A U.S. Army Chaplain, Deployed In His Own Country, Honors Pandemic Victims

As an Army chaplain, Maj. Ivan Arreguin has seen many overseas deployments during his military career. But earlier this year, his medical unit, along with others, were deployed to New York City during the height of the area's coronavirus pandemic.

Using StoryCorps Connect last week, Ivan told his wife Aileen about what it was like to be stationed in New York City from April to June.

"I remember nurses, doctors just began crying, saying 'Thank you for coming,' " he recalled. "They were working long hours, dealing with so much death. They would pull me aside as I would make my rounds and I would listen to them and then pray for their strength."

Ivan was stationed at the Javits Center in Manhattan but also visited other hospital sites in the area and in the Bronx, where he provided medical and pastoral care.

In his role as brigade chaplain Ivan supervised three other chaplains and religious support teams in the city.