{"id":7222,"date":"2006-08-02T23:18:40","date_gmt":"2006-08-03T04:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=7222"},"modified":"2011-07-06T08:34:06","modified_gmt":"2011-07-06T13:34:06","slug":"5067","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2006\/08\/02\/5067\/","title":{"rendered":"Chaplain’s Tour of Duty in Iraq Extended"},"content":{"rendered":"
BAGHDAD, IRAQ (August 2, 2006) – The mounting death toll in Baghdad has forced the U.S. Army to extend the tours of duty for Chaplain (Capt.) John Grauer and other soldiers to 16 months from the original 12.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cSunni and Shiite Muslims are fighting each other, and the picture in Baghdad is getting worse,\u201d says Grauer, an Evangelical Covenant Church minister. \u201cWe are trying to prevent the catastrophic loss of life that is now taking place. Civilians are being tortured, and literally left on the ground to die.\u201d<\/p>\n

The chaplain has narrowly escaped becoming a casualty himself. \u201cWhile out of the protection of the FOB (forward operating base), I have had my vehicle hit several times with improvised explosive devices, small arms fire and a grenade thrown by an individual while on a dismounted patrol which injured four people.\u201d Grauer says.<\/p>\n

The violence continues to take a toll on the soldiers\u2019 emotional and personal lives, Grauer says. The long absences have contributed to marital separations and divorces. \u201cSoldiers often ask for advice, but for many it is too late, and they know that life will be different when they get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The stress leads soldiers to questions about God. More than 20 under Grauer\u2019s care have committed their lives to Christ in the past 10 months. One of the men was nearly hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and said he needed to \u201cget right with God.\u201d A recent baptism took place in the Tigris River with more than 20 soldiers helping celebrate \u2013 and others providing security.<\/p><\/div>\n

To learn more about Grauer and his work, please see the following:<\/div>\n