An Cosantóir

17 SOME SAY THE DEVIL IS DEAD…… INTRODUCING THE NEW HEAD CHAPLAIN smells as I think back on a tour that saw the most kinetic levels of activity of any of the Iraq tours. We lost 33 men and wom- en over that tour and hundreds more went home with life changing injuries. Out on the Patrols, the men and women were facing an increased threat of Impro- vised Explosive Devices while those back at the Contingent Operating Base were contin- uously under the threat of Indirect Fire. Why are we here Padre, they would ask, a question that underlined their hope that somehow their presence in that country was making a difference? It was Vaclav Havel who said: "hope is not that everything will turn out alright but that regardless of how things turn out they will make sense." War diminishes our humanity, it dehuman - ises us. That's why we have, by and large, trained to kill, it goes against our human nature. War exposes us to some of the worst of what humanity is capable of and I was struck by the number of times mem - bers of the Armed Forces have said to me "Padre, I wish I was the person I was before I deployed!" That's why I believe that while nations may be good at preparing for war (Jus as Bellum), may even be good at pros - ecuting war (Jus in Bello), we are invariably poor at ending wars (Jus post Bellum). No one from overseas deployment ever tells the full story. I learned that we build on the little success of those that went before us and indeed sow the seeds of future suc- cess for those that come after us. Shortly after my return in May 2007 I was assigned to the 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment (1PWRR), an infantry Bat - talion based in Paderborn in Germany. They too were preparing to deploy on what was to be the final combat tour to Iraq. It was incredible to see the changes since my previous tour. Suddenly there were dif- ferent sounds, bustling markets and chil- dren at play. No doubt there was still an ob- vious threat and one had to be vigilant, but we were beginning to see the semblance of a return to normal life for the Iraqi people. As we prepared to handover the Combat Mission to the US and leave Iraq, I suggest - ed that we hold a memorial service where we would remember by name, every service person who died during Operation Telic, as the Iraq tours were known. It was import - ant that we did so not just for ourselves but for the families as well. On my return to Germany, I was assigned to 7&16 Signal Regiments, who were based at Elmpt Station on the German-Dutch Border. They were busy units, who were rotating squadrons through Afghanistan. While I did not get to deploy with them, I learned about the importance of supporting the families and the rear operations group as they strived to manage everyday life. My appreciation of the sacrifice families make in support of their loved ones, grew! From Elmpt I moved four hours east to Ber - gen-Hohne where I served with the Artillery, Commissioning Day RMAS Ex WARFIGHTER

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