Soldiers find strength in faith

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 22, 2008

Men in the military are often away from family, friends and their Catholic community - especially when deployed overseas.

In combat situations faith can help see the soldiers through.

Depending on where a soldier is stationed, weekly Mass may or may not be offered and access to a chaplain on a regular basis may also be limited. Whether or not they attend regular services, faith often plays a major role.

Ramon Alcaraz, a parishioner at St. Boniface in Sioux City, said there were not enough chaplains or priests available where he was stationed. He is part of the U.S. Navy as a construction mechanic.

He most recently served six months in Iraq and returned home to his family at the end of March. He said being back is good but has taken time to get used to since it is a "different life over there."

While serving, his faith helped him through the days.

"We do whatever we can," said Alcaraz. "I was in a place where I never saw a priest until I got back to Kuwait."

The soldiers were able to attend services, but Communion was not available. He liked attending the services, but he wishes there were more priests available for Masses. In each camp, there was a chapel for him to go to pray.

"Faith keeps you motivated. If you believe in something, it keeps you occupied," he said. "To me the faith kept me alive. For me it is important to have something to believe in."

Alcaraz prayed each night before going to sleep and usually tried to pray the rosary.

Denison St. Rose of Lima parishioner, Richard Bockelmann, returned a few weeks ago from a year of service at Camp Slayer, part of the Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, Iraq. He came home to his wife Cheryl.

This was his third tour of duty. In 2004 and 2005, he was in Afghanistan, so this wasn't the first time he was away from home.

"I am glad that I served my country," said Bockelmann, who is an E-7 Sergeant First Class in the infantry division of the U.S. Army. "It is always great to be home."

He said his faith gives him strength when he goes out on missions. His faith helps him get through the day, especially when he is missing family.

"Faith helps with your purpose of being there," said the soldier. "It helps with your attitude toward what you are doing. You are there for a reason."

Where he was stationed, he had access to a chaplain once a week, as well as weekend services - if the times worked with his schedule. If anyone had problems, the chaplain was on hand to assist.

"Being the rank that I am, I have a lot of soldiers underneath me," said Bockelmann. "Sometimes you don't come up with the right words or don't understand how to talk to people about things at home. It made things simpler to have a chaplain."

When he was in Afghanistan, he had to relay Red Cross messages such as injury or death notification himself since chaplains weren't always available. He said he felt more comfortable when there was a chaplain available.

David Schrunk, a parishioner at St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson, returned from a tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 30. In his case, Mass was available weekly and a priest chaplain was on hand if and when he or someone else needed to talk.

"If I was having a bad day or something was going on back home that I couldn't handle, I would go to the chaplain and he would let me talk about it," said Schrunk, who is a member of the Iowa National Guard infantry division. "He let me get the anger or grief off my chest."

He said it is important to have chaplains on hand, especially when things are going on "back home" that a soldier can do nothing about. The priest in some cases can also help a soldier find a way home at a time of emergency.