7-year-old boy. The hospital commander
escorted me to the back of the ER where
the body of the boy lay; he was dead on
Moran Named to Vital New Position
arrival. A nurse was with him. She
motioned for me to come in. I could tell
she was affected. I reached out and closed
C
HAPLAIN (COL.) DAVID C. MORAN has been selected to serve as the first direc-
tor of Soldier and Family Ministry for the U.S. Army. In this position, Moran will
advise the chief of chaplains and develop policy and doctrine that will shape
the eyes of his small pale face. I placed
the future of the Army chaplaincy’s effort to better minister to soldiers and families fac-
my hand on his forehead and prayed a
ing the challenges of divorce, suicide, sexual assault, post-traumatic stress, grief, and
simple prayer asking God to receive him,
spiritual care.
remembering the words of Jesus, “Let the
Chaplain Moran was reared in an
little children come to Me, and do not
Army family, the son of an infantry offi-
forbid them; for of such is the kingdom
cer who twice served in Vietnam before
of heaven” (Matthew 19:14, NKJV).
retiring as a colonel after 23 years. He
As I was walking out I noticed that one
met and married Cindy Neal in 1979
of the female translators/soldiers was in
while attending Wheaton College; her
tears. I asked her to come and talk in the
father was a government service engi-
chaplain’s office. She said that, as a Mus-
neer who worked for NASA and the Air
lim, she was having a hard time dealing
Force in the Philippines. Each came to
with Muslims killing each other and hav-
faith in Christ before college and, after
ing to report the death of a wife and son
meeting, knew they would one day
to the husband. I listened to her talk; after
minister through the Army chaplaincy.
a while, she was ready to return to duty.
David and Cindy have faithfully
Back at my home station in San Anto-
served the Army for 23 years, including
nio, Texas, civilian trauma and death was
stints in Iraq, Somalia, and Germany.
a daily event at Wilford Hall Medical Cen-
David has also served as director of a
ter. What I had not experienced was the
family-life training center where he
death of an active-duty member just
trained chaplains in a master’s of science
injured during combat. But now I was
program. He is completing his third
called to the ICU to be with the staff as
master’s degree, this one in strategic
they withdrew care from a 22-year-old sol-
studies at the U.S. Army War College.
dier hit by an improvised explosive device.
He had been rushed into surgery, and his
head wound had been closed. When I prayer. The command was given to “pre- to a place of worship or to the chaplain’s
arrived, the room was full of medical per- sent arms” (raise a salute). The flag detail office. In this environment, chaplains
sonnel, including the hospital comman- unfolded the flag over the body, draped don’t have to go out looking for the
der. I tried to gather some facts and then the flag down over the body, and tucked “sheep”; we are already in their midst by
moved to the head of the bed. The soldier it under the body bag. The command was the nature of the role. Some soldiers have
had suffered an injury that had completely given to “order arms” (drop salute); then preexisting marital problems, others have
severed his brain stem. He had no chance the remains were transported to the unresolved grief, and some want to
of survival. I stayed with the staff around morgue, and we were dismissed. mature in their faith through baptism or
his bed until he died. spiritual-formation classes.
Whenever a member dies in the hos-
Foxhole Religion?
Critics say these soldiers are interested
pital, we perform a ceremony called a I jokingly say to people, “I love hospi- in religion only because of their crisis sit-
“patriot detail” to honor the dead before tal ministry because in the hospital at uation. My reply is that in spite of crisis
sending their remains to the morgue. So, least the patients know they are sick.” (of life or faith) and the environment, the
we all assembled in the ER. High-ranking The same might be said about ministry in Gospel message, communal worship, and
leaders and the medical staff lined the a war zone. In this environment, people ministry are carried out. We truly “sing
wall. Then the room was called to atten- are separated from loved ones; they are the Lord’s song in a strange land” (Psalm
tion. The soldier’s remains, now in a isolated from many of the distractions of 137:4).
body bag, were wheeled in by the trans- the world and the freedom of movement;
port detail. Next, a flag detail followed they are constantly reminded of their Chaplain (Maj.) Eddie Jones
and stood at both ends of the body. I mortality. Many find themselves more and his wife, Wilhelmina, live
stepped forward, said a few words in introspective as they reflect on their spiri- in San Antonio, Texas, where
honor of the fallen soldier, read the tual being and personal relationships. he is stationed at Wilford Hall
Twenty-third Psalm, and offered a brief Their inward reflection often leads them Medical Center (Lackland AFB).
EVANGEL • AUG 2009 17
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