Donating Calling Cards to the Wounded
By Chaplain (Captain) Gloria Tyner
I arrived to Joint Base Balad, Iraq in March of 2008. My assignment was to be the hospital chaplain at the largest trauma center in the war zone. While this is the largest trauma center in theater, please keep in mind that it is still a relatively small facility. Our mission is not to keep severely wounded patients here, but to treat and stabilize them so they can be transported to Germany for longer term care.
Shortly after I arrived and settled in to my assignment here at the Air Force Theater Hospital (AFTH), I was contacted by Dr. McNabb at the Chaplain’s Commission. He wanted to know if there were specific needs that we had here in the combat zone, especially at the hospital. While I had only been here for a brief time one need had already been identified to me and so I shared it with Dr. McNabb. That need was to supply phone cards to our wounded soldiers who were injured on the battlefield.
When soldiers come through our hospital they obviously want to contact their loved ones. Many of them have been on the frontlines of this war for weeks with no communication methods to reach their families. So, as you can imagine, being able to call your spouse, children or parents would be a massive deal. Especially if you have been wounded in combat and are trying to get home!
The Church of God Chaplain’s Commission stepped up as they always do to help our military personnel. Within a matter of days I received over $1,000 worth of phone cards from the Commission to distribute to wounded military members.
What a blessing it is to see a soldier’s face light up when we are able to help him or her make that initial call home to hear a loved one’s voice. Because of your giving, this specific ministry has been able to continue here at AFTH. Chaplain Tyner is a graduate of the Church of God Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee and has been recently assigned back to the 37th Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
To learn more about the Church of God Chaplains Commission chaplaincy programs, visit the Chaplains Commission website at: www.cogchaplains.com .
