Chaplain
cut from military cloth
A few miles
outside Oceanside at the gate to the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base, we
park our cars, until approached by the military press officer. It is early.
Quiet. And the country is at war. Soon en route to the chapel, visiting where
military personnel gather in good times and sad, along the drive, a tall,
white cross is noted in the distance, tucked away in mountains, brush and
sprawling hills west of the I-5 freeway.
There will
be no families of service men and women there to meet. Yesterday, the memory
of a serviceman was honored there. He gave his life for our country. Today,
there will be just the chapel. And the chaplain, a man devoted to his flock
of camouflage-clothed men and women, wanting to acknowledge their mortality
before going off to war; others, returned from war, to tear-filled memorial
services.
While the
base attempts to address military personnel’s every need, from morning
lattes to McDonald’s golden arches, it is within these four walls that
spiritual needs are approached, connecting servicemen to their present and
past. Deceptively small, the chapel, inside, brims with golden glow from morning
light. Red carpet tempers the sound of boots marching from the outside. Stained
glass windows shower a rainbow of color on the heavy wooden pews and their
minister.
Little things
make the difference in lives like kind words and a listening ear. They want
to know family and pets will be cared for while gone or if they don’t
return. Kind moments are shared with the chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Vanderwerken.
Nights before troops deploy, his chapel is filled. Aided by staff, the chaplain
assists service men and women to face their reality. It is at this moment
they define their personal power needed to carry them towards their destiny.
To sit with
the base Chaplain is to embark on a spiritual odyssey. The bounce in his step
does little to suggest his stress during times of war. He carries himself
well. Tall. His first words are “How can I help you?” He means
what he says.
Vanderwerken
has insight into chaplaincy in military life. He began his career in it. A
Christian, he returned when he experienced his calling. Leading a multi-denominational
flock, Vanderwerken encourages, key to his role, their right to freedom of
expression — man to man and man to their God. Chaplain Vanderwerken
has defined his role in their lives to protect, advise and serve.
Asked who
ministers to the minister in his time of need, he answers thoughtfully. It
is not a question he is asked often. He has few places to turn. He turns to
his peers. They know his emotions when telling a family their loved marine
will not be coming home. And to his wife. He tells her everything. She is
more than a chaplain’s wife. She is his best friend. He gathers from
her strength to tell mothers, brides, husbands, daughters, wives, sons - that
their family member is coming home, one last time, or not at all.
Carrie
Devorah is a freelance photographer and writer who visited the San Diego area
in late April. She can be contacted at devorahcarrie@aol.com.