Thursday, June 26, 2014
The Battle of Okinawa
In commemoration of the end of 90 days of fighting for control of Okinawa and nearly quarter of a million people who died here, we had a ceremony on 23 JUN, to honor the final day of fighting.
I went to the Peace Prayer Park down near Naha to participate in the USO sponsored event that included General Whistler, the two star general and Caroline Kennedy, the American ambassador to Japan.
I gave both the invocation and benediction.
----------Invocation -----------
Let us pray.
Source of Life,
We stand before You, ashamed. 69 years ago, we failed you. We broke Your trust in us to nurture life and cherish all Your creatures. Instead, we scarred each other, battling over this land, ruining the earth You created.
We ask, that you accept this joint commemoration as a sign of our sincerest apologies for our actions. Standing here together is a testament to how far we have come but we know there is still more damage we must repair.
May You recognize this offering as one given in true faith to continue to mend the hurts we have caused and as You have taught us, there is a time for everything under the sun and we know that now is the time to build back up.
To You we turn for strength and life, Amen.
-----------Benediction ---------------
If you would join me in prayer,
Fountain of Strength,
We ask for Your blessing on this service, as we remembered all the fallen during the Battle of Okinawa. We ask that Your presence bring solace to all the families touched by the destruction we all caused.
We pray that You continue to give us the strength to continue to heal the wounds we inflicted upon each other. Help us to learn from our mistakes, choosing paths that resolve conflict peacefully, as is Your will.
We know that this task is great and we may not see its completion in our lifetime, but we learn from the Sages, ‘Loh Alecha Hamlacha Ligmore, V’Loh Atah Ben Chorin Lebatel Mimenah.”
“Though it is not your responsibility to complete the work, neither are you free from commitment to continue it.”
Give us the strength and courage to stand by these words, as ambassadors of peace and may we see a day when all swords are beaten in plowshares and this world knows not war anymore. Amen.
I went to the Peace Prayer Park down near Naha to participate in the USO sponsored event that included General Whistler, the two star general and Caroline Kennedy, the American ambassador to Japan.
I gave both the invocation and benediction.
----------Invocation -----------
Let us pray.
Source of Life,
We stand before You, ashamed. 69 years ago, we failed you. We broke Your trust in us to nurture life and cherish all Your creatures. Instead, we scarred each other, battling over this land, ruining the earth You created.
We ask, that you accept this joint commemoration as a sign of our sincerest apologies for our actions. Standing here together is a testament to how far we have come but we know there is still more damage we must repair.
May You recognize this offering as one given in true faith to continue to mend the hurts we have caused and as You have taught us, there is a time for everything under the sun and we know that now is the time to build back up.
To You we turn for strength and life, Amen.
-----------Benediction ---------------
If you would join me in prayer,
Fountain of Strength,
We ask for Your blessing on this service, as we remembered all the fallen during the Battle of Okinawa. We ask that Your presence bring solace to all the families touched by the destruction we all caused.
We pray that You continue to give us the strength to continue to heal the wounds we inflicted upon each other. Help us to learn from our mistakes, choosing paths that resolve conflict peacefully, as is Your will.
We know that this task is great and we may not see its completion in our lifetime, but we learn from the Sages, ‘Loh Alecha Hamlacha Ligmore, V’Loh Atah Ben Chorin Lebatel Mimenah.”
“Though it is not your responsibility to complete the work, neither are you free from commitment to continue it.”
Give us the strength and courage to stand by these words, as ambassadors of peace and may we see a day when all swords are beaten in plowshares and this world knows not war anymore. Amen.
You're With Me, Chaps
It's a good day when I come back from CPE training with other chaplains and I am greeted by the Col, saying "What are you doing right now, Chaps?"
"Nothing, Ma'am."
"Well then, get in the car."
"Yes, Ma'am."
And we are off to a meritorious promotion of a Marine who has NO IDEA.
"Nothing, Ma'am."
"Well then, get in the car."
"Yes, Ma'am."
And we are off to a meritorious promotion of a Marine who has NO IDEA.
I Know My Marines
In every section of my BN, there is an ebb and flow.
There are times of the year that are intense and times that are more relaxed.
I know that the people who deal with IDs, moving people's stuff, pay... have a terrible time during PCS season.
So I teamed up with the USO on Foster and threw them a BBQ - indoors because it was raining.
I had games, food, movie, game system, jenga, cornholes ... and just a place for them to relax from the stress they are under for nearly four solid months.
The Marines - the junior Marines, NCOs, Staff NCOs, Officers... everyone got to kick back, be in civies and not have to go back to work after dinner chow.
Sometimes just feeding Marines lifts their spirits up.
I consider this preventative chaplain intervention.
There are times of the year that are intense and times that are more relaxed.
I know that the people who deal with IDs, moving people's stuff, pay... have a terrible time during PCS season.
So I teamed up with the USO on Foster and threw them a BBQ - indoors because it was raining.
I had games, food, movie, game system, jenga, cornholes ... and just a place for them to relax from the stress they are under for nearly four solid months.
The Marines - the junior Marines, NCOs, Staff NCOs, Officers... everyone got to kick back, be in civies and not have to go back to work after dinner chow.
Sometimes just feeding Marines lifts their spirits up.
I consider this preventative chaplain intervention.
The Only Constancy is Change
When I chose to join the military, I knew that it meant my life would be constantly evolving.
You become attached and make deep connections and then, inevitably, you get new orders to different places (we call that PCSing =permanent change of station).
It does not hurt less that we know our friendships have a shelf life and it does not stop us for forming bonds with the people we work with.
In my short time at BN, we have had and continue to have a changeover of all top leadership positions. Losing my Bravo company commander was hard. Losing my Alpha company commander hurt just as much.
I built up a rapport with someone is important in this job and Adam and I worked well together.
I learned a great deal from Captain Disney (no relation, I asked) and grew as a chaplain because of it.
Thank you, Adam, for your time and sharing your expertise.
You become attached and make deep connections and then, inevitably, you get new orders to different places (we call that PCSing =permanent change of station).
It does not hurt less that we know our friendships have a shelf life and it does not stop us for forming bonds with the people we work with.
In my short time at BN, we have had and continue to have a changeover of all top leadership positions. Losing my Bravo company commander was hard. Losing my Alpha company commander hurt just as much.
I built up a rapport with someone is important in this job and Adam and I worked well together.
I learned a great deal from Captain Disney (no relation, I asked) and grew as a chaplain because of it.
Thank you, Adam, for your time and sharing your expertise.
Mini-vacation
I have found that sometimes the job of the chaplain is to tell the boss to take a break.
In her final 20 days as BN commander and camp commander, I convinced her to go with me to Ie Shima Island. Though it is a resort island, we also have a large training facility with only a few Marines to run the program.
Today was a great day to visit. We got to watch a few drops (Marines jumping out of airplanes) and I got to go back aboard ship, even if it was just for a few minutes.
To practice landing aboard a carrier, they have a landing strip in the shape of a carrier flight deck with lights and something to represent the deck as well.
I also got to pay my respects to Ernie Pyle, the journalist who died on Ie Shima during WWII, while covering the battle on Ie Shima (also known as Ie Island).
In her final 20 days as BN commander and camp commander, I convinced her to go with me to Ie Shima Island. Though it is a resort island, we also have a large training facility with only a few Marines to run the program.
Today was a great day to visit. We got to watch a few drops (Marines jumping out of airplanes) and I got to go back aboard ship, even if it was just for a few minutes.
To practice landing aboard a carrier, they have a landing strip in the shape of a carrier flight deck with lights and something to represent the deck as well.
I also got to pay my respects to Ernie Pyle, the journalist who died on Ie Shima during WWII, while covering the battle on Ie Shima (also known as Ie Island).
Getting Help Wherever You Can Find It
Celebrating holidays is a challenge since Jewish holidays do not generally coincide with federal holidays.
And being in Okinawa means that we do not have the same access to ritual items the way we would if we were States-side.
Thank God for those who help us celebrate our festivals in style.
This Shavuot, we got to thank Kosher Troops for sending us some amazing treats!
And being in Okinawa means that we do not have the same access to ritual items the way we would if we were States-side.
Thank God for those who help us celebrate our festivals in style.
This Shavuot, we got to thank Kosher Troops for sending us some amazing treats!
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Understanding Marines
A Marine left his cover in my office.
I picked it up and noticed what was inside.
I thought, "Great! At least he is using protection."
When I joked with him about it, he said, "Ma'am, in the Marine Corps, you never know when you're going to get F&*^ed."
Thank you for the insight, Marine.
I picked it up and noticed what was inside.
I thought, "Great! At least he is using protection."
When I joked with him about it, he said, "Ma'am, in the Marine Corps, you never know when you're going to get F&*^ed."
Thank you for the insight, Marine.
Hidden Waterfalls
I was planning on doing nothing all day, but Kris had a different plan.
She suggested we find this elusive waterfall known as Tataki. You have to hike the river to get there.
Lesson of the day: Sometimes the gems are worth the extra effort.
I wished for a sign that we were going in the right direction and Avrakedavrah, this sign appeared.
We don't know what the sign says. It looks important.
You walk into the river and there's the first and only sign on the hike.
Kris and myself before the hike.
They said the water does not get too deep. They didn't have hobbits in mind when they wrote the description.
An underwater view.
This waterfall is small. We knew this could not have been it.
We made it in one piece with only a few bumps along the way.
We can't stand at the base of the waterfall.
There's a ledge behind the waterfall you can sit on.
Soaking wet, slightly bruised and acting like a tourist.
And leave it to two American Red Cross lifeguard instructors to forget towels.
She suggested we find this elusive waterfall known as Tataki. You have to hike the river to get there.
Lesson of the day: Sometimes the gems are worth the extra effort.
I wished for a sign that we were going in the right direction and Avrakedavrah, this sign appeared.
We don't know what the sign says. It looks important.
You walk into the river and there's the first and only sign on the hike.
Kris and myself before the hike.
They said the water does not get too deep. They didn't have hobbits in mind when they wrote the description.
An underwater view.
This waterfall is small. We knew this could not have been it.
We made it in one piece with only a few bumps along the way.
We can't stand at the base of the waterfall.
There's a ledge behind the waterfall you can sit on.
Soaking wet, slightly bruised and acting like a tourist.
And leave it to two American Red Cross lifeguard instructors to forget towels.
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