Abbot Thomas Confroy 2010.pdf - Communio

contend with now, he had an enemy within the men themselves to address and fight. Hissecond tour was much more demanding on his skills as a Chaplain. But the army was notwithout mercy.On one med evac chopper that Tom was on, one of the soldiers on the groundsuddenly became terrified, screaming and holding on to the chopper refusing to let go, “Ihave to get out, I have to get out,” he yelled. Tom was traveling back with the woundedand this soldier just hoisted himself into the chopper screaming and crying like a terrifiedchild. The chopper pilots flew him back to base. The MPs were called but it wasdetermined to charge him with a misdemeanor and not the more serious charge ofdesertion that could have receiveda decision to be shot. He wasgiven multiple assignments andtasks around the base for a fewdays, counseled by Fr. Tom andonce he calmed down, he rejoinedhis unit. Tom remembers longlines outside his tent when wordcame through that a majorPhoto Courtesy of St. Mary’s Archivesoffensive would begin. The menneeded reassurance and strength and a strong dose of faith; a way to make peace with thefact that at any second this could be their last moment. It was a reality for these men sinceby 1971 one in three soldiers were coming home to the US in body bags.12