April 8, 2009
G&OD WAR Soldiers of all faiths seek guidance in Iraq By Philip Forgit
It’s only March, but the sanctuary at
MAHAWIL, Iraq
Forward Operating Base Kalsu’s chapel is like a sauna. An air conditioning unit feebly attempts to cool the space, a vinyl tent that feels more like a greenhouse than God’s house for those attending the 10:30 a.m. Protestant service. Brigade Chaplain Maj. Chuck Rizer is I RA Q I V OI C E S an ordained minister Former Rawls in the Evangelical Byrd Elementary Free Church. It’s his school teacher job to ensure reliPhilip Forgit is gious support for sol- embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, diers of all faiths on filming how the the base and patrol war has affected bases it supports. the Iraqi people. The major oversees three Protestant Seventh in a series. services, as well as Roman Catholic Mass, a Gospel service, Jewish and Muslim prayers and services. Even handfuls of Wiccan soldiers have held services in two circles of Bremer or “T” walls arranged for their use Muslim services are led by a Muslim soldier for a small group of U.S. Army soldiers, and a larger gathering of third nation contractors and local nationals. The most well-attended service is the
Father Frantisek Halka prays with Specialist Gimlin at Patrol Base, Mahawil.
Gospel one, which averages 100-plus congregants. With a choir, a band and a full tent, the service has a revival feel. Roman Catholic chaplain, Father Frantisek Halka, delivers Mass six days a week. Rizer also offers Bible studies and classes on Basic Christianity, Marriage Enrichment, and Christian Finance. Batallion chaplains like Father Halka also go out to patrol bases to minister to those not on the main base. “Faith is important to soldiers,” he said. “It is a great multiplier of courage and hope… and I’m helping soldiers, wherever they may be, seek strength in God.” Today his “cathedral” at Patrol Base Mahawil is a morale room. Gym equipment litters the room. Pews are torn, fake black leather sofas normally used for watching TV. Plywood and sandbags fill the windows instead of stained glass, but for Specialist Gimlin, the lone soldier attending Mass, the presence of Father Halka is reassuring. The priest is “someone you can trust, someone you can confide thoughts you might not share with your buddies.” Next to Patrol Base Mahawil lies an Iraqi Army compound. Religious support is also given to soldiers there, although worship is limited to Islam. Corporal Nadhd, religious leader of the mosque,
says it is open to Sunni and Shia sects. This is his only job. It includes maintaining the mosque property, conducting the call for prayer three times a day through a loudspeaker on top of the mosque, providing Quranic counseling and organizing the many celebrations on the Islamic calendar. Today, is the prophet Mohammed’s birthday and the corporal will provide “medahgugeh,” cookies of ground dates and sesame seeds, and fruit juice at the mosque after evening prayers. “I’m here as a religious adviser, to provide spiritual guidance based on the Quran,” says the corporal. Equivalent to a lay leader, when the corporal does not have the answer to soldiers’ questions, he seeks the guidance of Ayatollah Seyid Ali’s offices, which are found throughout the country. The importance of the mosque is stressed by Sgt. Yeh Yeh Kadhom, a medic, who cited Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, the prophet Mohammed’s cousin, and a scion of the Shia faith. “Given the choice of heaven or mosque, I choose the mosque. In heaven, I satisfy myself, but in mosque, I satisfy Allah.” Adds the sergeant, “I feel the same way.” Next — The ruins of Babylon.