WAR IN THE GULF
Amid Uncertainties of War, Faith Is an Anchor at Sea


By Chris Mitchell
Middle East Bureau Chief
March 28, 2003


Keeping a carrier supplied and fueled is a massive logistical challenge. Thursday the Roosevelt got two crucial supplies for a ship with more than 70 jets and 5,000 personnel.

CBN.com – USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT — The war against Saddam Hussein involves strikes from the land, air, and sea. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is playing a key role in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and faith is playing a key role for many of those aboard the Roosevelt.
The Roosevelt, located somewhere in the eastern Mediterranean, carried on with its mission Thursday. Rear Admiral John Harvey briefed CBN News about the next focus of the Roosevelt.

"As you may have known, the northern front got rolling pretty well last night with the insertion of paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade. I suspect that most of our operations will be focused on supporting the unfolding of the northern front and keeping the pressure on those Iraqi forces coming down towards Baghdad and Mosul from the north," Harvey said.

Keeping a carrier supplied and fueled is a massive logistical challenge. Thursday the Roosevelt got two crucial supplies for a ship with more than 70 jets and 5,000 personnel — aviation fuel and soda pop.

On deck, the activity is like a choreographed ballet, with young sailors moving state of the art airplanes and munitions into place. But it does have its risks. A modern aircraft carrier can be a very dangerous place, and the flight deck is called by some the most dangerous four acres in the world.

The biggest danger is taking off and landing on a moving aircraft carrier. But along with the dangers of both a carrier and now a military campaign, CBN News found stories of faith on the frontlines.

Ron Craddock leads the chaplains on the Roosevelt. He came on board just before the war and right away led the ship in prayer for the pilots who fly into harm's way.

"We wanted to lift them up in prayer. You know, it's very rare to see emotions from pilots, but I know at that moment I could catch a tear or two in their eyes as they felt lifted up. That's what we're all about, and the pilots love it," Craddock said.

One of those pilots is "Woody" from Texas. "Last night I was out and I had a wing man, he saw a couple of surface-to-air missiles. They didn't guide but it still makes your heart beat a little faster to see those things coming off the rail," he said.

Woody is part of the first Naval Air Reserve unit to be activated since the Korean War. He is a commercial pilot who did not expect to be flying combat missions over Iraq.

"We'd be pretty distraught being away from our families for an extended period of time and doing this sort of thing if we didn't have Jesus to lean on. You know what I mean? That's probably the biggest way that my faith has sustained me out here," he explained.

While Woody flies the skies, below deck Chief Petty Officer William Washburn helps maintain the planes. He also maintains a spiritual steadiness despite the circumstances.

"This is not my first war cruise. I did Desert Shield and Desert Storm. And to me, it's no different whether I'm serving in peace time or war time. I just work for the Lord throughout my whole cruise, through my whole deployment," Washburn said.

Command Master Chief Beth Lambert is the highest-ranking member of enlisted personnel on the Roosevelt. The war directly affected her marriage and family. While she is serving at sea, her husband is serving on land.

"He's forward deployed in Kuwait and I haven't heard from in a few days since hostilities started. I'm speaking to the Lord quite frequently and praying for his safety and protection. We're both forward deployed and my three children are with our family in Massachusetts. I pray for their peace," Lambert said.


Aaron Baptiset sees his faith as an anchor in the midst of uncertain times. "It's been the only thing that I can stand on right now because again I feel a lot of uncertainty with what's going on. I believe this is one of the signs of the times when Jesus is going to return soon. I thank God that He has sustained me through this and my faith is basically what's gotten me through," he said.

And every believer we spoke to told us prayer from the home front is crucial.

Lambert said, "These are some of America's best and brightest with me out here doing a very difficult job under somewhat arduous conditions. And anyone who would pray for the safety and security of the forces involved, we would appreciate it."
 

source: http://www.cbn.com/CBNNews/iraq/030328aa.asp