Kadena chaplain demonstrates 'courage' in line of duty

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Combat in the Middle East has become an all-too-familiar face to the men and women serving in the War on Terror.

However, it's the struggle of friends and family members surrounding the hospital bed of a dying service member that can take some of the most bravery.

"I think the hardest thing we deal with ... is death - the death of an American soldier," said Chaplain (Maj.) Randy Sellers, 18th Wing deputy wing chaplain, his voice low and solemn as he recounted an experience he had while deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

"That was one of the hardest days, because you're there with him, you're there with his commanding commander, his immediate supervisor commander ... because he's explosive ordnance disposal, he's a member of that group, and that is a tight group," the major continued. "It's joint there at Bagram, so everyone knows everyone. If someone goes down with EOD and they come to that hospital, the whole group comes to the hospital. You don't just get one or two."

"It's hard to watch," he said about seeing family and friends joining the slowly passing Soldier. "It's hard to be a chaplain and say with encouragement, 'It's ok. I believe he can hear you. Talk and say what you need to say to him, because this'll probably be the last time you'll be able to.' My heart goes out to the patient during last rights."

Each year the Air Force selects a handful of its most courageous Airmen to tell their stories in a publication called "Portraits in Courage."

This year, along with 17 other individuals from around the Air Force, Sellers was selected for this honor.

Despite being recognized in "Portraits in Courage," Sellers said it is recognition of the chaplain corps rather than a credit to himself.

"In this recognition, I'm a representative of the chaplain corps, not me," he said. "I don't feel like I measure with the [others] in 'Portraits in Courage.' I didn't have bullets shooting around my head, but I did have spiritual bullets that were coming in from every side."

When a U.S. Army EOD technician deployed to Afghanistan last year was fatally wounded by an insurgent sniper Sept. 5, 2010, the chaplain, assigned to Craig Joint Theater Hospital there, demonstrated the courage it took to provide pastoral care to the passing Soldier, his friends and family while maintaining faith during the dark time.

"Major Sellers and I were assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Medical Group (Craig Joint Theater Hospital) at Bagram," said Maj. Wade Evans, CJTH Medical Logistics flight commander at the time. "This is a Role III Hospital, comparable to any modern trauma center in the U.S. Every day, injured U.S., Coalition, Afghan and enemy wounded would be admitted to the hospital from other 'feeder' hospitals, forward surgical teams and even from MEDEVAC/CASEVAC from point of injury. Many times the injuries sustained by the patients were horrific."

Evans said no matter the circumstance, Sellers impacted the morale of every person in the hospital each and every day.

"Sellers is a man of exceptional character," Evans shared about his personal experience with the chaplain. "He shared many stories with me about his life to include his personal interests, his wife's attributes and his love for his children. He was always calm and caring--not because he was our chaplain, but because that's who he is. Even though there were many times when most anyone would have been stretched beyond their abilities, Major Sellers was consistently a quiet, present advocate for all of us. He absolutely exemplifies the Air Force Core Values. He worked alongside medical professionals in the spiritual triage and care of the wounded and also in the care of the medical providers themselves."

Sellers said though he's been in the Air Force for roughly 12 years, he's been in pastoral ministry for around 28 years total. In that time, he's been around death many times, but it's always different - especially if a service member is involved.

Now as a noncombatant in a combatant environment, Sellers said the experience was more than he "ever could have experienced in the civilian world."

"I'm patriotic," said the Del City, Okla., native. "This was a young man - a young family man who has a wife and children like many others - who has sacrificed so much for my freedom. So I'm feeling the weight of 'I want to be the best that I can be,' because this young man ... has given up himself, literally, to fight for my freedom. I may be in the uniform just like someone else, but it's my freedom too.

"So when I ministered to them, it's different because I have seen with my own eyes, I have touched with my hands those who have paid that ultimate price for the freedom that I enjoy, my family enjoys, their families enjoys and our nation enjoys. I hate war. I don't like war, but I'm called to take care of those who have to go through it."