Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03/25/03

TYPE=SPECIAL REPORT

TITLE=HOW MILITARY CLERGYMEN SEE THE WAR WITH IRAQ

NUMBER=9-002

BYLINE=WILLIAM CHIEN/MANDARIN SERVICE

DATELINE=ABOARD THE U.S.S. THEORDORE ROOSEVELT/MEDITERRANEAN SEA

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: There are 5,000 men and women aboard an American aircraft carrier. Many are Christians, but any population that large is bound to have adherents to a variety of faiths, including Muslims. How do these people see the war? What do their leaders say? To find out, we asked VOA Mandarin reporter William Chien aboard the USS Roosevelt in the Mediterranean to give us this report.

TEXT: While most of the service people on the USS Roosevelt are Christians, there are also believers of nine other religious denominations. The man in charge of administering to the religious needs of such a large variety of the faithful is Reverend Captain Ron Kreddick, a Christian. When asked about how he deals with the Islamic world's view of the war as one of aggression against Muslims, Reverend Reddick is quick to assert his viewpoint.

/// ACT REVEREND REDDICK - ENGLISH QUOTE ///

I don't see this as a religious issue. We don't see that here even at home with our own brethren of the Islamic faith who work alongside of us."

/// END ACT REVEREND REDDICK- ENGLISH QUOTE ///

He admits that after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, some Americans lashed out against Muslims, but to his knowledge nothing like that has happened in the Navy. On the contrary, there are five Muslims onboard the USS Roosevelt. The Chaplain claims they get along fine with the other sailors and adds that among the five is a pilot who has personally joined in the attack against Iraq.

Reverend Kreddick explains his personal view is that it is better not to wage war, but he is reluctantly willing to support the war if it can avoid even more bloodshed in the future.

He explains that the purpose of clergy in the military is to fulfill the duty of giving individuals religious services while at the same time adhering to the regulations set forth by the (U.S.) Constitution. In the military, a person of the cloth may not be familiar with the religious beliefs of everyone in his squadron, but it is his duty, as it is the duty of all military clergy, is to be of service to everyone, regardless of their religious preference.

Many young sailors have a somewhat cynical view of religion when they enter the Armed Forces. Rev. Kreddick says this is because too many youth in the United States do not place enough importance on religion. Before they enter the service, they may feel that religion is a waste of time.

Things start to change, however, when they wake up and realize they've sworn to fight to the death if necessary in defense of their country. Faced for the first time with their own mortality, more and more sailors and soldiers start feeling that religion is suddenly important.

Reverend Reddick believes it takes only about one week of being close to danger before the average serviceman or woman starts asking questions about religion. They would never have dared to ask these questions back home, where they were safe and secure. But war and danger, Reverend Reddick says, focus the mind on the more important things, like mortality and what happens next.

For the Voice of America, this is William Chien reporting from the USS Roosevelt somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea.