Manitowoc native is only Catholic chaplain at Iraq base

APPLETON — When Fr. John Schuetze, 46, a Manitowoc native, signed up as an Air Force chaplain in 2008, he wasn't expecting to be the only Catholic chaplain at a base in Iraq that had 5,000 service personnel.

Yet his six-month experience at Joint Base Balad, 40 miles north of Baghdad, was better for Fr. Schuetze than he expected.

"I was overwhelmed at first with the size of the base — 25,000 people. There's only 5,000 Air Force, but being the only priest on base (meant) I served the 15,000 Army and the 5,000 contractors as well."

Being the only priest on the base is a side effect of the priest shortage in the U.S. Not only does it affect staffing of local parishes, it also affects the U.S. military. Approximately 30 percent of the U.S. personnel are Catholics. The Green Bay Diocese recognized that need and released Fr. Schuetze from active service for a six-year stint in the Air Force.

Fr. Schuetze was ordained in 1997. He said he considered chaplaincy after looking through mailings he from the Army, Navy and Air Force encouraging priests to consider the military.

He was first assigned to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. From there, he was deployed to Iraq.

"Balad, I think, is the most attacked base right now," he said. "There were alarms at least every other day that mortars were coming into your area. (You get used to it) a lot sooner than you'd expect."

He presided at Mass daily and, on the weekends, there were five Masses, one at each chapel on the grounds. He also heard confessions each weekend.

"I spent a lot of time in the hospitals," he said. "I had to be there counseling patients and staff. We also had a Rite of Christian Initiation program. I accepted six into the church on Easter, two who were baptized. A lot of people who go over there suddenly have this urge (to get their spiritual life in order)."

One thing really struck Fr. Schuetze when he was overseas. "The thing that we think is most beneficial — instant communication between the troops and their families at home — from my perspective was almost a negative. All the little things at home, that they can't do anything about, are now on their minds distracting them from being alert and being safe."

He was also concerned about the suicide rate among troops.

"We were dealing with that on a regular basis," he said. "It stems back to relationships. That's difficult, no matter where you are. Things you can't deal with for six months you probably shouldn't have to worry about until you get home."

As the Aug. 31 U.S. end of combat operations in Iraq draws near, Fr. Schuetze is concerned about safety at Joint Base Balad.

"Balad is becoming busier and larger as everyone is coming through there as they're closing the forward bases," he said. "As the numbers come down, it's becoming more dangerous for the people who remain because you're losing the outside security."

Half a year in a war zone deepened Fr. Schuetze's faith.

"It was a learning experience," he said. "The people that I met and the faith and support that they had (was amazing). I got to meet Army people, Navy people. I worked with the General all the way down to the incoming enlisted. That's one of the benefits of being with the military, you can walk into a soldier's day and experience whatever they're doing and learn about it."

He also said that the experience of being a chaplain captain will help him be a better priest.

"It will definitely be a positive, not only for myself, but for other people. Before I went in, you'd talk to veterans and they weren't really pouring forth their experiences. I thought I was going to come back and tell these stories of what it's like, but I found I wasn't telling people at home how often we were attacked or what was going on on a daily basis. When you come home, it's not what you're used to. But what is really normal?"

After his brief stay in the area, Fr. Schuetze has returned to Minot Air Force Base to prepare for his next assignment. He said he believes he will be deployed to Afghanistan.

 The Compass