Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Scott | Participants in the Four Chaplains 5k on Feb. 26 recieved t-shirts after they finished...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Early in the morning on Feb. 26, before the sun dared show itself, more than 450 soldiers, airmen, and civilians stood respectfully postured on the track at Holt Stadium at Joint Base Balad as Sgt. Tracie Slempa, a broadcast journalist with the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), finished her rendition of the national anthem. But why were they there?
“And the home of the brave,” sang Slempa, a Pittston, Pa., native.
Bravery was the reason nearly 500 people were crowded behind a starting line that seemed faded from time and excessive amounts of dust. The service members were there honoring the bravery of four men, by participating in the Four Chaplains 5K run/walk.
“These brave men went beyond sacrifice,” said Col. Lance Kittleson, command chaplain with the 103rd ESC, and a Mason City, Iowa, native.
Staff Sgt. Chad McDermott, chaplain’s assistant operations non-commissioned officer with the 103rd ESC, and a Blackfoot, Idaho, native, added that hosting a memorial event like the 5K is the best way to continue to honor the men who proved their bravery and honor decades ago during World War II.
“I’ll tell you the story…there’s no better way to know the story than to be told it,” said McDermott as he began to explain the events that transpired after the German submarine U-223 attacked the U. S. Army Transport Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943.
He explained how four chaplains, who are also known as the “immortal chaplains,” kept their poise in the face of panic.
“What happened on that ship after it got hit was pure chaos, and nobody was really thinking coherently,” said McDermott. “These four chaplains came in, gave guidance, and offered prayers.”
McDermott went on to say that the chaplains handed out life vests until there were no more, and when there were no more, they gave up the life vests on their back to ensure the safety of others.
“That in itself is an altruist act,” said McDermott, pausing for a second before continuing deliberately. “It signifies when it was time to display their valor… and their selfless service… and their courage, they took that step.”
The soldiers “committed to values even before the official Army values,” added Kittleson.
The participants of the Four Chaplains 5K were supporting these values no matter what auxiliary brought them out early in the morning.
“Regardless of whether or not [the runners] get a shirt or if they get a prize, they’re there to honor that person or people, and have fun,” said McDermott.
He wouldn’t have been able to pull the event together without the assistance of the mayor cell, where he got all his information, the volunteers, and Red Cross manning the water stations.
“Thank you very much,” McDermott said to everyone who helped him make the 5K a success. “They gave up their time today, and I appreciate it.”
McDermott added that the 5K was a resounding success and made for an enjoyable early morning. “You don’t have many of them in Iraq, but today was one of them,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2011 06:43 |
| Story ID: | 66571 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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