Maj. Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and Command Sgt. Maj. LaMarquis Knowles, command sergeant major of the 82nd ABN DIV, present Maj. Gen. Donald L. Rutherford, chaplain, chief of chaplains of the Army, with a ce...
By 82nd Airborne Division ministry team
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Maj. Gen. Donald Rutherford, the 23rd chief of the chaplains, spoke at the All American Prayer Breakfast, May 20. In keeping with this year's 82nd Airborne Division All American Week theme of "Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and the Paratrooper," Rutherford highlighted the story of Col. Rueben Henry Tucker of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, who led his men with new strength to repulse an overwhelming counterattack and save the Salerno beachhead in September 1943.
Rutherford said after their victory in battle, the regiment sailed to rest and refit in England. Rutherford then paralleled this with an illustration of the warrior King David in Psalm 55 to accentuate how rest, refit and spiritual reflection are essential to our ability to surge to victory like Tucker and King David.
"From Sicily to Salerno, from Anzio to Belgium, and throughout the mountains of Afghanistan to the streets of Baghdad and Fallujah, the All American Division is filled with men and women like David and Col. Rueben Henry Tucker - paratroopers who look deep within and find reservoirs of divine strength that promise hope and restoration."
Rutherford concluded his remarks with a benediction from Rabbi Levy: "When I feel tainted, God, remind me that I am holy. When I feel weak, teach me that I am strong. When I am shattered, assure me that I can heal. When I am weary, renew my spirit. When I am lost, show me that you are near. Amen."
Past and present paratroopers dating from World War II to the Global War on Terror attended the All American Prayer Breakfast. It was an incredible opportunity to stand together with veterans of Normandy and celebrate the airborne's rich spiritual heritage and legacy.
Capt. Shane Henderson, chaplain, of the 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, inspired spiritual resiliency through reading the late Chaplain George B. Wood's timeless "Airborne Prayer."
Following the "Airborne Prayer," the All American Chorus invigorated the very core of our warrior spirit through the singing of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA."
"And I'd gladly stand up! Next to you and defend her still today; and there ain't no doubt I love this land! God Bless the USA."
The prayer breakfast not only served as a celebration of the 82nd Airborne Division's spiritual legacy, but also as a historical testimony to the essential nature of spiritual resiliency, which is one of the five dimensions of Comprehensive Soldier Fitness. Spiritual resiliency is as an essential aspect to victory in battle as well as finding rest, meaning and renewed hope in our times of peace that follow.
The benediction encompassed many of the elements essential to the spiritual resiliency of our paratroopers and families as we called upon God to hear our prayer:
"Lord, in Gen. George C. Marshall's 1941 speech on Morale in Modern Warfare, he mobilized the hearts, minds, and very souls of the men and women serving in our armed forces to be spiritually ready for the World War II through his words, 'The Soldier's heart, the Soldier's spirit, the Soldier's soul are everything.'
"Thank You for bringing us all together today to nurture our warrior spirit and nourish our souls with Your divine inspiration to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things-and hold on to an everlasting love that never fails. We ask that You bless our leaders, our warriors, and our families-here and around the world. Keep us all pure in heart, clean in mind and strong in purpose. Keep ever before us our goal, which is not to perpetuate war, but to ensure peace and preserve Your great gift to mankind, freedom!
"Bless this All American Week and everyone in it with treasured memories to last a lifetime. May new acquaintances become our dear friends and our dear friends become to us our beloved family as we journey through this day and each day of this week. Bless our time with you and our time with one another. In Your holy name we pray. Amen."
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