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    A Commander's Prayers
    A Commander's Prayers
    A Commander's Prayers
    Ebook124 pages3 hours

    A Commander's Prayers

    By Ricardo Sanchez and John W. Betlyon

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    About this ebook

    A Commander's Prayers records the interraction between a battlefield commander and his chaplain. 2-69 Armor left Fort Benning, GA, in mid-August, 1990, to stand in the desert and thwart Iraqi aggression against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world's oil supplies. No one knew what to expect. Soldiers, even tested veterans, were apprehensive—even frightened—about the possible outbreak of war. LTC Sanchez found himself in command of an armor battalion which had spent years serving in support of instruction in the US Army's Infantry School. Now 2-69 Armor was "going to war." The battalion chaplain was there to advise the Commander, and provide spiritual support for the command. LTC Sanchez asked the chaplain to regularly give him a "thought for the day." This simple act gave the Chaplain daily access to the Commander and an opportunity to support him in a real and tangible way. This book is a record of that interraction during the dark days leading up to the first Persian Gulf War, and the terrible violence of that short—but bloody—chapter in recent Middle Eastern history.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCrossLink Publishing
    Release dateAug 7, 2012
    ISBN9781393602071
    A Commander's Prayers
    Author

    Ricardo Sanchez

    Ricardo is a fiction and comic book writer. He's written Legends of the Dark Knight, Teen Titans Go!, Resident Evil, Line of Defense, Nier, RIFT and End of Nations for DC Entertaiment. His short story Death and Life of the Hero appeared in Gods of Justice and was turned into a successfully funded Kickstarter graphic novel. You can connect with Ricardo on Twitter @rickzilla and at his blog, Ricardo-Sanchez.com, or visit ElvisSightings.com for the latest on his new mystery series.

    Read more from Ricardo Sanchez

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      Book preview

      A Commander's Prayers - Ricardo Sanchez

      INTRODUCTION

      The responsibilities placed upon a Soldier are among the greatest of any profession. In peacetime, the Soldier must endure endless hours of training in preparation for war that may or may not come during his term of service. Coping with the elements of nature, day and night, under the pressure of simulated combat provide the Soldier with a taste of the harsh realities of combat. The United States Army places a premium upon the sustainment of adequate levels of training in order to acclimatize, or at least minimally expose, Soldiers to the sounds and demands of war. All this the Soldier must endure, often in a political and public environment that is alien to him, possibly hostile, but definitely—at best—ambivalent to his sacrifices.

      What can never be replicated, in peacetime, is the loneliness, brutality, fear, anticipation, and physical and mental strains that one experiences when deployed on a real world contingency mission. It is during this time that the human mind looks for help in coping with the multitude of strange and overwhelming feelings. The normal reaction is for a renewal of one’s relationship with God in hopes of his easing the pain and fear we are feeling. If the individual Soldier has a strong faith, that faith flourishes and is a real source of comfort and strength. If there is not a fundamental belief in God, the experience of facing the possibility of war, and maybe even death, may be sufficient to attract some of these Soldiers to the Lord. Many build lifetime relationships while others may nurture the relationship as a source of strength only for the duration of their hardship.

      This book reflects the highpoint of this Soldier’s relationship with God over a period of some twenty years. The period covered encompasses the experiences of leading Armor Soldiers in preparation for and the actual conduct of war during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Commanding Soldiers, at any level, in the United States Army is the ultimate honor that can be bestowed upon an officer during his tenure of service. In peacetime, preparing his legions for war, independent of the political atmosphere and any attendant budgetary constraints, is the leader’s primary task. In war, leading men in battle requires a leader who is wise, confident, technically and tactically proficient, and courageous.

      The burdens of command, on any given day, can be overwhelming. That is precisely why the Commander’s Prayers documented here were so important to the successful execution of daily activities, whether at peace or war. Without the wisdom, courage, and strength that derives from the Lord, none of the personal and organizational successes could have been possible.

      Upon assumption of command of the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor, 197th Infantry Brigade (Separate), at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 5 June 1990, my Chaplain, Captain John W. Betlyon, was tasked to provide a daily thought for the day. This daily prayer was initially envisioned as a means of keeping the Chaplain close to the troops by forcing him to come to the Headquarters and see the Commander every day, while simultaneously providing me the opportunity to take at least one minute every day to pray in the middle of the hectic routine that is typical of an Armor battalion.

      The prayers documented here provide an insightful look into the concerns, fears, and joys of commanding Soldiers. These are the actual prayers from 1990-1991 and present a unique, insider’s look at war.

      Ricardo S. Sanchez

      LTC, AR, United States Army [Summer, 1991]

      LTG, United States Army (Retired) [Summer, 2011]

      John W. Betlyon

      Chaplain (CPT), United States Army [Summer, 1991]

      LTC, United States Army (Retired) [Summer, 2011]

      Speed and Power!

      Vitesse et puissance!

      CHAPTER 1

      ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND AND THE EARLY DAYS

      On 5 June 1990, the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor underwent a change of command that was to signal the transformation of the unit from an organization focused on training in the California desert at the National Training Center and supporting training at Fort Benning, Georgia, to one that became a combat-proven battalion as part of the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and the XVIII Airborne Corps. The early days of summer 1990 found the unit conducting routine training and executing a training program that would prepare it for its quarterly gunnery training which was to be executed in late July.

      5 June 1990

      In my success, O Lord, help me to remember that what I am, and who I am, is more important that what I do. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      6 June 1990

      Today is a day for growth. I can give thanks to God that I have been able to overcome old, negative problems which sometimes have hindered me. Today I am an overcomer, for your hand, O God, is strong and mighty. Through you, I can overcome anything. (Today is a time to recall the valiant Allied Invasion of France, 6 June 1944.)

      The Chaplain

      7 June 1990

      Savor the new command this morning. There is awesome responsibility, but also awesome possibility. In the joy of these first days, my heart feels as if it might burst—it is so full. Help me to remember these moments when I face a difficult day. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      8 June 1990

      Take a moment to be quiet, to center down, as the Quakers put it. Feel your breathing and be conscious of your body. Deep within is a special peace from God to calm and quiet your mind. What a beautiful gift, O Lord.

      The Chaplain

      9 June 1990

      It is not how long I live that matters, but HOW I live. What do you require of me, O Lord, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before you. Help me so to live. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      10 June 1990

      My battalion needs its commander, O Lord, for my job is to lead and guide it in its peacetime training and in its wartime missions. So I need you, O God, to direct and guide me so that I do not crash on my own journey through life before I reach my heavenly destination. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      11 June 1990

      Teach me, O God of Wisdom, to examine all possibilities in decision making, so that I select the very best. At this very moment, I am tuning you in and listening for your direction. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      12 June 1990

      So much seems to clutter my life with unnecessary things, blocking my creativity. Sweep away these things, O Lord, and grant me an eager and clear mind focused on truth and right. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      13 June 1990

      Here I am in a place I dreamed of, and yet my presence here is really unplanned and unexpected. Sometimes fear nips at my heart. Help me, O Lord, to surrender to your unfolding plan for me because I know that this is your morning, this is your time, and this is your place! Amen.

      The Chaplain

      14 June 1990

      I thank you that you surround and encompass me with your Presence! You go before me and even follow after me. If I go up to Heaven or descend to Hell below, I cannot hide from you. Thank you that you seek me out until you find me. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      15 June 1990

      Lord Jesus, you carried the burdens of us all to free us from bondage. Give me courage today to bear another’s burden. Give me a tender compassionate heart. Make me a humble servant ready and willing to do whatever duty is required of me. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      16 June 1990

      I am thankful that I can trust and depend on you, O Lord. With confidence, I draw near to you: In your presence I find peace in the midst of life’s storms. Your outstretched arms await me. I thank you and praise you, my Father. Amen.

      The Chaplain

      17 June 1990

      You have loved us, O Lord, as a Father loves his children. Turn my concerns this day to my wife and children, to remind them that I love them more than they will ever know. Let my love for them stand rock steady

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