Father Stephen Gadberry

But me and my buddies, we would have a competition to see who could take the longest route back. So we would be driving back to the housing area of the base on the big forklift.

Yeah, so that was fun. While I was in that cargo unit, that's when I deployed. I was at Balad Air Base. It was a smaller compound on Anaconda, LSA Anaconda at Balad, Iraq. Huge base, basically a logistic hub. You may have passed through there. I'm sure you did. That was fun. That was one of the funnest times of my life. Like I wasn't... I wasn't kicking in doors.

Yeah, so that was fun. While I was in that cargo unit, that's when I deployed. I was at Balad Air Base. It was a smaller compound on Anaconda, LSA Anaconda at Balad, Iraq. Huge base, basically a logistic hub. You may have passed through there. I'm sure you did. That was fun. That was one of the funnest times of my life. Like I wasn't... I wasn't kicking in doors.

Yeah, so that was fun. While I was in that cargo unit, that's when I deployed. I was at Balad Air Base. It was a smaller compound on Anaconda, LSA Anaconda at Balad, Iraq. Huge base, basically a logistic hub. You may have passed through there. I'm sure you did. That was fun. That was one of the funnest times of my life. Like I wasn't... I wasn't kicking in doors.

So in that way, I was like, like I was blessed, you know, because that's a big thing to carry, you know, and that, you know, being out there. That being said, man, rockets and mortars were coming in every single day. I remember the one day I walked out of the office, you know, we got those, the concrete stuff. like walls or barriers or whatever that are around all the buildings and stuff.

So in that way, I was like, like I was blessed, you know, because that's a big thing to carry, you know, and that, you know, being out there. That being said, man, rockets and mortars were coming in every single day. I remember the one day I walked out of the office, you know, we got those, the concrete stuff. like walls or barriers or whatever that are around all the buildings and stuff.

So in that way, I was like, like I was blessed, you know, because that's a big thing to carry, you know, and that, you know, being out there. That being said, man, rockets and mortars were coming in every single day. I remember the one day I walked out of the office, you know, we got those, the concrete stuff. like walls or barriers or whatever that are around all the buildings and stuff.

And I come out the front door of the office, and right there beside the door is a bullet. It hit the concrete. It's not a big deal, but for me as a 19-year-old kid, I see that bullet for the first time, and I'm like, oh, wow, this is real stuff. And then so many of our guys are experiencing that. 19 years of preaching in the choir, most of the people listening, they get it.

And I come out the front door of the office, and right there beside the door is a bullet. It hit the concrete. It's not a big deal, but for me as a 19-year-old kid, I see that bullet for the first time, and I'm like, oh, wow, this is real stuff. And then so many of our guys are experiencing that. 19 years of preaching in the choir, most of the people listening, they get it.

And I come out the front door of the office, and right there beside the door is a bullet. It hit the concrete. It's not a big deal, but for me as a 19-year-old kid, I see that bullet for the first time, and I'm like, oh, wow, this is real stuff. And then so many of our guys are experiencing that. 19 years of preaching in the choir, most of the people listening, they get it.

I think most of society doesn't, though. And I think that's it. I had a great experience in the military up to the day I left. I loved it. But one thing I'm really frustrated with is the way that a lot of veterans are treated. I mean, 19, 20, 25-year-olds. The brain is still being formed. And the stuff that they're doing, and they're doing it proudly, and they do a good job doing it.

I think most of society doesn't, though. And I think that's it. I had a great experience in the military up to the day I left. I loved it. But one thing I'm really frustrated with is the way that a lot of veterans are treated. I mean, 19, 20, 25-year-olds. The brain is still being formed. And the stuff that they're doing, and they're doing it proudly, and they do a good job doing it.

I think most of society doesn't, though. And I think that's it. I had a great experience in the military up to the day I left. I loved it. But one thing I'm really frustrated with is the way that a lot of veterans are treated. I mean, 19, 20, 25-year-olds. The brain is still being formed. And the stuff that they're doing, and they're doing it proudly, and they do a good job doing it.

And then they'll get their discharge, or honorable discharge, you know, finish their enlistment or whatever. And that's kind of like, well, you're on your own now. I mean, like the addictions and so many veterans, just the struggles that they have. It's kind of like a lot of promises fed to them that aren't delivered after the fact. That kind of frustrates me.

And then they'll get their discharge, or honorable discharge, you know, finish their enlistment or whatever. And that's kind of like, well, you're on your own now. I mean, like the addictions and so many veterans, just the struggles that they have. It's kind of like a lot of promises fed to them that aren't delivered after the fact. That kind of frustrates me.

And then they'll get their discharge, or honorable discharge, you know, finish their enlistment or whatever. And that's kind of like, well, you're on your own now. I mean, like the addictions and so many veterans, just the struggles that they have. It's kind of like a lot of promises fed to them that aren't delivered after the fact. That kind of frustrates me.

So like the bullet that I find doesn't compare at all. to like what so many other guys and gals have done.

So like the bullet that I find doesn't compare at all. to like what so many other guys and gals have done.

So like the bullet that I find doesn't compare at all. to like what so many other guys and gals have done.

But I said, I've never been in that position. In ministry, I've been with a lot of people who've been in that position, either whether it be military troops or murderers, you know, in prisons or murderers who are, you know, maybe not caught yet even. But this in the military, I think it's a different, you know, you mentioned cheering them on.