Yahoo News has a good story today about the role of military chaplains in honoring the sacrifices of servicemen and women who have died in combat. It profiles the experiences of four military chaplains, who've served in Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq. The article is called, "Chaplains Salute Each of the Fallen," and it's linked here. As the article points out, "Military chaplains don't carry weapons, don't engage in combat, and yet they know as well as any the human cost of war," and this "human cost" very much takes its toll, even on those most qualified by their faith, so to speak, to offer comfort and support. Said one chaplain, quoted in the article, with each subsequent death, "you lose part of yourself that you're never going to get back."
Those of us who were raised on M*A*S*H have a probably very skewed view of what chaplains do in wartime, but there's no question that they're a special breed -- needing to be there to offer words of comfort and support to the troops, in the midst of struggling with their own very real grieving over loss.
In related news, congratulations are in order to fellow PTSD blogger, Kathie Costos, for just last week passing the test to become one. With her extensive, 25 years of personal experience caring about combat trauma and its effects on the troops, as well as her personally offering comfort to those who suffer, she should really be one sensational chaplain. Kudos to her for a wonderful accomplishment.
