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	Dear LCMSNOTES Subscriber:

	In the weeks prior to and during the War in Iraq, a number of
American religion reporters carried on e-mail interviews with LCMS
military chaplains in Kuwait, at U.S. airfields in the region, aboard
aircraft carriers and cruisers, or on the staging island of Diego Garcia
in the Indian Ocean. These interviews were made possible through the
Synods Armed Forces Ministry department and resulted in several stories
in U.S. daily newspapers.

	Communication with LCMS chaplains headed for Iraq came to a halt
when those chaplains crossed the border into that countryuntil last
week, when we received our first contact from inside Iraq from one of
our chaplains: U.S. Army Chaplain (Major) Thomas Waynick.

	Here is the report Chaplain Waynick filed with LCMS Armed Forces
Ministry staff. I share the report with you with his permission.

	Dear Sirs,

	A blessed season of the Resurrection to you!

	It has been an incredible journey here. We crossed the berm
right behind the 3rd ID [Infantry Division] and vicariously participated
in every battle. We battle-tracked by radio, watched our satellite TV,
and could see and hear the fighting nearby. We spent 19 hours on the
side of the road watching the fight for As Samawah. Everywhere we went
were the remains of fierce fighting.

	The war has changed me. I am a different person than I was just
three months ago. My theology has not changed, only deepened and
broadened. War is a testimony to sin and Gods grace in the midst of it.
His power was manifested a million times over in the events of those
days.

	We had one of our chaplains and his assistant in four ambushes
and three mortar attacks in one week. His assistant had to kill to
protect his chaplain. Many of the 3rd ID chaplains have bullet or
shrapnel holes in their HUMVEES, but not one injurySoli Deo Gloria!

	There have been many foxhole conversions as always. I believe
many will stick. I have one chaplain who has baptized about 100.
Everyone seemed to call on the name of the Lord during the first couple
of weeks of warfare.

	Chaplains are having to deal with young soldiers who spent two
weeks killing an enemy that many times was suicidal. Ramming tanks and
Bradleys with Toyota pickups seems stupid, but it was done over and over
again. There was constant small-arms firea chink in our armor. It
required our guys to do a lot of killing in self-defense. American men
have some guilt over that, but they did their duty. They need permission
to grieve. Some saw their buddies killed or wounded. Everyone was
affected in some way and will return home different. We need to honor
them. They will be OK if we do.

	I share a story from one of the soldiers. When they entered
Baghdad there was a terrific firefight in one of the neighborhoods. The
Fedeyeen were using the housetops of civilians to fire on our soldiers.
The next day the community was invited to come and gather loved ones. A
civilian man pulled his dead wife, daughter and infant from the rubble.
He then walked up to the American soldier and said, Thank you for
freeing my country. We Americans take for granted what it costs to be
free and what freedom means.

	This is truly a land of contrasts. I went to one of Saddams
palace villas. Everything was marble, gold trim, and French antiques. He
spent everything the country had on himself and his weapons. In Iraq,
immense wealth and grinding poverty exist side by side.

	The Iraqis have paid a terrible price for their imprisonment.
There are incredible stories of cruelty. If for no other reason than the
moral one, we did the right thing here. Pray that great leaders will
come forth to lead this nation to peace and prosperity.

	Pax Christi,

	CH (MAJ) Tom Waynick
	Strength Through Gods Support
	24th CSG [Combat Support Group], USA

	Editors note: A few weeks before sending this message, Chaplain
Waynick, based in Kuwait at the time, had done several e-mail interviews
with Tom Schaefer, religion editor for the WICHITA EAGLE. Mr. Schaefer,
seeing the above report last week, asked Chaplain Waynick, via e-mail,
to explain his typical day in Iraq and when he was coming home. Here
is Chaplain Waynicks response (again, shared with his permission):

	Dear Tom,

	We do not know yet when we are coming home.

	My typical day still involves staff meetings, Bible study,
counseling and visitation to our soldiers. I have been fortunate to have
a little interaction with the local Iraqis and have enjoyed getting to
know them, their thoughts, hopes and customs.

	For the most part I have been able to keep in touch with my
family. Again, the type of unit I am in has a lot of communication
equipment. Most soldiers dont have that kind of access.

	When I get home I am going to hug the wife and kids, spoil the
dog and take some much needed time to reconnect with family and friends.

	One of the chaplains big jobs is doing reunion briefs, talking
to soldiers about reintegration issues with their families. We have a
chaplain back home doing the same with the family members. I like to
remind soldiers before going home that they need to be honored guests
in their own homes. A guest wouldnt criticize a host, move furniture
around or try to take over someone elses home. Likewise, things have
changed while we were gone and we need to ease back in. Army research
shows that it is about a day-for-day process: If youve been gone six
months, give it six months on the other end. Dont rush things, and
dont try to squeeze all the things youve missed into one weekend.
Issues exist for married and single soldiers alike. We try to cover
those.

	We are working with the combat-stress teams to add a piece about
post-traumatic stress. We want soldiers to be aware of the feelings and
experiences they might have. We want them to be aware of the normal
processes of the human heart when it experiences extraordinary events.
We let them know that if they have troubles, there is help.

	Freedom isnt free and peace comes at a great price. We will all
go home saddened by the loss of so many lives. Those families who lost
loved ones will spend the rest of their lives paying that price. We owe
them all.

	A soldier showed me a letter from a 6th-grade student the other
day. She said, Thanks for making me safe from terror. The war on
terror isnt over, but I like this girls desire to believe that we have
made the world a little safer since 9/11. Our military may be on the
forefront of that battle, but there are many others in government and
out, ordinary citizens who play a part in our great democracy by doing
their jobs, making our country strong and safe. I thank them, because we
have felt their labor, love and prayers in this ordeal.

	CH (MAJ) Thomas C. Waynick

	Editors note: If youd like to see a photo of Chaplain Waynick,
go to this website: www.lcms.org/releasephotos?pw=9925b
<http://www.lcms.org/releasephotos?pw=9925b>

	Thank you.

	David Strand
	Director of Public Affairs
	The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod

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