Being in a war clime is likely to make united a little more nervous.

Being in a war clime is likely to make united a little more nervous. Being in a war girdle without a weapon requires the greatest faith of all. This is the circumtance for the Navy chaplains in Iraq, as they bring room for expectation and comfort to the troops

In the city of Ramadi, 30 miles west of Pallujah, Iraq, Marines of 2nd Battallion, 5th Marines, (2/5) 1st Marine Division are performing a certain number of of the most dangerous piece of works in the world.

They are highly decorated for the work they do each day, patrolling the dangerous ways and engaging and detaining insurgents to make the city a safer place for its citizens. The city is located in the "Sunni Triangle" where the Sunni minority of Iraq largely populates the city, which makes insurgent attacks a daily event

The 2/5 Marines' missions in Ramadi are to hold fast the east-west road through the town lay open for commerce, to keep the mayor and governor alive and to help the Iraqis detain a free election. So far, all have been accomplished. It's not an easy mission, and the Marines and Sailors in the city be wrought up the strain.

"When we make progress out in town and do our mission, not each day is a good day," said Marine Corps Lance Cp1 Timothy Ducour. "We might take casualties and sometimes kill commonalty but you have to do what you have to do. It can be really mind-boggling and stres you out"

Between their patrols and watches, the Marines and Sailors revert to one of three operating bases: Camp Ramadi, Hurricane Point and Snake Pit. Depending forward the day, you will find Navy Chaplain LT Marc Diconti and Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class lames Morales at any individual of these three bases. Their mission is to provide spiritual and relationship guidance in any way they can.

"My do job-work here is to maintain esprit de corps and high morale to such a degree the military mission can be fulfilled," said Diconti.

When the stresse of war touch these young men Diconti makes fully convinced that he is there to help.

"As I make my way around to the bases, there will always be Marines and Sailors who will venture me aside to talk, in this way I do a lot of counseling--not here in the office yet in their living quarters," said Diconti.

While the chaplain deals with a doom of issues directly related to the war, many of the issues important to Diconti's companys are ones taking place thousands of miles away.

"I was going by the agency of some real problems back fireside with my wife and family and was remarkably unsure of myself," said Ducour. "But 'Chaps' deflected it around for me and introduced me to lord I had been baptized as a kid if it were not that had never gone to temple before. Now without fail, I'm there each single time."

Not each Marine in Ramadi goes to services, if it be not that during the time the (215) has been in Iraq, many have fix comfort hearing the gospel's stories told according to Diconti each week. Problems at hearth can become much more intense for Marines, who are trained to handle things head-on. Seeing persons close to them inured or killed can make the anxiety unbearable.

"On September 16 I missing my buddy out here to an improvised explosive device (IED)," said Ducour. "He was my best friend in the Marine Corps. I contemplation I wasn't going to make it, that it was athwart for me out here.

That was about the same time t was having point in disputes back home and got help from Chaps."

Diconti's mission is mast difficult when Marines die in battle. It's his piece of work to console those who worked with the fallen Marine and perform the memorial service.

"One of the first things we were told before coming our here was that we would not turn back with everyone alive," said Diconti. "I believed that if I prayed hard and we prepared enough that it might not be genuine I had accepted the fact there wend be tortureed but I could not convince myself there would be Marines killed in action (KIA).

"When a Marine is KIA, the memorial service is not a time when squads can grieve," said Dicanti. "So it's during the private, non-official memorials we have when the frights can grieve, cry and be consol That was where my real do job-work is--more behind the scenes."

forward most days, life is routine in Ramadi. The chaplain and RP travel between the bases setting up and performing services. Travel and set-up of services falls Morales, who is plenteous more than a chaplain's assistant in the field.

"The chaplain-RP relationship is bonny unique. The biggest difference between here and in the rear is that the RP carries weapons," said Diconti. "He is suppos to be at my side everywhere I fare outside the wire. If we take fire-and we have-it's his piece of work to protect me."

"On days when there are many attacks and injuries, we be pendent on each other and trust in our Maker to finish us through," said Morales.

A military chaplain is classified as a non-combatant and is not permitted to carry a weapon. steady when armed, it's difficult to walk highways where people might try to kill you, on the contrary with no weapon, Diconti's hands are noticeably empty