Story by Spc. Vincent Wilson, 319th MPAD
HUEHUETENANGO, Guatemala – A Kentucky Army National Guard chaplain and chaplain candidate attached to Task Force Rise are providing religious support in operation Beyond the Horizon at the 5th Infantry Brigade, here, May 14, 2019.
The two Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers are providing religious support to Task Force Rise by holding services twice a week, as well as providing services and prayers to locals who request their aid.
Lt. Col. Bill Draper, a chaplain attached to Joint Force Headwaters Kentucky National Guard, has served for 37 years, first as a small arms repair specialist, later as a human resources specialist. He served as a volunteer chaplain for the Kentucky Department of Corrections, before sessioning as a chaplain in 2004. Draper said that his upbringing led him to his service as a chaplain.
“I grew up very poor, and my mother was very devout in her faith,” said Draper. “I had a heart to serve people and I was active in my church so being a chaplain was the best way for me to use my experience to minister soldiers and their families.”
2nd Lt. Paul Kauffman, a chaplain candidate assigned to 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery, Kentucky National Guard, has only served for 19 months but has been a civilian pastor for 15 years.
“I always wanted to be in the military,” said Kauffman, who wanted to expand his experience in ministry and was urged by his wife to follow his new career path. “It's a chaplain’s job to ensure that soldiers have their first amendment rights,” he said. “If chaplains weren't there for soldiers it would be very hard to ensure that right.”
Since being in Huehuetenango Chaplain Draper has performed several prayers and services for locals who sought out his religious help.
“For them to ask me as an American chaplain to pray for them is an honor,” said Draper. “It helps the mission, because part of our mission is to build schools and clinics, the other part is to build relationships and finding a common interest through faith is powerful.”
Beyond the Horizon is an annual exercise designed to build partner nation capacity for civil and military response to major disasters and the relationships built and sustained through this exercise demonstrate the ability of the U.S., and our regional partners, to access and execute disaster relief activities throughout Central America.