Last year I wrote
a feature article that also ran as a column in
several newspapers about Captain Kevin Winemiller, an
Army Reservist serving as a chaplain on a one-year tour
of duty in Afghanistan. Based in Camp Phoenix in Kabul,
his role was to make trips to undisclosed forward
operating positions to provide spiritual
guidance—comfort and counseling—to our over-stressed
GIs.
Today, God-willing (and
the Army not making any last minute changes in his
schedule) Captain Winemiller will leave Kabul for the
long trip home to be with his family in North Carolina.
I thought I would share
with you the speech he gave at his going away dinner on
June 28 at Camp Phoenix. It is a balanced view of what
we all know is an ugly situation—no one wants to see our
men and women placed in harm’s way.
Yet, while being a
realistic assessment of war and what is entailed leaving
home and all that is familiar, Capt. Winemiller’s words
reflect a spirit of thankfulness for America and for the
privilege of serving in our armed forces.
“What was it like in
Afghanistan? If you must ask that question you would not
understand the answer. Only those who have been there
experiencing similar events can truly know. It
was…exciting, very lonely, a great opportunity to
stretch my faith and learn what is most important.
It was a sad place
where people I served with died and will not be going
home alive; a place where I spoke to soldiers who had
taken the life of another human being, where I stood
beside the dead and where I counseled brokenhearted
soldiers who experienced trauma that will stay with them
for a lifetime.
Afghanistan is an empty
barren place where one longs for the smell of greenery
from home, which for me means North Carolina.
I was fearful as mortar
rockets fell and shook the ground awakening me from
sleep. I am tired of wearing heavy body armor. I am
longing to hold my wife and children. I am yearning to
plant my garden (albeit late.)
I am looking forward to
driving my 1964 Ford pickup truck with the windows down
and pulling into Sonic with my children and placing an
order. I am looking forward to waiting for 5:30 p.m.,
not 1730 every day at home to watch “The Andy Griffith
Show.”
I can’t wait to lay on
my King size bed and sleep on my contour pillow. I am
planning to relax in my Jacuzzi, looking forward to
attending my home church instead of Army Chapel and
ready to go…ready to go…ready to put my uniform away in
my duffle bag until my country calls on me again.
I am thankful that I
have all the members of my body—thankful to be a
survivor. I am never planning to forget those who I
served with here in Afghanistan.
But most of all, I am
blessed to have served our great country.”
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