LCMS World Mission Blog

Eric Erkkinen, assistant director of Ministry to the Armed Forces, LCMS World Mission, was on the Fort Hood campus visiting with LCMS chaplains when tragedy struck on Nov. 5. He recently shared some reflections he received from three of the four LCMS chaplains who are stationed there to serve the men and women of the Armed Forces. In such a time of tragedy, God used these servants to comfort and support His people.

Chaplain Dann Ettner shares, “It has been an awful week. I have lost five people from my division in the shooting. However, my job was focused on comforting the living. I spent the first night in the ICU with four of my soldiers. We continue to work with the hospitalized and their families who have traveled here, as well as the soldiers who are released from the hospital and returned to their units. We also are caring for the soldiers who were in the Soldier Readiness Center when the terrorist attack happened, as well as those who have lost friends. Survivors’ guilt is huge right now. Soldiers are starting to say: I should have, could have, would have.”

Chaplain Oliver Washington writes, “On Nov. 6, I reported at 1:00 p.m. for a chaplain meeting. Around 1:20, I heard shots, but did not think much of it, because of the ranges in the immediate area. My curiosity was piqued when a chaplain answered a phone call during the meeting. I excused myself from the meeting to ask an office assistant what was transpiring. As I walked out the door, I heard more shots being fired. I immediately called my units to report in (as an accountability drill). By 1:32 I had been tasked to the hospital.

“As I reached the hospital, the wounded and casualties were already arriving, and I conducted initial support and ministry. I prayed with dying soldiers at the hospital and assisted with the arrival of 16 injured soldiers. I provided prayer for the dying and dead. Later, I was tasked to provide support for the Casualty Assistance Center and mortuary affairs teams for notification of families. A casualty assistant calls officer call is made by an officer from the unit involved and the chaplain. They go in person to the home of the slain soldier and they are the first to break the news to the family. The chaplain is present for moral support, guidance, and prayer as called for by the situation depending upon the religious background of the family.

“On Nov. 9 and 10, I provided comfort and bereavement assistance for our soldiers’ families. In addition, I was responsible for escorting families until their departure from the memorial ceremony. Then on Nov. 12 and 13, I conducted critical event debriefings, counseled individual soldiers, and conducted house visitations.”

Chaplain Joe Pederson writes, “I am a part of the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC) mass casualty team and I reported to the emergency room at about 2:00 p.m. while the wounded were still being brought in. I worked in the emergency room until all the soldiers had been to the operating room, the third floor, or sent on to other hospitals. I stayed at the medical center until 9:00 p.m. and visited the intensive care unit (ICU) three times, and the third floor once.

“On Friday, I visited the ICU and third floor. I also visited the soldiers and civilians in my battalion who had been either at the hospital, in the building with the shooter, or who came from the graduation ceremony next door to the site of the shooting and rendered first aid. Friday evening I was assigned to the Fort Hood Spiritual Fitness Center from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. A woman came in with her husband who was very upset. I ministered to them for about 40 minutes.

“On Sunday evening, a soldier who had been at the site of the shooting called. I ministered to him for about 15 minutes and then involved the social worker in the emergency room since he had not slept since the incident. Monday morning I visited with the two remaining soldiers in ICU. I had gotten three hours of sleep on a cot in the early hours of Monday, so after being relieved at 6:00 a.m. from the hospital I returned to my battalion.”

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Audio Interview courtesy of KFUO Radio AM 850 2009.

• Pray for our LCMS chaplains as they minister to the Fort Hood community
• Learn more about Ministry to the Armed Forces
• Read LCMS President Kieschnick’s comments on the Fort Hood shootings
• Read a Reporter article about LCMS response to the shootings