Iraq-to-Kuwait line hooks up ‘Johnstowners’

BY COL. MIKE GALLAGHER

July 18, 2008 01:15 pm

— The other day I stumbled upon a reference to a Johnstown native, Chaplain Erik Gramling, serving our country in Kuwait.
I contacted him and our concocted dialogue went something like this:
Me: Chaplain, I think the folks want to hear about our adventures in foreign lands. But you’re down in Kuwait – that can’t be too tough.
Chaplain: With all do respect, sir, I’ve heard you are working in Saddam’s Al Faw Palace in Camp Victory. I am very familiar with that palace. I have even sat in Saddam’s throne that was given to him by Yasser Arafat.
In 2006, I took over 100 soldiers on several Blackhawk Helicopter flights to Camp Victory and the Green Zone for a little morale and spiritual relaxation.
We swam in the pool. We ate ice cream and quality KBR meals fit for a general.
I’ll bet you’re living like a king in Al Faw!
Me: Well, that may be so, but I’ve already confessed that I work in a palace to the folks back home. And I admit, we do have the “Ausie pool” here on Victory. With temps hitting 115 degrees, sometimes the troops need a refreshing break.
Chaplain: Ah, yes, an air-conditioned palace, with unlimited ice cream, and, did I mention a pool? Besides it’s 120 here, plus higher humidity because we are on the Gulf.
You haven’t seen hot yet! Not to mention dust and sand.
This place is a dust bowl compared to the paradise of Eastern Iraq where you are!
Me: OK, it’s tougher than I thought.
Why don’t you just tell the folks about your digs?
Chaplain: Well, I work out of a tent, but thank the Lord it is air conditioned. We live in large, open-bay barracks that we call PCBs (precast concrete buildings).
Imagine a long rectangle concrete building without any windows. We strategically place wall lockers to create some privacy. But when you get right down to it, for 15 months, 35 men are living together in one large room.
In fact, there are no windows in my office, either. So I work, and live, and even go to church in buildings with no windows.
I would be shameful to complain though when many of our brave warriors are living in huts without hot chow or AC, as they are “embedded” with the Iraqi Army or in Afghanistan, where conditions are more primitive.
Let’s just admit it, we both have it very comfortable here.
Me: Good point. Our front-line troops have it a lot harder than we do.
We have Marines living in tents in the Jazirah Desert; a patch of shade is a luxury.
Sometimes, I take for granted the little things, like access to running water.
So what do you do when you’re not hanging out in your PCB?
Chaplain: Quite frankly, I think I have the best job in the Army. I care for soldiers and airmen.
The Lord has called me to be a pastor, which I do while also serving my nation. It is an awesome privilege; one I am very thankful for.
My men and women are the drivers and mechanics of the Army’s M915, which is like a regular semi-truck loaded with up-armor. They drive into and out of Iraq. Sometimes, missions last two weeks.
We are the theater’s primary long-distance, line-haul unit, moving equipment, ammo and supplies to all of you serving in Iraq. Something to remember next time you buy something in the PX or enjoy your KBR-cooked steak – it probably was trucked to Baghdad by my warriors.
I ensure the religious freedom of all our troops, and perform or provide ministry directly to them. I try to pray with every convoy before they leave our camp, and I also provide a worship service on Sundays.
I counsel a lot of troops and I also get to do a lot of “ministry by walking around.”
But this calling comes with its hard moments, like consoling grieving warriors that received Red Cross messages, or caring for injured troops. I even had to lead a memorial service for a soldier we lost to an IED in April.
It is a humbling job, one where I am amazed to see the dedication and hard work of so many fine Americans. All of America should be very proud of them and very thankful.
Me: Sounds like you are ministering to their hearts and souls.
You continue to march and take care of our young Americans down there.
God bless you, chaplain.

Marine Corps Col. Mike Gallagher is serving in Iraq and writing an occasional column for The Tribune-Democrat. A native of southern California, Gallagher resided in Johnstown and Windber from 1993 until 2005 while employed by the National Drug Intelligence Center. The viewpoints of this article are those of the author alone, and do not represent any official policy, view or endorsement by the U.S. military.