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GAZETTE

June 2011

         "There were Protestant ministers there, too," continued Larry.  "The chapel was used by many denominations and it had to be neutral except when it was being used.  We had a crucifix for Mass and then when the Protestants came in, we took out the crucifix and they brought in their cross.  There was also a rabbi who came to celebrate Passover with our service members of the Jewish faith.”

         Father Larry also spent his time visiting the sick and counseling those who came to him.  "I had a lot of visitations," he said.  "They have a very fine hospital there.  Once a week I attended the Commander's meeting and offered a prayer.  I was assigned to the Maintenance Group, which included men and women who keep the planes flying.”

         Larry said he also ministered to private contractors working at the base and TCN's.  Acronyms abound in the service!  It stands for Third County Nationals.  "TCN's came to work at Balad because the money was very good," he explained. 

         Did Larry feel safe at Balad?  "Well, not totally," he replied.  “Attacks occurred regularly.  Over the years, 43 personnel have been killed in that location alone.  I didn't tell that to Diane.  You could never get relaxed.  They would remind us all the time that complacency kills.  But the intensity of the attacks was not what it was a few years ago."

         What did his wife and kids think of his assignment in Iraq?  "I think it was difficult for Diane but she made the best of it," said Larry.  "We did the internet and Skype and telephone.  We emailed a lot and I would call once a week and sometimes more."

         "The kids were at little bit apprehensive at first," said Father Larry.  "It's a separation; no way around it."  The Blake children include John, a graduate of Creighton University working in Nebraska, daughter Sarah who works locally, and son Joe who is a 6th grader at St. Joe's.

         "I'm thankful my tour was only one hundred days,” he said.  “We had new people coming in who were going to be gone from their families for a year.  Some of the guys who came to see me were troubled when there were troubles back home, like when one of their kids was sick or broke a leg."

         "The earthquake and tsunami hit Japan while I was in Iraq, in March,” said Larry, “and there were Japanese people at the base who watched TV and saw the devastation and were worried about their families back home.  There was a lot of anxiety at that time so I would speak to them."

         What did Larry say to those people with family members in Japan?  "I assured them that we would keep them updated and in our prayers, and to pray for the safety of their families.  I also invited them to come and see me privately about things on their mind."

         About Iraq and the base where he was stationed, Larry said, "It was a mission, a new mission, an intense experience.  I made new friends.  Since I've been home I've kept in touch with all of them through email and Facebook."

         Since Larry left Iraq – which is nearly six weeks ago already -- his mission has returned to being a husband and father at home and priest and father at St. Joe's.

         He explained that his title of "parochial administrator” at St. Joe's means he doesn't have a term of office there, as priests in general have terms at their various parish assignments.  He said that 31 priests in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis were moved this spring to new assignments within the archdiocese, and he estimated that maybe six years is the average term or length of an assignment. 

 

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The Chapel Team at Joint Base Balad.