couple of lessons from that experience. You take one day at a time; and there’s so much that happens that is outside of our control.

  Prayer:

  Lord, may I seek to know you better each day, not just when life goes well or life is hard. Lord, may I trust your sovereignty and control more each day, again whether life is going well or is hard.

  “Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:3)

  November 27

  SADDAM HUSSEIN MY PATIENT

  Col. Joe Wood, Chief of Clinical Operations for Multinational Corps Iraq

  The call came from the command surgeon for Multinational Forces Iraq (MNF-I). All detainees came under his authority, and there was one that needed a couple of specialists. I kept the list of where all the doctors were and what their specialties were. The MNF-I doc asked me to locate two specialists. One needed to be an endocrinologist and the other was a cardiologist. I told him he was in luck because I was the only endocrinologist in theater and I could get a hold of the cardiologist. When I asked what it was about I was told that I would have to be briefed in person.

  In my briefing I learned that I would be seeing Saddam Hussein. I ended up seeing him as a patient several times. I diagnosed him with primary hyper-aldosteronism from an adrenal mass. It was a logistical nightmare to get the testing supplies and samples out of theater, but I executed the task I had been given. I remained his endocrinologist while he was a prisoner.

  I was torn with the idea of providing care for someone who was so evil. I read the battle reports daily and could not help but feel that so much of the death and destruction was on this man’s hands. It was hard to not let that emotional bias affect the way I treated him. It was difficult to reconcile internally, but I decided that I had to treat him as I would any other human. I had to be consistent in my approach even when dealing with such evil. It was ultimately empowering to my faith to know that I treated him no differently though he had given this country nothing but evil.

  Prayer:

  Dear Lord, help me never forget that every human being is made in your image. Thank you for the assurance that you are the ultimate judgment of every soul.

  “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” (Obadiah 1:15)

  November 28

  SADDAM HUSSEIN (CONTINUED)

  Col. Joe
Wood, Chief of Clinical Operations for Multinational Corps Iraq

  Prior to seeing Saddam, I wondered how I would feel since he was one of the most notorious dictators in our time; it was a curious thing to ponder. When I actually saw him I went into what I think of as “doctor mode.” It almost surprised me to feel pretty much as I always do when I see a new patient for the first time. I treated him as any patient, my duty was to listen and assist in any way I could. One specific time when I did a thyroid exam, it really occurred to me that what I was doing was pretty incredible.

  I do the exam standing behind the patient and palpate the thyroid with both hands encircling the patient’s neck so I thought, I wonder how many people have ever had their hands around his neck and lived to tell about it! I recall also thinking when I saw him that his change in status was pretty incredible (dictator to prisoner); going from a position of absolute power and incredible wealth to being a caged human. I worked in one of his palaces and saw some of his other palaces so I had an idea of his wealth.

  We spoke some, but primarily through an interpreter and always about strictly clinical matters. He did cooperate with my exams, however there was a period when I was performing the cranial nerve exam where I had him puff out his cheeks, grimace, etc. It seemed he thought that I was perhaps trying to make him appear silly or something because he gave me a kind of stern look like Why are you asking me to do this. I explained to his interpreter and Saddam then looked at me, smiled, placed his hand over his chest and extended his arm as to gesture “go ahead.”