There were men called "army chaplains."

[Mutualcode at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/2/2003 7:25:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
pynchonoid at yahoo.com writes:


> Still, both Caraway and Thomas understand that they
> will be surrounded by death on the battlefield, and
> both realize they will not be immune from the
> potential of death at the hands of the enemy. In fact,
> both men have discussed the issue of death with their
> families.
> "The same question I ask officers about their soul is
> a good confrontation for me," Caraway said. "I ask
> myself if I'm doing everything I can each moment to
> advance the Kingdom of God. [...]
> 

One difference between chaplains and enlisted men during 
times of war may be that when lack of combat is finally
achieved, chaplains (and doctors) are supposedly still very 
much in a war with sin and death, often on the front lines. 
Although, as Tolstoy makes clear in The Death of Ivan Ilych, 
social role is no guarantee of honorable behavior.

War has often been viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate
the greatest of human potential- individually and collectively,
which works well on the psyche's of young men. Maybe it's
peace that is the problem, or the inability of so many to see
peaceful behavior as just as big a challenge as war.

respectfully

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