Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq and Afghanistan

by Jane Hampton Cook

  “One little girl used to run up and jump into my arms,” said Gessner. “There was never a loss for helpers to unload the trucks. One of the things that fascinated the kids was digital cameras. They could see the images immediately and the following week we would bring back copies of the photos we took.” Some of the female staff members allowed the Americans to take their pictures, a very rare opportunity and honor in a Muslim country.

  “When the Taliban or other terrorist groups return to recruit young people for their evil plans, I suspect the kids will remember the American soldier who brought those blankets, food, and kindness,” said Gessner.

  Prayer:

  Lord, help me earn a reputation that is pleasing, honoring, and glorifying to you.

  “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

  June 26

  HOME IMPROVEMENTS

  Col. John Gessner, Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan (2002)

  The donations of clothing and toys were only the beginning. In the next three months the Americans rebuilt the orphanage kitchen, replaced the missing windows, provided funds for food, and purchased new kitchen utensils, cookware. and a one-month supply of firewood.

  Not only was the staff thrilled, but the interpreter was so impressed at the support given to the children of his country that he purchased a one hundred-pound bag of rice for the orphanage.

  Gessner turned over some of the cash he had received to a non-governmental organization (NGO) called the Knights of Malta, who developed a menu and purchased food for the orphanage on a weekly basis. “Rather than buying in bulk, this reduced the possibility of loss, waste or diversion of the food intended for the orphanage,” said Gessner. “The Knights of Malta also outfitted three school rooms with desks, chalkboards and other supplies once we had repaired them.”

  With no water in the orphanage, the kids and staff walked to a nearby irrigation ditch and brought the water in by buckets. One day, while standing in the orphanage, Gessner noticed water running in through the back gate. The owner of the next property had already drilled through the dike and water was running freely on to his property.

  “I asked the owner if we could put a spigot on the end of his pipe and let us run a water line into the orphanage,” Gessner said. “He agreed and with a few hours work by the plumbers, the orphanage had running water for cooking and personal hygiene.”

  Several of the rooms in the orphanage had collapsed roofs and the windows and doors were knocked out. A local Afghan contractor initially asked for $4,000 to do the job but when Gessner told him he only had $1,000 to spend, he agreed to rebuild the rooms at that price for the kids. “It was one of the easiest contract negotiations I’d ever done,” said Gessner. A few weeks later, the rooms were ready.

  “You Americans are nothing like they [Taliban and Al Qaeda] said you were,” the staff told Gessner. Then they placed their hands over their hearts and nodded in a gesture of respect.

  “When we saw this,” said Gessner, “we knew we had made an impression.”

  Prayer:

  Lord, help me find joy in meeting the needs of others in your name.

  “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

  June 27

  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

  Col. John Gessner, Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan (2002)

  “Great catch! Throw it here now, right here!”

  On Sunday afternoons outside the orphanage in Charikar, English and Afghan voices rang in the air together as American soldiers and Afghan orphans played Frisbee, speaking and yelling in two different languages but laughing in the same. These times of interaction quickly became the highlight of the week for both soldiers and orphans.

  While most of the conversation with the orphanage staff was through our Afghan interpreters, the soldiers interacted with the kids more through actions. “We communicated with hugs, smiles, or kicking a soccer ball,” said Gessner. “Most of the kids just wanted to hang around us. Of course, having a pocket full of candy was always a help. The kids were always well-behaved.”

  When Gessner’s unit passed out the stuffed animals, they took the opportunity to try to teach the English names to the kids. “In one case, they were having trouble with the word ‘gorilla’ so we settled on ‘monkey.’ The digital cameras were another great hit with the kids. For group photos, they liked passing around and wearing our hats.”

  Most of the children had picked out their favorite soldiers by the fourth week of the visits, though not everyone. One little girl didn’t smile much despite the stuffed animals, candy, digital cameras, Frisbee, and soccer games. Gessner decided to make it his personal mission to brighten her day.

  “I tried everything that worked with my own kids, including funny faces and wearing my hat backwards,” said Gessner. “I even showed her how to smile by pushing the corners of my mouth up with my fingers. She did the same thing. After all of that, it was time to take the gloves off so I dove in amongst the girls and turned it into a tickle-fest. The smiles and laugher came out. Mission accomplished.”

  Prayer:

  Lord, help me make it a priority to bring joy to those around me.

  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

  June 28

  MOUNTAIN SUPPLY RUN

  Col. John Gessner, Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan, 2002

  “Colonel, we’ve found about three hundred orphans sleeping in the caves in the mountains,” an officer told Gessner. It was mid-December 2002, and Gessner’s unit was just about to redeploy and leave Bagram Air Base and the nearby orphanage in Afghanistan.

  The Americans discovered the children while on a military mission in Bamian, the area of the caves. The aviation unit told Gessner that they were flying a mission to this area and wanted to bring along some relief supplies.

  “So we made a shopping list of blankets, food, and coats,” recalled Gessner. “We estimated about two thousand dollars worth. The head of the aviation unit almost flipped when I pulled two thousand dollars from my pocket and handed it to him the last of the donations we had collected for the orphans.”

  The materials were purchased in the capital city of Kabul, which was experiencing a rebirth at the time. “Once the Taliban and Al Qaeda departed, the city came alive again,” said Gessner. General Tommy Franks commented in his book about all of the city and street noise by saying it sounded like freedom. Restaurants, stores, and businesses began to reopen in the city.

  A few weeks later, the helicopters flew to the mountains; it must have been close to Christmas time. When they landed, it was snowing. This year it must have seemed as though Santa’s sleigh had been traded in for a U.S. Army helicopter. From the back of the helicopter ramp, the soldiers began passing out coats and blankets to the kids.

  The “elves” who were responsible for providing the gifts for these orphans and those in Charikar were citizens, schools, churches, organizations, and clubs hailing from Illinois, Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., and as far away as Germany. Those who donated for the cause of these Afghan orphans may never know the extent of the impact their gifts had on these children (and other Afghan adult observers). But the kids will very likely remember the Americans in uniform who put down their weapons to make their winters a little warmer and their bellies a little fuller.

  Prayer:

  Lord, keep me ever mindful of those less fortunate than I am, and show me how to defend them.

  “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.” (Psalm 82:3)

  June 29

  SOLDIERS AND ORPHANS

  Col. Jim Powers, U.S. Army (Ret.); Kiwanis Club Webmaster, Rockford, Illinois

  When Jim Powers, past-president and Webmaster for the Rock Valley Kiwanis Club in Rockford, Illinois, heard from Col. John Gessner about the needs of orphans in Afghanistan, he
jumped at the chance to mobilize help by soliciting donations. It wouldn’t be the first time he had lent a helping hand to the children of a combat zone.

  Powers’ first experience with homeless children and orphans came during his first tour in Viet Nam (1967–68). After sending pictures and writing to the parishioners at St. Patrick’s Church, Rockford, about displaced war refugees in Saigon, support poured in. Day after day, packages arrived (clothing, supplies, toys), sometimes completely filling his office.

  Three months into his tour, Powers was transferred to Cat Lai, in a rural area about fifteen miles east of Saigon, where the members of his battalion took up a support role with a nearby orphanage. They worked off-hours on construction, played with children, and provided care packages from home.

  “It seemed like an automatic response to their needs, such that it would have been unimaginable to not help,” said Powers. “We have so much in our great country, and when soldiers go to a foreign land and witness so many with so little, it is a natural match. Also, I believe the helping behavior helps soldiers cope with the pain of being separated from loved ones back home.”

  Creating a website announcing the needs of the Afghan children was a natural both for Powers and for the Kiwanis Club, whose main focus is children. “If Americans are made aware of needs, particularly those of helpless children, they will pitch in. They need to be given information about the needs (the Internet being a perfect format) and then given the methods by which they can plug in. For me, the actions by all those who donated time, goods, energy and/or money demonstrated the wisdom of the late Mother Theresa: ‘We don’t have to do great things only small things with great love.’” The donations collected through Power’s efforts totaled thousands of dollars and hundreds of boxes of goods.

  Prayer:

  Lord, show me how I can help the needy in my own community.

  “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31)

  June 30

  READY TO GO, READY TO STAY

  Spec. Joe Olsen, U.S. Military Police, Iraq (2003–2004)

  I signed up for the National Guard to pay for college. Not to go to war.

  September 11, 2001, however, swept away all hope of being able to serve my years with the Guard peacefully.

  Watching the news unfold on the television, my heart sank, and my stomach turned. This changed everything. Even as a soldier, war was not a reality to me until that day. But in that instant, the possibility of me going to war became inevitable.

  My friends told me I wouldn’t go anywhere. They were sure I wouldn’t be pulled out of college, but I wasn’t convinced. From that point on, I no longer could relate to my friends the same way I used to. They did not have to face what I was facing. Their lives would go on as scheduled, virtually unaffected by this act of terror. I had that sick feeling that as long as I was still in the military I would run a very high risk of getting deployed.

  For the next year and a half my unit was regularly told that it was not a matter of if we would be deployed somewhere but when.

  The stakes began to rise. By March 1, 2003, activation was now a certainty. If the United States went to war with Iraq, then my unit would go in after the major combat mission was over and stabilize the country. Between September 11, 2001, and the time I was activated, I lived one day at a time: ready to go, yet ready to stay.

  When the call came for my unit to be activated, I adopted Psalm 91 as my own. When I did, I immediately surrendered my fears to the Lord and in return, accepted the peace that surpasses all understanding, believing that he truly would deliver me from the snare of the fowler, the perilous pestilence, and any other harm from the enemy.

  When I was twenty-one years old, I traded in my college textbooks and gym shoes for combat boots and weapons of war.

  Prayer:

  Lord, help me be ready to stay on this earth and live for you and ready to join you in heaven as I live day by day.

  “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)

  July 1

  WORLDS APART

  Spec. Joe Olsen, U.S. Military Police, Iraq (2003–2004)

  Less than four weeks after marrying Stephanie in the base chapel at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, it was time to deploy. Saying goodbye to Stephanie was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. However, I believed that God’s protection not only covered me but also my wife back home and our marriage. I believed I would come home safely someday, and that Stephanie would be there waiting for me when I finally did get home.

  After the goodbye, I set foot on the plane to Kuwait and set aside thoughts of danger in order to think about the adventure that lay ahead. I had the chance to sit in the cockpit with the pilots from time to time on the way to JFK airport in New York. Just before landing the pilot pointed out Ground Zero to me, certainly reminding me of why I was doing what I was doing.

  As I was enroute to the Middle East, my wife was in cap and gown, marching to “Pomp and Circumstance” before being handed her college degree at her graduation ceremony. While at a layover at JFK, I called my cell phone, that was being held by my mother-in-law. I heard Stephanie’s name called as she walked across the stage. It wasn’t the same as being there in person, but at least I could be part of it in that small way.

  The next day, upon stepping off the plane, the desert heat was almost unbearable. As soon as my boots hit the ground, I could feel my skin prickle with sweat and my mouth go dry and we weren’t even under the pressure of combat. I could not imagine being able to survive it but knew I had no choice.

  Meanwhile, back in Tennessee, Stephanie woke up to a suffocating emptiness. She could not imagine being able to survive that ache of loneliness, either, but knew she had no choice. Just days ago, we had been together, a complete unit. Now we were worlds apart and digging in for the long road ahead.

  Prayer:

  Lord, remind me of your presence and grant me your peace today.

  “‘The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you… and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24–26)

  Spec. Joe and Stephanie Olsen on their wedding day, less than four weeks before Joe’s deployment to Iraq in 2003

  July 2

  GOD WITH US

  Spec. Joe Olsen, U.S. Military Police, Iraq (2003–2004)

  After a month and a half in Kuwait, we drove into the war zone that was Iraq, not stopping until we reached Baghdad. At each of these milestone steps, the need for protection that only God could provide became more and more urgent.

  Following the initial invasion and downfall of Saddam, Iraq had no civil government, no police force, and no local military. Moreover, there were still Saddam loyalists along with Al Qaeda supporters in Iraq taking shape. Between roadside bombs, sniper fire, and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), the situation we faced became far greater than the danger we originally expected.

  Driving into Iraq was an unforgettable experience. We drove through rural villages plagued by poverty. From young boys to grown men, they all greeted us as heroes and called us friend. As we approached Baghdad, we began seeing signs of war. Abandoned or burned out military vehicles were seen frequently. Although I never felt any immediate danger on this trip, I will never in this lifetime know what dangers I may have been in on this convoy or any other.

  When we reached our destination, the first thing we noticed was the constant sound of random gunfire off in the distance. On the night that Uday and Qsay Hussein were killed, the Iraqis celebrated by random gunfire, straight into the air, landing anywhere, including into our camp. As time went on, mortar and RPG fire added to the dangers.

  Every night that I made it safely to bed, I gave thanks to God for his protection. We were all well aware of the fact that when we left camp that we were not guaranteed to return alive. We were not even guaranteed safety inside our camp. At any moment, anyone’s
“number could be called” and we would be standing before our Maker.

  For most people, this is where their faith either stopped or became compromised. But I had a quiet confidence from God: in a far away land that was permeated with evil, God was present in a very real way with me. He truly was Immanuel God with us.

  Prayer:

  Lord, protect not just my physical well-being but my mind, heart and spirit as well.

  “He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.” (Joshua 24:17b)

  July 3

  CLOSE CALLS

  Spec. Joe Olsen, U.S. Military Police, Iraq (2003–2004)

  “A year? Twelve months? You’re kidding, right?” I had to make sure the news I had just heard was for real. But it was no joke.

  Upon arriving in Baghdad, we soon found out our deployment would be twice as long as the six-month duration we were originally told. One more year of trying to avoid roadside bombs, snipers, rocket propelled grenades, and the like. As the deployment went on, the violence escalated, but God remained faithful to me.

  I made regular trips to Baghdad International Airport and Camp Victory that was next to the airport. One time we were late getting started on our mission, and as we got down the road we had to take a detour when the main road was closed because an IED was found. Had we been on time, my convoy may have been hit.

  When detouring around it, our lead vehicle led us into a marketplace. Instantly, we were surrounded by people both friendly and unfriendly but of course, we couldn’t tell who was who. The multi-story buildings all around provided plenty of places for snipers to ambush, but God delivered us safely out, and we returned to our camp without incident.