June 30
READY TO GO, READY TO STAY
I signed up for the National Guard to pay for college. Not to go to war.
September 11, 2001, however, swept away all hope of being able to serve my years with the Guard peacefully.
Watching the news unfold on the television, my heart sank, and my stomach turned. This changed everything. Even as a soldier, war was not a reality to me until that day. But in that instant, the possibility of me going to war became inevitable.
My friends told me I wouldn’t go anywhere. They were sure I wouldn’t be pulled out of college, but I wasn’t convinced. From that point on, I no longer could relate to my friends the same way I used to. They did not have to face what I was facing. Their lives would go on as scheduled, virtually unaffected by this act of terror. I had that sick feeling that as long as I was still in the military I would run a very high risk of getting deployed.
For the next year and a half my unit was regularly told that it was not a matter of if we would be deployed somewhere but when.
The stakes began to rise. By March 1, 2003, activation was now a certainty. If the United States went to war with Iraq, then my unit would go in after the major combat mission was over and stabilize the country. Between September 11, 2001, and the time I was activated, I lived one day at a time: ready to go, yet ready to stay.
When the call came for my unit to be activated, I adopted Psalm 91 as my own. When I did, I immediately surrendered my fears to the Lord and in return, accepted the peace that surpasses all understanding, believing that he truly would deliver me from the snare of the fowler, the perilous pestilence, and any other harm from the enemy.
When I was twenty-one years old, I traded in my college textbooks and gym shoes for combat boots and weapons of war.
Lord, help me be ready to stay on this earth and live for you and ready to join you in heaven as I live day by day.
“I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
July 1
WORLDS APART
Less than four weeks after marrying Stephanie in the base chapel at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, it was time to deploy. Saying goodbye to Stephanie was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. However, I believed that God’s protection not only covered me but also my wife back home and our marriage. I believed I would come home safely someday, and that Stephanie would be there waiting for me when I finally did get home.
After the goodbye, I set foot on the plane to Kuwait and set aside thoughts of danger in order to think about the adventure that lay ahead. I had the chance to sit in the cockpit with the pilots from time to time on the way to JFK airport in New York. Just before landing the pilot pointed out Ground Zero to me, certainly reminding me of why I was doing what I was doing.
As I was enroute to the Middle East, my wife was in cap and gown, marching to “Pomp and Circumstance” before being handed her college degree at her graduation ceremony. While at a layover at JFK, I called my cell phone, that was being held by my mother-in-law. I heard Stephanie’s name called as she walked across the stage. It wasn’t the same as being there in person, but at least I could be part of it in that small way.
The next day, upon stepping off the plane, the desert heat was almost unbearable. As soon as my boots hit the ground, I could feel my skin prickle with sweat and my mouth go dry and we weren’t even under the pressure of combat. I could not imagine being able to survive it but knew I had no choice.
Meanwhile, back in Tennessee, Stephanie woke up to a suffocating emptiness. She could not imagine being able to survive that ache of loneliness, either, but knew she had no choice. Just days ago, we had been together, a complete unit. Now we were worlds apart and digging in for the long road ahead.
Lord, remind me of your presence and grant me your peace today.
“‘The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you… and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24–26)
July 2
GOD WITH US
Spec. Joe Olsen, U.S. Military Police, Iraq (2003–2004)
After a month and a half in Kuwait, we drove into the war zone that was Iraq, not stopping until we reached Baghdad. At each of these milestone steps, the need for protection that only God could provide became more and more urgent.
Following the initial invasion and downfall of Saddam, Iraq had no civil government, no police force, and no local military. Moreover, there were still Saddam loyalists along with Al Qaeda supporters in Iraq taking shape. Between roadside bombs, sniper fire, and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), the situation we faced became far greater than the danger we originally expected.
Driving into Iraq was an unforgettable experience. We drove through rural villages plagued by poverty. From young boys to grown men, they all greeted us as heroes and called us friend. As we approached Baghdad, we began seeing signs of war. Abandoned or burned out military vehicles were seen frequently. Although I never felt any immediate danger on this trip, I will never in this lifetime know what dangers I may have been in on this convoy or any other.
When we reached our destination, the first thing we noticed was the constant sound of random gunfire off in the distance. On the night that Uday and Qsay Hussein were killed, the Iraqis celebrated by random gunfire, straight into the air, landing anywhere, including into our camp. As time went on, mortar and RPG fire added to the dangers.
Every night that I made it safely to bed, I gave thanks to God for his protection. We were all well aware of the fact that when we left camp that we were not guaranteed to return alive. We were not even guaranteed safety inside our camp. At any moment, anyone’s “number could be called” and we would be standing before our Maker.
For most people, this is where their faith either stopped or became compromised. But I had a quiet confidence from God: in a far away land that was permeated with evil, God was present in a very real way with me. He truly was Immanuel God with us.
Lord, protect not just my physical well-being but my mind, heart and spirit as well.
