The Catholic Defender: Trench Warfare

"One particular dream had the greatest impact on me. After a major debate in the room where I took on a number of those attacking the Catholic Church, I went to bed troubled.

I slept hard, but I dreamed that God's Church, the Catholic Church, was dead. I felt such despair, and sadness I began to cry. I felt that the Church was in ruins and that Christ was sheding tears for His Body, the Church.

I never felt such anguish, I cried so much that I woke up out of my sleep totally wet from crying. My pillow, the bed, and the blankets were all wet.

I sat up as it took me a couple of minutes to realize it was a dream. I recalled my Confirmation that took place in Blue Springs Mo on September 23, 1968 by Bishop Sullivan.

I renewed my vows and told the Lord that I will be a soldier for Him. I will not betray Him and leave the Church even when people around me do. I will do my best to remain loyal and stand for Him. A promise that I have tried to keep since 1978".

Since that time I have been graced to have witnessed thousands of conversions. I use to love to read the "Catholic Digest" because it showcased conversion stories.

I think that had a lot on influence on me. I have always felt inspired by the testimonies of those who converted to the Catholic Faith. In the beginning, I was willing to discuss the faith anywhere at anytime. I would have Protestant Ministers come to my home wanting to debate me.

I quickly discovered that there was a huge difference among the Protestant groups, but yet, their attacks on the Catholic faith was what united them. Once I began to discover some of the more popular groups, I began to get a handle on the discussion.

Even now, most Protestants shy away from revealing who they represent because compared to the Catholic Faith, they are very young. I always thought it was wild when a church community would celebrate their 50 or 100 year anniversary. Every Pentecost, the Catholic Faith celebrates her anniversary, we are now 1979 years old.

Since the 1980's the Catholic Church has been recieving some very notable Conversions, one of the most important being Scott Hahn and his wife Kimberly. They have been a great inspiration for me. Tim Staples, Marcus Grodi, and Steve Ray are a very short list converting to the Catholic Faith.

I am so thanbkful that I have been involved in apologetics and watch this movement to the Catholic Faith continue to grow. When I enlisted in to the United States Army, my faith was front and center. In Basic Training, I was given the nickname "Padre" by my Platoon. I was always encouraging people to go to Mass on Sunday.

I became a Eucharistic Minister as early as 1985 when I was stationed at Ft. Stewart Georgia. When we deployed to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, I was commissioned by the Archdiocese to conduct Catholic Communion services. That was an honor I would do until 2007 when the Archdioces of the Military changed their policy on Lay Eucharistic Ministers.

This last deployment to Iraq, I was commissioned by the Archdiocese of the Military to conduct lay liturgy of the Word services. We could lead a service without Communion. I was stationed in Germany, Korea, deployed to Iraq, I have always been involved with the RCIA. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have played such a part serving our Country and the Church.

For many, I was the only church they might see. Alot of them would never have thought to go see a Chaplain, but because of the many discussions, many did go see the Chaplain. This is my encouragement to you. Here at deepertruth, we hope that many will take up their faith and defend it. St Jude writes, "Beloved, being very eager to write to you of our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

We are to take a stand for the Faith, and today, we must because the attack on the Faith is strong. Secularism is running out of control which is weakening the Church. Young people are at risk, our schools are teaching them atheistic philosophy and immorality is everywhere. Those of us in the trenches are fighting on the frontline.

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The Catholic Defender: Frontline

The Church is under attack from every imaginable direction, have you ever seen it to this extent?

I served in the Army and know what it is to be on the frontline, the tip of the spear. This domestic battle is bringing on the frontline right in our own homes, our families, and our nation.

When they come at you with their Pro-Gay Activism, just say no! When they come at you with their Pro-Abortion support, just say no! When they come to steal your children, just say no! Jesus wants us to take a stand for him, so that when the darkness comes in like a flood, just stand up! Say yes to the Lord.

There is still much good we can do if we only take that stand. Just consider this, because of the work of deepertruth, Catholic Answers, Defenders of the Catholic Faith (DCF), Catholics Come Home, and other fine Catholic outreaches, The American Catholic reports that 92,000 fallen Catholics returned back into the Catholic Faith in the Phoenix area. Praise the Lord, Jesus Christ! For that we should all be out there "Tebowing"!!!

I was just watching Fox New and it was reported that the Mayor of Pittsburg, Luke Ravenstahl had to wear a Denver Bronco jersy losing a bet with the Denver mayor. Here he is doing the Tebow prayer prose!

Look at what one man has done when the whole world said he can't? Yes, you can! If your a Mom or Dad dealing with a teenager, take heart and keep the faith!

If your struggling to find a job, do not lose hope, keep the faith! No matter what the obsticle, keep the Faith! Do not give in to the temptation of giving up, realize that we are all in a battle for souls, to include our own. St. Paul writes, "Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in immortality" Ephesians 6:23.

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The Catholic Defender: Day of the Morning Sun

One late night during the summer of 2007, I was abruptly awaken by a Currier with a message that the Battalion Commander wanted to see me ASAP.

I quickly got myself together and made a mad dash to the Battalion Headquarters where the Commander was awaiting.

My Platoon Leader, a young Lieutenant, just went on a 30 day leave so I was acting Platoon Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and because we were short of Medics, I would go out on missions with the Scouts (PSD) and who ever else needed support.

The Battalion had been given a late mission from Brigade coming from Division. It always seemed that we would always have short notice for critical planning, but, sometimes this is the nature of our business. We must be flexible especially in an environment such as in Iraq OIF 2006-2008.

It was my task to provide a plan for Brigade the medical support for an up coming mission that would require a main push of our Battalion assets. All the Company elements will play a role given areas of responsibilities.

This will be a door to door seek and find mission of enemy elements in an area where Americans had not been. This was going to be potentially dangerous. Of course, before I was to present my plan of support for this mission, I would have to give the plan to the Battalion leadership first.

That is a smart move because we all must be on the same sheet of music. Of course, before I shared the plan to Battalion, our Company Commander and First Sergeant wanted to know what my plan was before I did anything.

As you can see, this was very labor intensive and the plan had to be accepted up the chain. I had already a good plan of support at the Company level as my squad leaders were doing a good job keeping me informed of the missions they had been conducting. This upcoming mission was going to be a major push that would require the Division to move forward.

I had to establish a temporary Aid Station to move to a central location not far from the action.

I would have to ensure a good Evac route from all avenues of approach. I would need a good estimate calculating the supplies I would need to have on hand.

I had to ensure that the logistics supporting this mission was all in place. This would have to be briefed to all the leadership and I would be the one to present it.

Everyday there were the meetings, the preparation of the power point presentations. If your act was not together, it would not be good so everyone tried to stay ahead of the program. You are the subject matter expert and you were expected to know the questions and answers before you presented yourself.

You had to know backwards and forwards what your role was and to know what your team leaders of the other sections were doing. In other words, if the Scouts had a mission, I needed to know what it was and how I was going to support them.

I had to know from the point of attack how long it would take an Evacuation Black hawk helicopter to arrive at the scene and then how long it would take to get the casualties back the the green zone. I had the Golden Hour incorporated in the plan.

Whenever there are casualties, if you can get the wounded to the Green zone and on an operating table in an hour, you greatly increase the chance of survival for many of our Soldiers. We have the best Military strategy the world has ever seen and I am proud to have played a major role at the tip of the spear.

During all this stress and daily headaches, I was able to keep up with my commitment to the Rosary Patrol. Prayer has always been my shield especially going out in harms way. All along the way to completion, I presented my plans of action and I was able to answer any and all questions relating to the mission.

I was not usually one of the ones who was held back getting yelled at.

On the morning of the kickoff, I was supporting our Echo Company Elements who was building a JSS in the middle of enemy strongholds. We had three Companies conducting mop up missions which were highly successful.

As we were rolling down the road, we were attacked with small arms fire and IED.

I was riding in a vehicle right behind the hit vehicle. There was a large explosion and the debre, smoke, and dust litterally made it hard to see. The vehicle right in front of me was hit by an IED.

I was the first on the scene with my Aid Bag as the vehicle Commander gave support ensuring that I was protected under fire.

I had two critically wounded Soldiers and I treated their life threatening injuries first and packaged them at the scene.

I made the decision to Evac the wounded by vehicle to the JSS where I had a set Helicopter pad available. This was a short two miles away from point of impact.

I could have called for the evac to come to the location where we were hit, but the terrain was not the ideal place.

As far as the plan went, it was picture perfect. My plan worked as planned and the wounded were on the operating table within 45 minutes.

This showed the Command that we had the right plan in place and I was thankful that the wounded survived. Two of them did have to evac back to the States, but they went home alive.

It was another good day, when we did not lose anyone, that was always a good day. I would receive a Combat badge with a star that would make me the old man in the Battalion.

That is rarely scene, but once in a while you will see someone with the badge with a star. Besides myself, I seen one other but for me the most important thing was no body died.

I look back at this today and I am so thankful to God, I don't know what it would have been like for me without my Catholic Faith. For me, this was more than a healing.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKbCzba31TE&feature=related

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The Catholic Defender: Serving on the Frontline