Granny's cup overfloweth

How would you like to be a young soldier headed to Afghanistan today? Most likely you will be one of the last of the American personnel to be assigned. By presidential decree our U.S. mission to bring peace is to draw to a close, win or lose, in the year 2014. Our politicians will simply declare victory, get out and let the devil take the hindmost.

You feel that your commander in chief is making the decision to withdraw from that fractious country a political move rather than a sound strategic security reckoning. The national defense budget is being drastically cut and one of those changes affecting you is the dried up supply channel. In the Chaplain's words: "For example, recently the Exchange or general store was closed on our base because of the drawdown of troops. Now if Soldiers need anything, they have to buy online and wait 2-3 weeks to receive their purchases, or they can just come see me to pass out items I have from the care packages. Thus our Unit Ministry Team is quickly becoming very popular and everyone is grateful we have these items to distribute. (The Unit Ministry Team consists of the Chaplain and Chaplain's Assistant)" Typical of GI's everywhere is the belief that such ruminations are above your pay grade so you just make the best of what you have.

Such might have been the thoughts of the "Golden Dragons" as they moved into their new nine month home away from home. They found an austere FOB (Forward Operating Base) danger close to the wild Pakistan Border with Afghanistan. But then their unit Chaplain discovers in his makeshift chapel a stack of ten of the large flat rate postal boxes addressed to him. Whoa what is this? On opening his new found treasure he finds the boxes stuffed with packets of baby wipes, candy, video tapes, razors, hand and toe warmers and many other items not available in that God forsaken country. Hark, it has all been sent with love from a community in Southwest Nebraska in an effort coordinated by a lady who calls herself "Grannie Annie."

How to respond and say thanks? Ah it is a modern world; make a short "YouTube" video and send it by email.

The video shows Chaplain Saare and his assistant opening a box or two and talking about the contents. The packets of candy are popular for GI's to give to the little Afghani children encountered on patrol. The hope is that if the children love the GI's then their parents will also look kindly on the Americans. Safety.

Another comment was that the baby wipes were really appreciated due to water shortages in some locations forcing our warriors to go a week or two without a shower. Unthinkable for us but a way of life for them. Found in Grannie's boxes and really appreciated were the large quantities of hand and toe chemical warmers familiar to outdoor sportsmen in this area. Their FOB sits at 7800 feet in altitude and the weather is c-o-l-d this time of year. Imagine being in an open air guard post holding a weapon and keeping a lookout especially at night. Definitely appreciated!

Grannie Annie was thrilled. Finally a Chaplain who corresponds with her. One that says thanks for her efforts and answers back with what his troops need.

Adopt-a-Chaplain is a unique ministry founded by former pastor Ben Ferguson in San Jose, California some eight years ago. Ben's words: "Adopt-a-Chaplain is a Christ-centered ministry that is dedicated to supporting our troops through the ministries of chaplains. By adopting chaplains and their families, we pray for and communicate with them regularly. We send care packages to chaplains serving in the Middle East and they distribute the items to our troops."

This old veteran of a different war in another faraway place sees it this way. The superb young soldiers of today raised in a far more secular society find themselves trapped in a hell hole far far from home. Brave and bold on the outside but scared on the inside. No they don't need to talk to a Chaplain, nah they can just man it out. But then word gets out that the Chaplain has a stash of chocolate or hand warmers or ????. Why not slip into the Chapel, pick up something that reminds of home and safety? Then the friendly Chaplain strikes up a conversation and it becomes okay to express your not so manly inner thoughts and fears. Faith in God is a good thing!

Grannie Annie has been affiliated with the organization for seven years and has sent to locations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Those Chaplains receiving her largess are looked on as her family. And it is not a selfish ministry; Grannie Annie's enthusiasm has drawn in her church congregation to help, other local organizations and business in the community plus many friends and neighbors. Donations (Adopt-a-Chaplain is 501c(3) compliant) have come from individuals from Texas to Michigan and South Carolina to California. Unusual was a substantial unsolicited check that she received in the mail from a gentleman in Florida whose son had returned from one of the remote locations she had earlier sent boxes.

Typically, Grannie Annie was overcome with tears as she watched Chaplain Saare's short video of appreciation. She insists that it isn't her it is you and you in the community sharing in the love that deserve the thanks. You are Grannie Annie's Angels.

That is the way I saw it.

Dick Trail