Subject: CLIMB: Ministry of a Military Chaplain
Sent: 9/8/99 6:30 PM
Received: 9/8/99 6:45 PM
From: Eric Stefanski, revski@heart.net
To: Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness, CLiMB@CAT41.org
The Rev. John Wohlrabe, Cmdr., USN <chaps@blue-ridge.navy.mil>, had a
problem with posting; please direct your responses to him at
<chaps@blue-ridge.navy.mil>. EJG
From: CDR Wohlrabe <chaps@blue-ridge.navy.mil>
Subject: Ministry of a Military Chaplain
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 06:55:11 +0900
[The Rev. John Wohlrabe, Cmdr., USN <chaps@blue-ridge.navy.mil>, has
graciously consented to help us see how the Lord is working through the
service of our military chaplains, but had a problem with posting; please
direct your responses to him at <chaps@blue-ridge.navy.mil>. EJG]
- - -
In the U.S. Navy, few announcements over a ship's 1-MC (P.A. system) get
as quick a response as that of "Man Down."
On Monday, 23 August 1999, the USS BLUE RIDGE, flag ship for Commander,
SEVENTH FLEET, was pulling out of Puson, Korea, after spending three days
in port. Korean tug boats were assisting the 636 foot, 18,373 ton command
and communication ship to leave the busy port. Back in aft mooring,
fourteen Sailors were doing what they do every time that "sea and anchor"
detail is called. They were working with the lines. A messenger line
(approximately one inch thick) was passed out a chock (a two foot wide by
six inch tall hole in the side of the ship) to a tug, which had pulled up
to the port aft quarter of the ship. Within the BLUE RIDGE, this
messenger line was connected to a much larger line (about five inches
thick), which the tug would use to pull the ship.
Unfortunately, something went terribly wrong. The messenger line was
attached to a wench on the tug, and was then reeled toward the tug.
However, the tug also backed up quickly at the same time, pulling the
messenger line much faster than usual. Inside the aft mooring area of the
USS BLUE RIDGE, the messenger line got wrapped around the right leg of SN
Steven Wright, and before he could free himself he was being pulled
toward the chock. Upon seeing SN Wright dragged along the deck, ENS
Daniel Johnson, the 2nd Division Officer, lunged toward Wright. However,
Johnson's legs also got entwined in the messenger line. Both men were
reaching down, trying to pull their legs free, but before they could free
themselves, the line went completely taut. SN Wright suffered amputation
of his right leg below the knee, and he lost four fingers on his left
hand. ENS Johnson lost both his legs below the knee and his little finger
on his left hand. As the event was taking place, the phone talker in aft
mooring was announcing "man down" to the bridge (the pilot house of the
ship). The pilot house then quickly announced "man down, aft mooring"
over the 1-MC.
I had left the bridge only two minutes before the announcement, walking
aft in the port 2nd deck passageway toward my office, when I heard the
announcement "man down, aft mooring." Immediately, I took off running
down the passageway, then down a ladder to the 3rd deck, and then into
the aft mooring space. I came in right behind the corpsmen. I immediately
saw SN Wright laying on the deck, and I saw he was missing part of one
leg. The corpsmen called for morphine, so I ran back to medical to tell
the doctor of the special need and that it was needed immediately.
Returning back to aft mooring I was praying for the injured shipmate (at
this time, I only knew of one person -- I hadn't seen ENS Johnson yet).
Entering the space, I immediately noticed the people standing about,
screaming or wailing. One female sailor was even flailing about. So,
while the corpsmen were tending to the wounded shipmates, I guided all
the other hysterical eye witnesses from aft mooring up to the ship's
library to get them settled. I then returned to medical, asked our ship's
dentist to go administer sedatives to several of the distraught eye
witnesses, and went back and forth between operating tables, ministering
to ENS Johnson and SN Wright. Both men were alert but in a lot of pain.
They wanted me to pray for them. We also said the Lord's Prayer together.
Both men asked about the other, concerned for the other wounded
shipmate's well-being. Both men discussed how their lives had now
changed; yet, both said that they trusted God would guide them. Both
asked me to call their parents and tell them about their injuries. Once
both men were stabilized, they were carried by stretcher up to the ship's
flight deck and placed on one of our helicopters for medevac. I went with
them into the helicopter and said another prayer at their sides before
they were flown off the ship. They were flown to a Korean hospital in
Pusan, where they were examined, stabilized, placed on an Army
helicopter, and flown to the 121st Army Hospital in Seoul, Korea.
After seeing the helicopter off, I returned to the ship's library where I
began a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing with the eyewitnesses. This
was a very emotional four hour session. However, those who were present
when it happened wanted to begin this session with prayer. During the
session, a second class boatswainmate (bosun) quoted from John 15:13. He
said that ENS Johnson had put his life on the line for them, that the
Ensign wanted them to work together as a team, and that the best thing
they could do now was to do just that -- work together and support one
another. It was also noted that ENS Johnson risked his life without
regard of SN Wright's race, status, or any other consideration. Through
this difficult situation, 2nd division has come together as a stronger,
closer unit.
One of the most difficult tasks I perform as a chaplain is notification
of death or other similar family emergencies (messages come to us through
the Red Cross). Usually, I am notifying servicemembers of something that
happened back home. This time, however, I had to call family members and
notify them of something that had happened to their sons on the ship.
Both parents were understandably shocked by the news. However, both
parents were devout Christians, and they knew that God was going to guide
their sons through this. Through the Navy's Bedside Travel Program, we
were able to make arrangements for the parents to fly to Seoul, Korea to
be with their sons before they were medevaced to Walter Reed Medical
Center.
Each night at sea, at 2155 (9:55 p.m.) I give the evening prayer over the
ship's 1-MC. The following is the prayer for the evening of 23 August
1999:
"Good evening, shipmates: this morning I was with both ENS Johnson and SN
Wright as they were being tended to by our doctors and corpsmen, before
they were flown off the ship. And after saying prayers with each one,
both of them told me that they realized their lives had changed. Things
would never be the same, and they would now be headed in a new direction.
However, in that realization, both of our shipmates expressed hope for
their future. Both men had already begun looking beyond this situation to
what lies ahead. Let us take that into consideration as we hear the words
of Isaiah 40:28-31: 'Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the
everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow
tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives
strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths
grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope
in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like
eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
faint.'
"We pray: Eternal Father, strong to save, we come before you on behalf of
all those involved in the serious, life-threatening accident that took
place as we were pulling out of Pusan this morning. Especially, we pray
for ENS Dan Johnson and SN Steven Wright. Lord, we know that there are no
guarantees that bad things won't happen in this life. That is an
unfortunate, hard aspect of living in a fallen world. Yet, you promise
that if we do fall, we will not be utterly cast down. You promise to
uphold us with your mighty hand. Uphold ENS Dan Johnson and SN Steven
Wright now and in the days to come. Guide the doctors and the nurses who
are caring for them. We pray for a good outcome for the surgeries that
will take place tomorrow, and we pray that Dan and Steve will soon be
standing firm, taking sure steps, even running again. Please be with
their parents and family members, and grant them consolation during this
time of great concern. For the rest of us, Lord, teach us to appreciate
each moment of life that we have and each shipmate with which we serve.
Prepare us to accept the unexpected and the imperfection of the human
world, including events that are beyond our control; help us look to you
with faith, hope and love in each and every situation, trusting that you
will order our steps, renew our strength and give us courage to move
beyond this situation with hope for the future. This I pray in the
Savior's precious and holy name. Amen.
"May God grant each of you rest and peace this night."
Three days after the accident in Pusan, we pulled back into the Korean
port of Chinhae. I was with the 2nd division crew back in aft mooring as
we pulled into port. Just after the safety brief and before they took
their stations at the lines, the 2nd division crew again asked for
prayer. After the prayer, each Sailor went to his or her place and
carried out his or her duties professionally, without hesitation. I
couldn't help but marvel at their trust in God, their dedication to do
their duty, and the remarkable courage that each displayed. Please
remember that most of these people are between 18 and 21 years old.
After pulling up to the pier in Chinhae, the Commanding Officer and I,
together with three other officers, flew to Seoul, where we visited ENS
Johnson and SN Wright. During the three short days since the accident,
the crew had written cards and letters, made video tapes of everyone in
deck department sending their greetings, and made banners which everyone
signed. I took all of these to Seoul, together with some personal effects
that our wounded shipmates had requested. SN Wright wanted his Play
Station and games. Then, he showed me that he could still play since he
still had his thumb on his left hand :-{) The banners were hung in their
rooms, and they were given the cards, letters, and video tapes. I again
had opportunity to pray with both ENS Johnson and SN Wright. Both men
continued to express their trust in God and their hope for the future.
In case you are wondering, SN Steven Wright is a 20 year old
African-American Baptist from Poplar Bluff, Arkansas. ENS Daniel Johnson
is a 23 year old Scotch Presbyterian (whose Dad is a PCUSA pastor) from
Hickory, North Carolina. Dan is also a graduate of Chapel Hill.
If you are interested in writing these two brave, Christian young men
with words of encouragement, please send your card or letter to:
ENS Daniel Johnson (Patient)
or
SN Steven Wright (Patient)
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
The above account is only part of what I do as a military chaplain. There
are, of course, worship services (Sunday Lutheran Service of Holy
Communion, Sunday General Protestant Service of the Word, and Saturday
evening Vespers), Bible studies, and prayers at special occasions; there
is a lot of daily counseling and delivery of Red Cross messages; there
are administrative duties, running a library, coordinating community
relations projects, and other things as well. However, I thank God that
He has called me to serve Him and my country while ministering to young
men and women during very challenging and difficult periods in their
lives. A day doesn't go by when I do not marvel at how the Lord works,
especially through these difficult and challenging situations. Your
prayers are greatly appreciated.
In Christ,
Chaplain John Wohlrabe
In the U.S. Navy, few announcements over a ship's 1-MC (P.A. system) get
as quick a response as that of "Man Down."
On Monday, 23 August 1999, the USS BLUE RIDGE, flag ship for Commander,
SEVENTH FLEET, was pulling out of Puson, Korea, after spending three days
in
port. Korean tug boats were assisting the 636 foot, 18,373 ton command
and
communication ship to leave the busy port. Back in aft mooring, fourteen
Sailors were doing what they do every time that "sea and anchor" detail
is
called. They were working with the lines. A messenger line (approximately
one inch thick) was passed out a chock (a two foot wide by six inch tall
hole in the side of the ship) to a tug, which had pulled up to the port
aft
quarter of the ship. Within the BLUE RIDGE, this messenger line was
connected to a much larger line (about five inches thick), which the tug
would use to pull the ship.
Unfortunately, something went terribly wrong. The messenger line was
attached to a wench on the tug, and was then reeled toward the tug.
However,
the tug also backed up quickly at the same time, pulling the messenger
line
much faster than usual. Inside the aft mooring area of the USS BLUE
RIDGE,
the messenger line got wrapped around the right leg of SN Steven Wright,
and
before he could free himself he was being pulled toward the chock. Upon
seeing SN Wright dragged along the deck, ENS Daniel Johnson, the 2nd
Division Officer, lunged toward Johnson. However, Johnson's legs also got
entwined in the messenger line. Both men were reaching down, trying to
pull
their legs free, but before they could free themselves, the line went
completely taunt. SN Wright suffered amputation of his right leg below
the
knee, and he lost four fingers on his left hand. ENS Johnson lost both
his
legs below the knee and his little finger on his left hand. As the event
was
taking place, the phone talker in aft mooring was announcing "man down"
to
the bridge (the pilot house of the ship). The pilot house then quickly
announced "man down, aft mooring" over the 1-MC.
I had left the bridge only two minutes before the announcement, walking
aft
in the port 2nd deck passageway toward my office, when I heard the
announcement "man down, aft mooring." Immediately, I took off running
down
the passageway, then down a ladder to the 3rd deck, and then into the aft
mooring space. I came in right behind the corpsmen. I immediately saw SN
Wright laying on the deck, and I saw he was missing part of one leg. The
corpsmen called for morphine, so I ran back to medical to tell the doctor
of
the special need and that it was needed immediately. Returning back to
aft
mooring I was praying for the injured shipmate (at this time, I only knew
of
one person -- I hadn't seen ENS Johnson yet). Entering the space, I
immediately noticed the people standing about, screaming or wailing. One
female sailor was even flailing about. So, while the corpsmen were
tending
to the wounded shipmates, I guided all the other hysterical eye witnesses
from aft mooring up to the ship's library to get them settled. I then
returned to medical, asked our ship's dentist to go administer sedatives
to
several of the distraught eye witnesses, and went back and forth between
operating tables, ministering to ENS Johnson and SN Wright. Both men were
alert but in a lot of pain. They wanted me to pray for them. We also said
the Lord's Prayer together. Both men asked about the other, concerned for
the other wounded shipmate's well-being. Both men discussed how their
lives
had now changed; yet, both said that they trusted God would guide them.
Both
asked me to call their parents and tell them about their injuries. Once
both
men were stabilized, they were carried by stretcher up to the ship's
flight
deck and placed on one of our helicopters for medevac. I went with them
into
the helicopter and said another prayer at their sides before they were
flown
off the ship. They were flown to a Korean hospital in Pusan, where they
were
examined, stabilized, placed on an Army helicopter, and flown to the
121st
Army Hospital in Seoul, Korea.
After seeing the helicopter off, I returned to the ship's library where I
began a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing with the eyewitnesses. This
was
a very emotional four hour session. However, those who were present when
it
happened wanted to begin this session with prayer. During the session, a
second class boatswainmate (bosun) quoted from John 15:13. He said that
ENS
Johnson had put his life on the line for them, that the Ensign wanted
them
to work together as a team, and that the best thing they could do now was
to
do just that -- work together and support one another. It was also noted
that ENS Johnson risked his life without regard of SN Wright's race,
status,
or any other consideration. Through this difficult situation, 2nd
division
has come together as a stronger, closer unit.
One of the most difficult tasks I perform as a chaplain is notification
of
death or other similar family emergencies (messages come to us through
the
Red Cross). Usually, I am notifying servicemembers of something that
happened back home. This time, however, I had to call family members and
notify them of something that had happened to their sons on the ship.
Both
parents were understandably shocked by the news. However, both parents
were
devout Christians, and they knew that God was going to guide their sons
through this. Through the Navy's Bedside Travel Program, we were able to
make arrangements for the parents to fly to Seoul, Korea to be with their
sons before they were medevaced to Walter Reed Medical Center.
Each night at sea, at 2155 (9:55 p.m.) I give the evening prayer over the
ship's 1-MC. The following is the prayer for the evening of 23 August
1999:
Good evening, shipmates: this morning I was with both ENS Johnson and SN
Wright as they were being tended to by our doctors and corpsmen, before
they
were flown off the ship. And after saying prayers with each one, both of
them told me that they realized their lives had changed. Things would
never
be the same, and they would now be headed in a new direction. However, in
that realization, both of our shipmates expressed hope for their future.
Both men had already begun looking beyond this situation to what lies
ahead.
Let us take that into consideration as we hear the words of Isaiah
40:28-31:
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,
the
Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and
his
understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and
increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and
young
men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their
strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow
weary, they will walk and not be faint."
We pray: Eternal Father, strong to save, we come before you on behalf of
all
those involved in the serious, life-threatening accident that took place
as
we were pulling out of Pusan this morning. Especially, we pray for ENS
Dan
Johnson and SN Steven Wright. Lord, we know that there are no guarantees
that bad things won't happen in this life. That is an unfortunate, hard
aspect of living in a fallen world. Yet, you promise that if we do fall,
we
will not be utterly cast down. You promise to uphold us with your mighty
hand. Uphold ENS Dan Johnson and SN Steven Wright now and in the days to
come. Guide the doctors and the nurses who are caring for them. We pray
for
a good outcome for the surgeries that will take place tomorrow, and we
pray
that Dan and Steve will soon be standing firm, taking sure steps, even
running again. Please be with their parents and family members, and grant
them consolation during this time of great concern. For the rest of us,
Lord, teach us to appreciate each moment of life that we have and each
shipmate with which we serve. Prepare us to accept the unexpected and the
imperfection of the human world, including events that are beyond our
control; help us look to you with faith, hope and love in each and every
situation, trusting that you will order our steps, renew our strength and
give us courage to move beyond this situation with hope for the future.
This
I pray in the Savior's precious and holy name. Amen.
May God grant each of you rest and peace this night.
Three days after the accident in Pusan, we pulled back into the Korean
port
of Chinhae. I was with the 2nd division crew back in aft mooring as we
pulled into port. Just after the safety brief and before they took their
stations at the lines, the 2nd division crew again asked for prayer.
After
the prayer, each Sailor went to his or her place and carried out his or
her
duties professionally, without hesitation. I couldn't help but marvel at
their trust in God, their dedication to do their duty, and the remarkable
courage that each displayed. Please remember that most of these people
are
between 18 and 21 years old.
After pulling up to the pier in Chinhae, the Commanding Officer and I,
together with three other officers, flew to Seoul, where we visited ENS
Johnson and SN Wright. During the three short days since the accident,
the
crew had written cards and letters, made video tapes of everyone in deck
department sending their greetings, and made banners which everyone
signed.
I took all of these to Seoul, together with some personal effects that
our
wounded shipmates had requested. SN Wright wanted his Play Station and
games. Then, he showed me that he could still play since he still had his
thumb on his left hand :-{) The banners were hung in their rooms, and
they
were given the cards, letters, and video tapes. I again had opportunity
to
pray with both ENS Johnson and SN Wright. Both men continued to express
their trust in God and their hope for the future.
In case you are wondering, SN Steven Wright is a 20 year old
African-American Baptist from Poplar Bluff, Arkansas. ENS Daniel Johnson
is
a 23 year old Scotch Presbyterian (whose Dad is a PCUSA pastor) from
Hickory, North Carolina. Dan is also a graduate of Chapel Hill.
If you are interested in writing these two brave, Christian young men
with
words of encouragement, please send your card or letter to:
ENS Daniel Johnson (Patient) or SN Steven Wright (Patient)
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
The above account is only part of what I do as a military chaplain. There
are, of course, worship services (Sunday Lutheran Service of Holy
Communion,
Sunday General Protestant Service of the Word, and Saturday evening
Vespers), Bible studies, and prayers at special occasions; there is a lot
of
daily counseling and delivery of Red Cross messages; there are
administrative duties, running a library, coordinating community
relations
projects, and other things as well. However, I thank God that He has
called
me to serve Him and my country while ministering to young men and women
during very challenging and difficult periods in their lives. A day
doesn't
go by when I do not marvel at how the Lord works, especially through
these
difficult and challenging situations. Your prayers are greatly
appreciated.
In Christ,
Chaplain John Wohlrabe
--------- End forwarded message ----------
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