A Soldier's Prayer

By:

Abp. Leslie Mary Trombly

Copyright(c)2007

“Dear Lord,

I am a soldier in your Service. I am a soldier for my country; fighting to keep it free. I am the Soldier who fought in the Civil war. The First World war, The Korean war, the Second World war; Viet Nam War, Desert Storm, and now the war in Iraq. I know Lord that this is important and something that must be done and I have laid my life before you to care for as you see fit. Freedom is a precious thing, whether it is in my own country or the country of my fellow citizens of this world in their own countries. I stand ready and on your behalf to fight for that right to freedom.

Lord, can I tell you something? I think the most important freedom to fight for is the right to Worship you, no matter where you are in this world. Yet, I see so many that stand firm on their faith in you being brutalized and tortured and even murdered "all in the name of you", God. How very sad that is that the other religions feel it is their religion that makes them right and they pursue the true believers to eradicate them so they will not be a thorn in their side or cause them to question what they “believe”.

I have given my life over to you and I will fight the good fight of faith. Oh! How it breaks my heart to see so many die without you and die for you. You said that this was the way it would be; but the reality of it can be overwhelming at times. I always rely on you for the courage and strength to maintain my own faith when others ridicule me; even when I find it so hard to fight and even slay those who go against you who take the lives of your children.

Today, I am the soldier in Iraq fighting to help maintain the freedom of the Iraqi people and their nation. I have watched my comrades in arms die one by one and sometimes two by two and I weep for them and their families. I weep because there are some that are not redeemed by your blood when they die and that makes it more heartbreaking for me.

I weep for the families of the husbands, wives children and parents of those who died, but know that those who died here on the battlefields, were saved by your grace and are with you in glory. It gives me more reason and courage to fight on and do so with good faith in my God who is control of all things.

My prayer today, dear Lord, is to watch over all my comrades and to take care of them as you feel is best for them; whether it is to continue to fight the battle of freedom and faith here or to serve you in your kingdom. So many are unsung heroes here on earth; but Lord in your kingdom they are blessed by your presence and grace and their reward was eternity with you.

I have watched many a comrade fall protecting the little children and the old folks and those who were in helpless situations or places where there was no escape; yet, those brave soldiers risked it all to save them. I have seen the field Medics risk their lives to help another who was not from our country, to help the injured from our allies and the people of Iraq.

Lord, if it isn’t too much to ask, can you please protect them so they can continue on, We are losing them and it makes it so hard for the other medics to care for everyone. I cry for the little children who have had their tiny legs or arms blown away by a land mine or a bomb or to see those precious little faces cry, because they no longer have a mommy and daddy.

I cry at the senseless loss of these little ones and the people who want to be free and are constantly being brutalized by those who are greedy and power hungry and want to dictate how a child of yours can live or die.

It breaks my heart to see what the chemicals of the bombs do to the flesh of your children and the people of Iraq and those who fight bravely. It breaks my heart to see the governments of this world refuse to take the responsibility for this and for the tragedy they heap on innocent people who never asked for it in the first place.

If there is one thing I learned about war, power and greed, it is this; Human life to those who have that kind of power, is expendable, even in my own country, where I see so many homeless, poor and neglected people. Lord, I ask that I never become like them with hearts of stone and selfishness. Help me to maintain my faith and trust in you and to continue to fight for what is just and right -even if it means my own life. Please forgive me for any transgressions against you or my fellow man. Thank you Lord for listening and I ask that you continue to walk with me and my fellow comrades each and every day of our lives, no matter how short they may be or how long they may be. Amen”

In Memory

Of All Our

Fighting Men

Ray Joseph Hutchinson

Pfc. Ray Joseph Hutchinson, born in Houston and raised in League City,Texas was killed On December 7, 2003 in the northern city of Mosul at the age of He was 20.

A soldier's story of heroism is often hard to tell because the tale can involve the sacrifice of his life for his country. And so it is that SPECIALIST RAY JOSEPH HUTCHINSON, who was born in Houston and served with the Army's 101st Airborne division during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Ray Joseph was only twenty years old, but in that short time his life touched many others. As a child, Ray Joseph was bright, sensitive, thoughtful, and riotously funny. He carried those qualities into adulthood and added discernment, courage, determination, and strength. As a man, Ray Joseph Hutchinson could illuminate a room just by smiling, and his friends, who spoke fondly of him, said that he laughed easily and often.

He was awarded entry into Airborne school and won his wings in January 2003. He received an assignment to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and deployed to Kuwait in February, 2003. Ray Joseph participated in the entirety of Operation Iraqi Freedom and saw Iraq on foot and from atop a HMMWV and behind the sights of an M240B machine gun.

He was there from the initial push across the deserts, through An Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad, and into Mosul. During this time he distinguished himself enough to earn the coin of the Sergeant-Major of the Army, the Army Commendation Award, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star.

One of the many incredible lights of this world was taken. Like so many others we will be forever empty without Ray Joseph Hutchinson’s presence in this wolrd. He is a hero in the truest sense of the word. He served the United States of America in accordance with his military oath, and he paid his life's blood so that others might be free. He did this without remorse or complaint, never failing in the countless missions he was asked to perform. had only been in the Army fifteen months when he was killed.

He served with the 2'nd Battalion, 502'nd Infantry of the 101'st Airborne (Air Assault) Screaming Eagles from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky and before enlisting, had attended a year at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, when he decided to join the Army to do something meaningful in the fight against terrorism. He graduated from advanced infantry training school in Ft. Benning Georgia, as the distinguished honor graduate. He was given a slot in jump school and completed airborne school. Shortly after his advanced infantry and airborne training, he was deployed to the camps in Kuwait in early March, 2003, where he was a part of the entire Iraqi Freedom Campaign, as his company proceeded deep into the country of Iraq in harm's way every minute.

The Bible tells us that God has a plan for all things and that nothing happens according to chance. Ray Joseph's family loved him, and they know that God had a reason for calling him home when He did. The stars will shine out even brighter now that Ray Joseph's brilliant soul is among them. Though he may be absent from the body, he is present with the Lord. Ray Joseph was only twenty years old and he was a man of Faith. He loved the Good Lord, so we have no doubt that he was taken Home to Heaven in an instant, and now walks with Jesus.

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Note: If any of the pictures on display here belong to anyone, please let me know. I had these donated to me over the years and do not know the artist(s).Some of the graphics, however are mine. Thank you. At the bottom you will find an e-mail button. Click on it and you can send me an e-mail

Thanks to Duncan Long for allowing me to use His art for God. Please Visit his site at: http://duncanlong.com/

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