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The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
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Weekly Newsgram - March 15th
, 2017
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Chaplain (Capt.) Matthew Christensen receives Soldier's Medal - photo by Robin Trimarchi, The Ledger Enquirer
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Chaplain Honored with Soldier's Medal
Among other commitments we make on becoming commissioned officers, all chaplains swear or affirm they will "faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter." Rarely do we contemplate what all those duties may entail
On the night of Feb. 25, 2015, Chaplain (CAPT) Matthew Christensen, USA, was thrust into a situation in which he discovered a duty he may have considered during his training but had not encountered in his experience. Serving as the duty chaplain at a base in Alaska, Christensen was called out to a situation in a soldier's room. Arriving he found an intoxicated soldier with several knives suffering from a breakdown. In the room with this man in need of care was his roommate and another individual. You can read more details in the article attached but to cut to the chase, Chaplain Christensen saved the soldier from suicide and another individual from bodily harm by placing the man in need of care in a choke-hold and physically restraining him until he could be taken into custody.
Yesterday, at Fort Benning, GA, where he is now stationed, Chaplain Christensen was awarded the Soldier's Medal, the Army's highest con-combat award for his actions that evening just over two years ago. Maj. Gen. Eric j. Wesley, Commander of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, attended the ceremony and brought remarks. The General noted, "The thing about chaplains is they are special because they answer the call twice. They answer the call to their God and they answer the call to their nation. Chaplain Christensen answered a third call, and it was demonstrated in his act of bravery."
Lt. Col. Franklin F. Baltazar, Christensen's current commanding officer, added to our understanding of the event. In an interview with the chaplain he found Christensen "
stepped in to do what was right, despite the risk, uncertainty and fear of losing his own life. His personal faith and values were imprinted on his actions. It wasn't just fear of losing his own life, it was fear of losing everyone's life."
Faithfully discharging our duties.
Not included in an officer's oath of office but prominent in the oath taken by the President is the phrase, "preserve, protect, and defend.' In the presidential oath it applies to the Constitution. Based on Christensen's actions, perhaps we can better understand what our duties include to a fuller extent - being willing to risk much to preserve, protect, and defend the lives brought into our care - no matter their current state nor the source from which they come.
Congratulations, Chaplain Christensen, for your commitment to your call, for performing your duties, for upholding your oath, and for acting as we might hope all of us would.
Lyman Smith
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Regular Member
Chaplain Robert Gubala
Captain, CAP
Catholic Apostolic National Church
Pawtucket, RI
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VA Secretary Announces Intention to Expand Mental Health Care to Former Servicemembers With Other-Than-Honorable Discharges and in Crisis
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin while testifying in a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on March 7, 2017, announced his intention to expand provisions for urgent mental health care needs to former servicemembers with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges. This move marks the first time a VA Secretary has implemented an initiative specifically focused on expanding access to assist former OTH servicemembers who are in mental health distress and may be at risk for suicide or other adverse behaviors.
More Information
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44 BC
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Julius Caesar
is stabbed to death by Brutus, Cassius and several other Roman senators on the Ides of March in Rome.
1989 - The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs became the 14th Department in the President's Cabinet. On this day President Regan made the Veterans Administration the 14th Cabinet Department, thus providing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs direct access to the President. At the time, over 1/3 of the US population was eligible for veterans benefits and the department had a budget second only to the Department of Defense. The VA Administrator, Edward J. Derwinski, became the first Secretary. For more on the history of the VA see VA History in Brief.
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Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)
New Mailing Address for Retirees and Annuitants
The new mailing addresses (beginning May 1) will be:
Retired Pay correspondence: Defense Finance and Accounting Service U.S. Military Retired Pay 8899 E 56th Street Indianapolis IN 46249-1200
Annuitant Pay correspondence: Defense Finance and Accounting Service U.S. Military Annuitant Pay 8899 E 56th Street Indianapolis IN 46249-1300
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Chaplain Research Project
Dr. Daniel Roberts, Dr. Joann Kovacich, and the University of Phoenix are conducting research in a project entitled
"How Male Military Chaplains of Different Religions Provide Emotional and Spiritual Support to Women Soldiers: A Case Study"
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Chapter Updates
Susquehanna Chapter - March 17, 2017 Meeting
Leader - Chaplain Grover DeVault -
Your Most Interesting Experience as a Chaplain
Dobbin House Tavern, 89 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, PA
11:30 - Gathering; 12:00 - Lunch; 1300 - Program
Reservations by March 14th - call or mail Chaplain Ted Bowers
Guests Welcome
Buffet Cost $15.00
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MCA National Institute 2017
October 23 - 26, 2017
Newport News, Virginia
Please plan to join us!
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If you missed the March 8th
edition of the Newsgram
click here
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SUPPORTING CHAPLAINCY IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM: Active, Retired and Former Chaplains of the
United States Army,
United States Navy,
United States Air Force, Department of
Veterans Affairs, and
Civil Air Patrol
AND THOSE THEY SERVE: military members, veterans, and their families
at home and around the world
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The Military Chaplains Association of the USA
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