Photo By Staff Sgt. William Watson Martin | The sixth of 21 children, Army chaplain assistant Spc. Brian Henry, lends sympathy and...... read more read more
By W. Watson Martin
311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- The sixth of 21 children, chaplain assistant Spc. Brian Henry, lends sympathy and understanding to the hardships faced by members of the 4th Sustainment Brigade in Kuwait.
From his rough and tumbled past the 24-year-old Fort Worth, Texas, native easily relates to just about anyone with a sad story to tell.
Tragedy struck the family of mostly girls along with four brothers more than once ... one brother died at birth, another died trying to break up a fight and the only other living brother no longer comes around, he said.
Most of his extended family lives in and around Fort Worth where he likes to spend a lot of time with his sisters' children as well as his own three kids and wife Kristie.
"I think by Henry coming from a tough life has made him a better Soldier," said Staff Sgt. Greg Coots, his section leader.
From his headquarters command to the brigade command he helps to encourage over 3,000 Soldiers who push through their 12 month tour in Kuwait, many of whom haul equipment in and out of Iraq, he said.
"He has a good way of helping Soldiers of all ranks work through everyday problems," said Coots.
"Whenever I sit down with someone I make sure they feel safe and comfortable in talking with me," said Henry. "Everything we talk about is completely confidential."
To be able to privately vent one's frustrations can alleviate a great deal of stress, he said.
Monday through Friday he winds his way through all the brigade's areas of operation here to show his presence and to express his purpose.
It also provides a chance to strike up conversations about some of the issues Soldiers face on a day-to-day basis, said Henry.
Living in an environmentally hostile terrain filled with rolling desert hills, sporadic dust storms and sparse vegetation can cause Soldiers to feel psychologically separated from the comforts of their home, their family – even the sight of trees and walking on grass, he explained.
Soldiers miss their freedom of movement, privacy or even the joy of washing their own dishes, he said. It's the little things in life that are taken for granted until one experiences a long deployment.
"I help people talk through separation anxieties as well as problems related to their marriages, kids and jobs here," said Henry.
If someone is having a bad day it is usually related to their separation from family, he said.
"Henry likes what he does and has a lot of energy," said Chaplain (Cpt.) Ramon Pena, who relies on Henry's support to make the unit's ministry team successful.
"When he is committed to something, he does it to excel."
| Date Taken: | 07.09.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.09.2008 08:32 |
| Story ID: | 21320 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 393 |
| Downloads: | 345 |
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