Deployment

Near the close of my 28-years of service in the United States military, as a Jewish Chaplain, and while on active duty with the United States Air Force, I received deployment orders to the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. These orders followed the 11 September 2001 attack on the United States. In response, the United States launched two simultaneous wars, one in Iraq, termed Operation Iraqi Freedom. The second was termed Operation Enduring Freedom and was in Afghanistan.

At the time, I was given exceptional orders – to travel to these two war zones, to include the satellite countries which had American and Coalition military forces, organize and lead the Jewish personnel, and train a Lay Leader for base representation. These orders allowed me to travel at will throughout both war zones. During this travel, which extended from the Marine base in Djibouti, in east Africa, through the Middle East and Central Asia, I saw firsthand the bases, personnel, and morale of this massive worldwide response to the attacks on 11 September. This volume reflects my time while traveling through these theatres of war. My time spent in these countries was unique and I recount these experiences in context.

In addition, just a month before retirement, I received orders to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for a 10-day period. These travels enabled me to see United States military activities from numerous vantage points, as well as visit a highly charged and restricted base in the Caribbean. This is a special story that reflects my perceptions of the war against terror.