FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUNTER, Iraq – The United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., sent one of its own, a Catholic priest, to the front lines to minister to the border-watching Long Knife Brigade.
Chaplain (Capt.) Timothy Valentine is the only Catholic priest assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division to provide spiritual fitness to Soldiers at the many bases and outposts in the tri-province areas of Dhi Qar, Maysan and Muthanna.
"I have a great relationship with the chaplains out here," Valentine said. "The [battalion-level] chaplains have to be all things to all people. They take care of not only their [denomination] but all other denominations."
Forward-deployed battalion chaplains provide religious services, which are open to troopers and civilians of all denominations. However, when Valentine is expected to arrive, the word is quickly spread throughout the remote bases because he conducts a bi-weekly Mass for Soldiers.
Valentine commonly encounters a familiar face during his visits. He worked at West Point while 2nd Lt. Walter Gradzik was a student there, and was happy to see his old friend at the forward outpost.
"I was wondering what services I could get out here," explained Gradzik, new platoon leader of B Troop, 1st Sqdn., 9th Cav. Regt. "It was extremely refreshing for me to see him."