Chaplain Receives Commendation Medal for Valor

HEET, IRAQ (June 9, 2006) – Covenant U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Mark Nakazono last month was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor after helping save the life of a platoon leader in the midst of gunfire. The commendation was awarded May 1 “in recognition of a courageous act during or supporting direct combat with the enemy,” according to an Army press release, which continued, “Nakazono helped to save the life of a fellow soldier while rendering aid and providing professional leadership during the casualty evacuation in Heet, Iraq.” Heet is located in the Al Anbar province, site of some of the deadliest fighting in Iraq.

On March 16, Nakazono, his chaplain assistant SPC Nicholas Price and personal security detail (bodyguard) SPC Joseph Basile were summoned to a traffic circle in a local neighborhood where insurgents were planting roadside bombs. U.S. troops had discovered the men, who subsequently fired their AK-47s, shooting the platoon leader.

When Nakazono’s three-man unit arrived at the scene, they found the soldier had been wounded below the shoulder blade and three inches from the spine. Although there was little bleeding from the wound, the soldier was spitting up blood, Nakazono says.

Nakazono supported the soldier’s body and provided encouragement while the medic attended to the wounds, the chaplain says. According to the military report, Nakazono prayed with the soldier as they rode in an armored medical evacuation carrier to the nearest aid station. He stayed until doctors stabilized the soldier, who was then evacuated by helicopter.

The chaplain returned to the scene of the engagement, where troops had discovered several artillery shells in the truck the insurgents had been using and which was feared to be a vehicle-born IED. After the situation was cleared, Nakazono returned to the combat outpost to continue ministering to soldiers involved in the incident.

The wounded soldier has returned to his home in Germany, where he is receiving outpatient care, Nakazono says.

Nakazono is on his second tour of duty in Iraq. “Serving as an Army chaplain is a tremendous calling that comes with great risks and sacrifices for our family,” he says. “As a ministry, it’s like being a missionary, a church planter, a youth pastor and a senior pastor. For someone who always needs to be doing something different… it’s the perfect job.”

“It is simply an honor to serve the Lord and our country in this way,” he continues. “There is no better – and safer – place to be than in the center of his will.”

“Of course, I’d rather be home with Patti-Sue and the boys,” Nakazono says. “I miss them very much.”

Nakazono is a graduate of North Park Theological Seminary. He formerly served as youth pastor to Trinity Covenant Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and Turlock Covenant Church in California. He also is a former member of the Board of Christian Formation.

Basile also received a Commendation Medal for Valor for wounding an insurgent in the attack. Basile accompanied Nakazono because chaplains don’t carry weapons.

Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.