63rd ESB hosts prayer breakfast

By Bonnie HeaterAugust 23, 2010

63rd ESB hosts prayer breakfast
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

With every deployment there are checklists filled with important tasks that must be accomplished before the all important, "Go" is given for a mission. Soldiers of Company B, 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion and their chaplain, Capt. Brian Minietta, considered breaking bread with one another in a prayer breakfast held Aug. 11 at the Gordon Club as one of those essential tasks.

Several Soldiers of the company played a part in the overall success of the breakfast. Pfc. Jamie Bell and Pfc. William Bailey read comforting phrases from the Bible.

There is no doubt victory in a war is largely due to efforts of the well-trained Soldiers, but the value of his or her family also plays a part in the outcome of a war. The families of Company B, 63rd ESB were remembered in prayer by Patti Minietta, the wife of Chaplain, (Capt.) Brian Minietta, and Sgt. 1st Class Rechell Thomas said a special prayer for the deploying Soldiers of Company B, 63rd ESB.

During the breakfast the Navy Information Operations Command Georgia Choir sang uplifting songs including the "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

Chaplain (Col.) Craig Wiley, the installation chaplain and guest speaker, shared a quote from Gen. George Marsh which would help the deploying Soldiers. "I look upon the spiritual life of the Soldier as even more important than his physical equipment...The Soldier\'s heart, the Soldier's spirit, the Soldier's soul are everything. Unless the Soldier's soul sustains him [or her], he cannot be relied on and will fail himself and his country in the end...National strength lies only in the hearts and spirits of men."

The installation chaplain also encouraged the Soldiers to take responsibility to make each day a good day during their deployment. "Some of you have been on such a deployment and others of you have not," said Wiley. "Help each other during the deployment and remember to talk to God."

The Soldiers of Company B, 63rd ESB prepared for their upcoming deployment through a culminating training exercise at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., and two communication exercises and command post exercises at Fort Hood, Texas, according to their commander, Capt. Eric Holbrooks. "We will be providing communications support to the 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment," said Holbrooks.

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