Monthly Archives: September 2010

Suicide isn’t Painless: The Epidemic of Suicide in the Military

I leave the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Virginia tomorrow and toward the end of October report as the Command Chaplain for Naval Hospital Camp LeJeune North Carolina. My last time at Camp LeJeune was as part of the Portsmouth SPRINT … Continue reading

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Filed under healthcare, iraq,afghanistan, Military, Pastoral Care, PTSD

Fighting a World Wide Insurgency: The Problem Fighting Revolutionary Terrorists and Insurgents- Part One

Taliban Insurgents “Warfare is now an interlocking system of actions political, economic, psychological; military that aims at the overthrow of the established authority in a country and its replacement by another regime.  To achieve this end, the aggressor tries to … Continue reading

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Filed under counterinsurency in afghanistan, History, iraq,afghanistan, Military, national security, Politics

Passages: Thoughts on My Last Week at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

“Andre Dawson has a bruised knee and is listed as day-to-day. Aren’t we all?” Vin Scully “It’s a mere moment in a man’s life between an All-Star Game and an Old-timers’ Game.” Vin Scully “The oldest pitcher acquires confidence in his ball … Continue reading

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Filed under Baseball, Military, Pastoral Care, philosophy, PTSD, remembering friends, US Navy

Padre Steve’s Flashback to Early Contemporary Christian Music

Me, top row 3rd from right with Continental Singers Tour G 1979 at Mount Rushmore I became an active Christian a few years after what is now called ContemporaryChristian Music came on the scene.  Back then it was simple called … Continue reading

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Filed under christian life, faith, music

“I have not yet begun to Fight!” John Paul Jones and the Battle of Flamborough Head

Battle off Flamborough Head September 23rd 1779 Two hundred thirty one years ago today a small naval battle occurred off the coast of Yorkshire England. From a purely military perspective the battle was rather insignificant. A squadron of five American … Continue reading

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Filed under History, Military, Navy Ships, US Navy

Faith Journey’s: Why I am Still a Christian

There are many times that I totally empathize with author Anne Rice in saying that she has left Christianity yet still has faith in Christ.  For Rice it was the lack of love shown by the institutional church for people … Continue reading

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Filed under faith, philosophy, Religion

Raw Edges: Are there other Chaplains out there Like Me?

Before a Convoy The past week or so I have had to go back and revisit my Iraq experience. Part of this is due to work, we have had seminars on the spiritual and moral affects of trauma, the challenge … Continue reading

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Filed under faith, iraq,afghanistan, Military, Pastoral Care, philosophy, PTSD, Religion, Tour in Iraq, US Navy

Pennant Races: Padre Steve Picks the Winners…Maybe

I love all things baseball as the Deity tends to speak to me through this most spiritual of games.  I can’t get around it I am mesmerized by the diamond and the nuances of the game, the sights, sounds, smells, … Continue reading

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Iconic and Heroic: The Fletcher Class Destroyers

The USS Fletcher DD-445 If ever a class of warships can define a ship type the destroyers of the Fletcher Class were that. The most numerous of all United States Navy destroyer classes the Navy commissioned 175 of these ships … Continue reading

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Filed under History, Navy Ships, US Navy, world war two in the pacific

Save the USS Olympia!

I am a historian and for that matter to be more specific a military historian.  I have had a very busy week in “real life” but I saw a couple of articles last week about the cruiser USS Olympia.  It … Continue reading

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Filed under History, Military, Navy Ships, US Navy