U.S. Army Chaplain Father Eric Albertson, deputy installation chaplain and Catholic pastor at Fort Belvoir, was recently awarded the Purple Heart for injuries acquired while serving with the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004.<\/p>\n
At the end of a Sunday Mass earlier this month, Col. Emmett O\u2019Hare began telling the congregation that they were about to experience a meaningful event.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was taken by the surprise on Sunday,\u201d Father Albertson said later. \u201cAfterward, when I was speaking with Col. O\u2019Hare, I shared with him that I really did not want a formal presentation. His comments to me were, \u2018I understand that Father, but it is important to remember that sometimes it\u2019s not about the individual receiving the award, but the nation that presents it. Your people needed to see this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2004, Father Albertson was a brigade chaplain deployed to a forward operating base in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. On the afternoon of Nov. 11, Father Albertson was in a military convoy returning from a mission to a remote outpost. At approximately 4 p.m., the convoy was attacked by multiple IEDs and small arms fire. The vehicle he was riding in was one of several that were hit. It careened out of control, and Father Albertson sustained direct combat related injuries. He was taken to a Battalion Aid station for treatment, and was diagnosed with a severe concussion. <\/p>\n
Not one to be deterred, he was back at work and celebrating Mass that same weekend, and immediately resumed traveling around the combat zone to minister to his soldiers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFather Albertson\u2019s devout faith runs as deep as his dedication to soldiers,\u201d said Col. Gary S. Patton, Father Albertson\u2019s commander. \u201cHe was at his best while ministering at the front lines or while comforting friends of a fallen comrade.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c(Father) Eric ensured that every soldier and Marine in the brigade combat team received the religious services they deserved no matter where they were located,\u201d said Lt. Col. Robert Bialek. \u201cHe knows he has a mission to be out there with the soldiers, to comfort the wounded, guide the concerned and console those who have lost a friend. He is brave under fire and that, in itself, instills an inner strength in the soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n
During his tour in Iraq, Father Albertson\u2019s unit took fire indirectly four to five days a week. More than 100 of his troops were killed and more than 650 wounded.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Fr. Albertson sounds like an extraordinary priest — and an extraordinary American.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We all know there’s a vocation shortage — and that extends, of course, into the military, where they just don’t have enough chaplains. So it’s even more unusual, and inspiring, to hear of a chaplain winning the Purple Heart: U.S. Army Chaplain Father Eric Albertson, deputy installation chaplain and Catholic pastor at Fort Belvoir, was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":365,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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