Can you describe the most unique chaplain you have ever encountered? No names please.

SMSgt Tony Barnes — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:09:04 -0400

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 12 at 2015 5:12 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:12:11 -0400

I will name names. He is now passed but I had the high honor of knowing Rabbi Irving Peskin. He was a kind gentle man and a dear friend

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 5:12 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:12:56 -0400

Had one that was assigned to a unit I was in that would go through the squadron spending a few days at a time with each workcenter. He actually went out with us to work, getting dirty alongside us. The only chaplain I have known that was willing to do this.

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Aug 12 at 2015 5:34 PM

CH (CPT) Heather Davis — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:34:36 -0400

The most unique chaplain started off in the ranks from E-1 to E-8 and became a 2LT Chaplain Candidate went all the way to LTC. He was my Chaplain while I was deployed. My nephew committed suicide and God put him in my path to pull me through my heart break!!

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Aug 12 at 2015 5:52 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:52:50 -0400

I served with the same chaplain twice during my career. I was a young E4 the first time and he was a Captain. Every time we were in the field he made at least one visit to each and every site. I ran a non-directional beacon at the time and more often than not my 3 man team was gone while the rest of the company was in Garrison. But you could bet the Chaplain would find us....
Second time I was a Plt Sgt and he was a LTC. The man still made it out to all my signal sites, Mine and the rest of the Battalions.... The stories this man would tell....I can remember him sitting in a foxhole just swapping stories with the privates, or sitting in a RATT rig during a midnight shift....

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 12 at 2015 6:22 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:22:05 -0400

My Chaplain at MCT was what could only be described as "older than dirt." When you see a Navy Chaplain with a single silver bar (LtJG) and a Cross, who is obviously in his mid 50s (at least), it makes you wonder what the heck is going on.

Apparently he had a successful ministry, and retired, and decided he wanted to Serve. At that point, there wasn't the same age restriction in the Chaplain Corps as the rest of the military, so he joined up. Next thing you know we have this hard charging Chaplain out in the field with us. He looked as weathered then as Clint Eastwood does now.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 6:38 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:38:13 -0400

We had a Catholic Chaplain who looked like he just got out of a biker bar. Saw him every morning at PT and literally the only thing he did was tire flips. Really good guy who connected well with the Soldiers.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Aug 12 at 2015 7:25 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:25:02 -0400

LCDR Sean "McSweeney" - Hellova character: He'd walk through the ranks during morning formation ID'ing the lads who he'd run into in "last nights" bars. He'd often need a ride back from liberty calls with two Marines for crutches and a guide dog to see. We'd be setting up defensive perimeters... and he'd be walking outside of them trying to find a "local" to convert. Saw him chew up some youngsters for stuff as simple as rolling their eyes at a senior. Would grab a shovel and help fill sand bags. Played golf with the NCO's and the Colonel's alike. If you missed Sunday Mass, he'd go find you... and your platoon for "remedial." Every single kid that went to see him with complaints against their leadership returned a "born again" Marine. If he's still alive, I'd love to have (another) beer with him!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 7:26 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:26:40 -0400

At my last battalion, I never got to know our new chaplain as I moved soon after he got there, however, I did get to meet him. I also did ask how he came to be a chaplain, as he's the only one I've ever seen with a combat infantryman's badge. I have a feeling he's a great chaplain!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 12 at 2015 8:48 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 20:48:18 -0400

I had a funny Chaplain. For some reason we were talking about peeing and we were disclosing peeing stories. He said once he peed on a tree only to find a sleeping soldier. He said he took off rather quickly lol.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Aug 12 at 2015 8:53 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 20:53:30 -0400

The chaplain assigned to William Beaumont army medical center some time between 1994-1998 had an sf tab and combat patch, master parachute badge, cmb and navy seal and air assault badges, he was a CPT

Response by SGT Michael Schmiesing made Feb 6 at 2018 7:02 PM

SGT Michael Schmiesing — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:02:32 -0500

I myself have served with a Catholic priest. I'm not a Catholic, but I'll go to the gates of hell for him and win the day. He had the ability to love everyone in any place or situation. He had a true gift of an ability to reach anyone in anyplace. I went to a war zone with him. He reached thousands of troupes in the UN who had no chaplain. The Russians really loved him, he loves them first. Unless you see it with yourown eyes, I don't think you can really understand how much I loved him like everyone else does too. A four star general came to our Chapel just to meet le and father. So chip call me, I have a four star coin. Once I forgot my duty time and failed father, he never said anything about it. I was soul sick that I failed him. Because he did my duty for me. I have never been able to shake it off. That was over 36 years ago. We were the first unit under UN control. So yes we where the first, we really did lead the way. I'm proud to have served Father, and served the US Army in the United Nation with a great man.