A Man of God and War in Afghanistan (VIDEO)

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - When a Chaplain blesses the convoy you are about to head out on in war torn Afghanistan, and as Tim King reports, it brings a certain amount of serious thought to the mission that lies ahead.

Church in a combat zone

IED's, ambushes and flags at half-mast are the constant reminders of mortality to the combat soldier.

For a Chaplain like Captain Andrew Werner of the Oklahoma National Guard, the job of being a combat soldier and a man of God is one of many challenges.

"Roger. I think we have to as the chaplains, 'cause the army is full of tough soldiers who like to do things and push themselves and we have to push ourselves also to be there with them, and not just be sitting in an office somewhere."

In a country where much strife is delivered by the hands of religious fanatics, there is naturally a good side to the convictions Islamic followers.

Chaplain Werner continues, "It is not a religious war, but yeah they also lean on Allah for their strength and for doing what they need to do but I think we also need to do that ourselves because I think that is the most important thing we have in life."

So Werner goes on talking to those who take the time to listen, about having faith in a higher power. Sometimes the chapel is the dayroom at a remote combat base, with a small number in attendance

"Like I try to tell my soldiers, and like I hold to myself, that God is with us wherever we need to go, and our life is ultimately in his hands, and that we don't have to be afraid, you know do our safety checks and do what we have to do to be safe but ultimately we can't control what's coming our way, and have trust and faith in him and he'll give us the strength to deal with it and go through what we need to do."

And he agrees that Americans spending time in the Afghanistan combat theatre may have a few lessons they could take home from their brothers on the other side of the world.

"I think the God wills is their saying in Dari, sometimes it is a little fatalistic but they realize God is in control. A lot of times we just think that we need to do this, we need to do that and we're in control, but I think they, in their culture and in their speech, it reflects that their understand of God is in some ways, gripping their culture more than it is ours."

Chaplain Werner says he will continue to reach troops in far flung places like mountaintops and remote forward operating bases, where people well may need him the most.

Watch the Streaming Video News Report below, direct from Kabul, Afghanistan by Tim King: Video

Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.

Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 82 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can write to Tim at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

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Mike H. May 25, 2009 3:08 pm (Pacific time)

For me, I would like to believe that God is a misspelling of Good. God is good. People take it too far though. If you believe in good, then be decent to others. And to me, anybody willing to risk life and limb defending good deserves respect and honor...have some respect Osotan. For you to speak of God, yet tell another person that God has given up on them is completely hypocritical and sacrilegious.

GI January 24, 2007 4:36 am (Pacific time)

Ostan give up on you,, yea riiight,, just more of his mother-hen ramblings.. eh, give em all beer and tell them to hush up.. oh wait,, you only have 'neer beer over there,, ick. so will have one for you,, cheers to you and the troops. God bless, namaste' and many safe blessings

Albert Marnell January 23, 2007 8:36 pm (Pacific time)

Tim, You always write with culture and are a bright, decent guy. I like you too much too inject much more of my perspective on this one. It is more than just about a website. It is probably but not necessarily two POVs. I remember Hitler's Secretary, Traudl Junge, saying that one reason she wanted the job of being Hitler's private secretary was that she would be the first to know what was happening in all of Germany. She then said, "It turned out that I was just physically close to Hitler." She died on my 47th birthday in 2002.

Osotan January 23, 2007 8:23 pm (Pacific time)

The hell I didn't! why not open a Himilayan Health Spa? You disturb me Sgt...,by the way.,what's your readout on Pelosi-Obama running for the democratic nomination,?.., A great deal hinges on your reply Sgt., a great deal.

Tim King January 23, 2007 7:12 pm (Pacific time)

Sgt Angus would say that for soldiers putting it on the line, having faith in a higher power is helpful. Different people have differing perspectives on exactly who God is.

Interestingly, there are many similarities between the Christian and Islamic faiths; they both believe in a single God, they both observe the teachings of the First Testament, etc. With respect to what JAFO wrote, I agree that in many respects, this is nothing but a religious war. The chaplain states otherwise, that is his POV.

Osotan, you didn't give up on me and I can prove that, GI, what are we going to do with these guys?

And a final thought for Albert, that is interesting to suggest that people shouldn't have an opinion unless they visit a Website, that is like me saying you don't have a clue as to what it's about unless you have been in a combat zone... I would avoid thinking that images on the Web are the final lesson in anything, thanks!

Albert Marnell January 22, 2007 10:34 pm (Pacific time)

As a boy and a young teen in the sixties and early seventies I was relieved to see religion start to really die out. I do not know what happened that so many people have fell prey to the religion business. Tammy Faye Baker and former husband really suckered alot of dopes. Do you really think that they are unusual? I guess with the dumbing down of the population, religion made a comeback. Also, the only place I can get real coverage of what is going on in Iraq, (and it is not perfect but damn good compared to MSM) is www.ogrish.com. Until you visit the sight thoroughly, you should not make any comments on the war. Everything other than www.ogrish.com has been sanitized horse shot. You will see the troops in the same way that alot of Americans would like to see the German soldiers of WW2. They are arresting, killing, disrespecting people who just do not want them on their soil. I did not know that Iraq was going to be the 51st State. If you watch things that the military does not want you to see, you will not support this Nazi American Occupation. As a matter of fact I see the American purpose as being worse than the Germans or the Russians. Bush makes Hitler and Stalin look like a pussy cat. But people are fooled by his three thousand dollar business suits and that dumb wife of his. Who would marry a guy like George W.? Only a naive moron with no principals and self respect. The two daughters made an disgusting display of inappropriate behavior when they made fun of their own grandparents for not knowing what "Sex in the City" was. Talk about bad taste. The applettes do not fall far from the rotten tree.

GI January 22, 2007 7:37 pm (Pacific time)

Thought it was SGT Angus now? or is it SGT King Angus,, nvrmind, doenst sound right,, maybe he would want to hyphenate that? God is not dead,, there are just too many dam mortals messing things up.

JAFO January 22, 2007 6:24 pm (Pacific time)

from what I'v been able to conclude.,according to the Mujahdeen and the like.,it IS a Religious war! The president calls on his "God".,Karzai and Osama call on theirs and the Mujadeen in Bali want their land "purged' of the unbelever,whether Hindu or us decadent westerners,(speaking for myself of course), so not to contest the chaplains statemant in disrespect,but he may not be aware of this. I want it over!.,I want our people back with or without spiritual guidance,which hasn't seemed to diminish war and the like for the last four thousand years. It, horrible as it may sound, it may be up to us less than "spiritual" folks to sort it out.

Osotan January 22, 2007 5:32 pm (Pacific time)

By the way Sgt. King.,it's good to know God didn't give up on you...,I did!

S. LaMarche January 22, 2007 5:15 pm (Pacific time)

Allah,the merciful, Yaweh,the everpresent.,Mohammed.,the prophet.,Jesus.,the savior.,Vishnu.,the watchman and Buddha.,the wise.,do we need to learn war? Will you help us to design a better way? In my naievity you see.,I hope for peace,even in the "unbeliever".

Mademoiselle from Armentiers January 22, 2007 2:59 pm (Pacific time)

Inky Dinky Parlais Vous, Albert is always right so shut up and listen to him.

Albert Marnell January 22, 2007 2:48 pm (Pacific time)

To both of you BOZOS; there is a separation of church and state in this country. There are major divisions among Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and people like me who are smart enough to know that when we die the worms eat us...the end. Grow Up! There is no spirit in the sky and if there is, he should go to hell. In the sixties many of us said, "God is Dead,". There were even bumper stickers and privately paid announcements. Now I have to listen to this fantasy Alice in Wonderland crap all over again? For a while my best friend was a licensed funeral director. Almost all of them do not believe in a God because they are around death all day, embalming and the like. Some of them sit in the back of the room or peak in just to get their kicks out of the people who are surprised that someone died. We are all walking corpses and nothing more than modern apes. As far as Hillary is concerned or anyone else, Billionaires Rule...case closed. Government officials have no power. If you do not do what the global elite want, you do not stand a chance of getting one of these government jobs called Presidents, Congressman, Senator unless you play ball with big business and big banks. You guys really have your heads up your a**. Go onto the websites of Alex Jones or Robert Gaylon Ross Sr. and then I demand an apology and a thank you. A love donation in the form of a check would also be appreciated.

Bernard J. Gillhoolley, SFC, US Army January 22, 2007 2:27 pm (Pacific time)

January 22, 2007 Senator Clinton's bid for presidency is in the garbage bag. I prefer a Christian president. I truly support our troops in prayer and am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

robert keever January 22, 2007 12:54 pm (Pacific time)

hillary's presidency is in the bag already. she will have the support of many republicans because she is even more pro-war than gwb.

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A Man of God and War in Afghanistan (VIDEO)

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