Photo By Darriel Swatts | The chapel on North Fort Hood, Texas, where Lt. Col. Pierre Saint-Fleur conducts...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas – Growing up is hard enough; but, growing up in an impoverished nation without the majority of the necessities of life, is harder. Such was the upbringing of Lt. Col. Pierre Saint-Fleur, Brigade chaplain for the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade; who was born and raised in Haiti, a small country located in the western part of the Caribbean.
“Growing up in Haiti was challenging in many ways. My parents didn’t have much but they were hard workers,” said Saint-Fleur. “My father was a farmer and raised cattle; my mother was a merchant who made a living by buying and selling grain.”
Saint-Fleur, born in the 1950s, was raised in a household with three other siblings—one sister and two brothers, and was the youngest of the four.
“When I was born, my sister was already married and had children of her own and my brothers had already dropped out of school and were working.”
Finishing school wasn’t always a common thing in Haiti. The majority of the students dropped out either because it was too hard, they lost interest, didn’t see why it was important, or had to leave because their families needed them to work and help the family make money, Saint-Fleur explained.
“I got discouraged in primary school because I didn’t see a good path to go in life,” said Saint-Fleur. “I didn’t see why pursuing an education was important; but, by the grace of God, my brother-in-law was a Baptist preacher and he took me under his wing.”
His brother-in-law gave him hope and encouragement to stay in school. So he did, finishing his primary, secondary schools and even went on to complete college thanks to the undying support offered by his brother-in-law.
“Through my brother-in-law’s influence I joined the Baptist church and found even more hope and encouragement. I knew that was my path in life. I knew that this was my calling,” said Saint-Fleur. “I even became a Sunday school teacher.”
Saint-Fleur didn’t stay long at his brother-in-law’s church. After completing college he eventually moved to the Evangelical Church of Haiti, where he was asked to go to Florida.
“I moved to Florida to be a pastor for the growing community of Haitians there. The church there needed someone who knew the Haitian language and also knew the culture,” said Saint-Fleur.
While in Florida, Saint-Fleur decided to further his education by going to a local Seminary Graduate School. After graduating there he felt led by the Lord to continue his ministry elsewhere, where people needed him more. So he packed up his bags again and moved to Fresno, Calif.
“Upon arriving in Fresno, I started to work as the hospital chaplain at the Fresno Community Hospital, as part of a training program called the Clinical Pastoral Education Program,” said Saint-Fleur.
While working as the hospital chaplain he would often visit and pray with the sick and dying, and pray with and talk to their families.
“I am grateful that God led me there to help those people. I was truly blessed to be of service to those people who needed help,” said Saint-Fleur.
Although he was happy where he was and with what he was doing, it would seem God had more plans for Saint-Fleur. One day when he was praying at the bedside of a sick woman, her son walked into the room and saw them. Her son, who was an Army recruiter, was moved by what he saw and wanted to talk to the man he saw praying with his mother.
“Through talking with him and helped that soldier through the emotional time he was going through. I got to find out more about that soldier and saw how much he loved his job and I wanted to be a part of it,” said Saint-Fleur. “I asked him how I can join, so he put me in contact with a local Army chaplain; I knew this was an opportunity laid in front of me by God, so I went for it”
Saint-Fleur soon after enlisted in the Army Reserve as a chaplain in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade at Fort Ord, Calif. But, like his life, moving around place to place, the Army had the same thing in store for him. He would soon go to two more reserve units and then transfer to the California Army National Guard. His first duty station while in the Guard would be the 115th Area Support Group in Roseville, Calif., where he would be sent to Chenginola, Panama to help rebuild the town after Operation Just Cause. He was sent to two more units before landing in Camp Roberts, Calif. as the post chaplain where he stayed for almost seven years.
“While stationed at Camp Roberts, I got activated to go to Iraq in October of 2004 with the 155th Brigade Combat Team,” said Saint-Fleur. “While I was there I got promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. I was extremely happy, but it meant I was going to have to leave Camp Roberts when I got back.”
Upon coming home from his tour of duty in late 2006, he quickly got reactivated to go back to Iraq with the 169th Fire Support Brigade out of Colorado.
“When I got back from my first tour, the National Guard Bureau asked me if I wanted to go back with another unit,” said Saint-Fleur. “Of course I was very happy to oblige, so I repacked my bags and went back.”
Even though he mobilized with the 169th FSB, he wasn’t to stay with them long. Upon arriving in country, the 25th Infantry Division picked him up and made him their division chaplain.
“It was truly a blessing to have served with those soldiers from both my tours in Iraq,” proudly stated Saint-Fleur. “I do miss them and wish them the best in everything they do.”
Once he was finished with his second tour in Iraq, Saint-Fleur went to Southern California to help support the troops on the border mission for an additional eight months.
“Chaplain Saint-Fleur is someone soldiers can turn to when they need help,” said Capt. Diosdado Quinton, Chaplain, 640th Aviation Support Battalion. “He always has an open ear and an open heart.”
Once he got back from the border mission, Saint-Fleur transferred to the 40th CAB, and is now getting ready for his third deployment to Iraq; but, instead of Operation Iraqi Freedom, this time he is preparing for Operation New Dawn. But he sees every mission the same, “just another opportunity to help support the troops.”
“Chaplain Saint-Fleur is the embodiment of selfless service,” said Staff Sgt. Donald Dow, Chaplain’s Assistant, 40th CAB. “I always see him giving to the soldiers and their families and he never asks for anything in return.”
Even though Saint-Fleur had a rough childhood and almost lost his way, thanks to a caring brother-in-law, he was able to find his calling in life and has helped thousands of soldiers and civilians to this point in his life and career. This upcoming deployment to Iraq is just another chance for him to do what he does best; share the gospel and help soldiers and their families through the deployment.
| Date Taken: | 12.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.31.2011 07:55 |
| Story ID: | 68029 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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