Helping soldiers to grieve, pray, and heal
Four days before Christmas, an explosion at an Army dining hall near Mosul, Iraq, killed 21 people, including 18 Americans. Two of the dead were National Guardsmen with Maine's 133d Engineer Battalion: Specialist Thomas J. Dostie, 20, and Sergeant Lynn R. Poulin Sr., 47.
One of the battalion's chaplains, the Rev. David Sivret, knew both men well and was injured in the blast, which was attributed to a suicide bomber. Sivret, the Episcopal rector of Christ Church in Eastport, Maine, answered questions via e-mail this week. Excerpts follow.
Q: Where were you when the explosion went off?
A: I was in my office when Major John Nelson came in and said let's go eat. I headed off for lunch. I bowed my head to give thanks to God for all His blessings. Then a bright flash of light. Next thing I knew, I was on the floor next to the soldier who was sitting next to me. He was dead. I stayed down for a few moments listening for another blast. I called on my hand-held [radio] for medical help. I then realized I couldn't hear. I think I was in shock. I had to get past my own anger for the time and pray for the wounded.
I went outside to give last rites to the dead soldiers and civilians. After we had cared for our departed soldiers, I was taken to the aid station to be checked out. It was determined that I would get my hearing back in my left ear, but that my right eardrum had ruptured. I also had a very small piece of shrapnel in my left knee.
Q: Did you know the two National Guardsmen from Maine who were killed?
A: I have been the battalion chaplain since December of 1988. I met Sergeant Poulin on one of my visits to the Belfast [Maine] armory. We would chat whenever I would visit the armory. Later, Lynn would ask me to officiate at his and Jeanne's wedding. Lynn always had a smile on his face and was always willing to help out other soldiers when the need came. Specialist Dostie was a wonderful young man who lived the Army values, as did Lynn. I got to know Tom a little better when his roommate became my assistant in June. He would stop up at the chapel, and a bunch of us would have lunch together. He would talk to his dad about me. One day he came up to me and said, ''I know what you were like in high school." How could he know that? I'm 29 years older than he is. Then I realized I went to high school in Augusta with his father and mother. He would often joke with me, ''You should hear what my dad said about you!"
Q: What was the atmosphere at the Christmas service you celebrated?
A: The 24th started off with our memorial ceremony for Lynn Poulin and Thomas Dostie. Soldiers were angry. We had come here to help rebuild, and a coward had killed and injured many soldiers. During the ceremony, I asked that we draw upon the hope of Christmas, the love of God revealed in the Christ child, and that we should think of Lynn and Tom as two of the newest stars in heaven. Maybe add two new ornaments to the Christmas tree to represent them. I asked all present to hold on to the memories of all of the soldiers that were killed.
We began Christmas Eve with a service of lessons and carols ending with Communion and singing ''Silent Night" in candlelight. After the service, some of us gathered for hot chocolate. At 11:30 p.m., we had a carol sing, which led into midnight Mass. The chaplains gathered for the service. We all came from different traditions, but we wanted to celebrate Christmas together. . . . After Communion we gathered in front of the altar and sang ''Silent Night." The service ended with a glimmer of hope in our lives. All that the bomber tried to do on Tuesday could not stop our Christmas celebration. We are still grieving, but we are healing and continuing our mission.
Q: Has the attack shaken soldiers' religious faith?
A: For some, their faith has been shaken. For others, it has been strengthened. I have learned over the years to be an active listener. I just let the soldiers talk. I stay with them if need be. And I pray with them.
Q: You comfort the grieving. Who comforted you?
A: I really didn't have much time to think about myself. A simple thing like my soldiers asking me how I'm doing has helped. As chaplains, we lean on each other for support. I really haven't had much time until now to deal with the demon I needed to confront. I had a chance to pray and to reflect upon the past week. God is good, and the healing process is well underway.
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