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By Liz Mineo / News Staff Writer
Published: Monday, November 17, 2003
Publication: MetroWest Daily News (Boston)
FRAMINGHAM -- When Juan Borges joined his reserve unit in Kuwait a few days before the war in Iraq began, he was answering a call to serve God and country.
U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Borges, 48, is a military chaplain.
Stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait from March through June, Borges offered comfort and hope to soldiers who were struck with homesickness, the stress of war and the specter of death.
Most of the time, he said, a few words reminding soldiers of their duty to the nation helped them overcome combat stress and keep their morale high.
It was not an easy job.
"I had to be an anchor for young people," said Borges, who is also a pastor of the Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church on Hollis Street.
"No one was happy to be at war. There aren't happy campers. The general feeling was, 'Let's do our job and go back home to our loved ones.' We knew everybody was thinking the same, 'When are we going home?'"
At the camp, where there were 20,000 U.S. soldiers stationed and about 30 chaplains from all denominations, Borges counseled 20 soldiers a day. Most were homesick.
"The hardest thing to deal with was family separation," said Borges. "The wife was leaving them, the girlfriend was breaking up with them, the house burned, the car was not working, things like that. Everybody was touchy and nervous."
At times, Borges had to counsel soldiers' relatives who were anxious about the safety of their loved ones. At his office, Borges offered soldiers a free phone line to call their families, and a computer to contact them through the Internet. He also offered prayers, Bible readings and opportunities for worship.
"There are no atheists in a foxhole," he said. "Soldiers have spiritual needs that have to be met. If there were no chaplains around, soldiers' morale would be worse off."
Borges, who expected to be stationed in Kuwait for at least a year, came back in June, after the war was declared over and the situation seemed under control. The war started March 19, and on May 1, President Bush announced that major combat operations ended.
Things have gotten worse since then, with the number of U.S. casualties growing and insurgent attacks an everyday occurrence. Borges believes that combat stress may be higher now, and chaplains have more work to do. Suicide attempts, anxiety attacks and depression become more common among soldiers as war goes on.
Borges' unit, the 883rd Medical Company, based in Boston, is made up of psychiatrists, social workers, mental health professionals and military chaplains. Its mission is to reduce battle stress and fatigue and prevent stress casualties.
Military chaplains confront the same issues as soldiers, but as spiritual leaders, they have to provide comfort and solace to those fighting on the front lines. Borges found that in helping others cope with the pressures of war, he helped himself.
"I had never been separated from my family for so long," said Borges. "When soldiers asked me, 'Chaplain, when do you think we are going home?' I'd tell them, 'Don't ask me,' or "When they tell us to go home.' I'd tell them, 'Take it a day at a time, a minute at a time.' I had to practice what I preached. I had to be strong."
In the early days of the war, Borges and the soldiers at Camp Arifjan lived with the fear of chemical or biological attacks. Putting on gas masks and biological suits, they all struggled with feelings of fear and anxiety. Borges had to tell soldiers everything would be OK, even though he wasn't always sure himself.
Borges said his experience at war has made him stronger and wiser, but he admits he wouldn't like to go through it again. After four months of sleeping in bunkbeds, eating pre-packaged meals in the scorching desert heat and being separated from his loved ones, he said he cherishes being back with his family, friends and parishioners.
Born and raised in Chicago, Borges has been a pastor for the past 21 years and a soldier in the U.S. Army Reserves for 17 years. A son of Puerto Rican parents, Borges said he feels more like a priest than a soldier. As a chaplain, he said, he is doing a service to the nation, and feels proud of serving both God and country.
"Freedom comes at a price," said Borges. "And we're defending freedom. Killing and war are never OK. Unfortunately, in the world we live, sometimes war is necessary. We can't give up liberty and freedom even if it takes war to defend them."
In previous conflicts, military chaplains have been killed or injured. Borges thought about the possibility of dying, but he found a way to come to terms with it.
"I knew it was going to be for a good cause," he said, "I was going to die so my grandchildren could grow up in a democracy, in a free nation. But I'm sad that not everyone is coming back. I'm praying for this thing to end and everybody can be back home."
Maverick: Added to the news page. Message icon updated.
By Liz Mineo / News Staff Writer
Published: Monday, November 17, 2003
Publication: MetroWest Daily News (Boston)
FRAMINGHAM -- When Juan Borges joined his reserve unit in Kuwait a few days before the war in Iraq began, he was answering a call to serve God and country.
U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Borges, 48, is a military chaplain.
Stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait from March through June, Borges offered comfort and hope to soldiers who were struck with homesickness, the stress of war and the specter of death.
Most of the time, he said, a few words reminding soldiers of their duty to the nation helped them overcome combat stress and keep their morale high.
It was not an easy job.
"I had to be an anchor for young people," said Borges, who is also a pastor of the Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church on Hollis Street.
"No one was happy to be at war. There aren't happy campers. The general feeling was, 'Let's do our job and go back home to our loved ones.' We knew everybody was thinking the same, 'When are we going home?'"
At the camp, where there were 20,000 U.S. soldiers stationed and about 30 chaplains from all denominations, Borges counseled 20 soldiers a day. Most were homesick.
"The hardest thing to deal with was family separation," said Borges. "The wife was leaving them, the girlfriend was breaking up with them, the house burned, the car was not working, things like that. Everybody was touchy and nervous."
At times, Borges had to counsel soldiers' relatives who were anxious about the safety of their loved ones. At his office, Borges offered soldiers a free phone line to call their families, and a computer to contact them through the Internet. He also offered prayers, Bible readings and opportunities for worship.
"There are no atheists in a foxhole," he said. "Soldiers have spiritual needs that have to be met. If there were no chaplains around, soldiers' morale would be worse off."
Borges, who expected to be stationed in Kuwait for at least a year, came back in June, after the war was declared over and the situation seemed under control. The war started March 19, and on May 1, President Bush announced that major combat operations ended.
Things have gotten worse since then, with the number of U.S. casualties growing and insurgent attacks an everyday occurrence. Borges believes that combat stress may be higher now, and chaplains have more work to do. Suicide attempts, anxiety attacks and depression become more common among soldiers as war goes on.
Borges' unit, the 883rd Medical Company, based in Boston, is made up of psychiatrists, social workers, mental health professionals and military chaplains. Its mission is to reduce battle stress and fatigue and prevent stress casualties.
Military chaplains confront the same issues as soldiers, but as spiritual leaders, they have to provide comfort and solace to those fighting on the front lines. Borges found that in helping others cope with the pressures of war, he helped himself.
"I had never been separated from my family for so long," said Borges. "When soldiers asked me, 'Chaplain, when do you think we are going home?' I'd tell them, 'Don't ask me,' or "When they tell us to go home.' I'd tell them, 'Take it a day at a time, a minute at a time.' I had to practice what I preached. I had to be strong."
In the early days of the war, Borges and the soldiers at Camp Arifjan lived with the fear of chemical or biological attacks. Putting on gas masks and biological suits, they all struggled with feelings of fear and anxiety. Borges had to tell soldiers everything would be OK, even though he wasn't always sure himself.
Borges said his experience at war has made him stronger and wiser, but he admits he wouldn't like to go through it again. After four months of sleeping in bunkbeds, eating pre-packaged meals in the scorching desert heat and being separated from his loved ones, he said he cherishes being back with his family, friends and parishioners.
Born and raised in Chicago, Borges has been a pastor for the past 21 years and a soldier in the U.S. Army Reserves for 17 years. A son of Puerto Rican parents, Borges said he feels more like a priest than a soldier. As a chaplain, he said, he is doing a service to the nation, and feels proud of serving both God and country.
"Freedom comes at a price," said Borges. "And we're defending freedom. Killing and war are never OK. Unfortunately, in the world we live, sometimes war is necessary. We can't give up liberty and freedom even if it takes war to defend them."
In previous conflicts, military chaplains have been killed or injured. Borges thought about the possibility of dying, but he found a way to come to terms with it.
"I knew it was going to be for a good cause," he said, "I was going to die so my grandchildren could grow up in a democracy, in a free nation. But I'm sad that not everyone is coming back. I'm praying for this thing to end and everybody can be back home."
Maverick: Added to the news page. Message icon updated.
