So far, my class (2003) has lost three people to this war. Two of them were killed in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. In just six months, my squadron lost five soldiers. It has been a costly war, but I am glad to be doing my part. The media fails to show what we are doing for the Iraqi people. We are giving them the right and ability to live their own lives. This is the ancient land of the biblical cities of Ur, Babylon, and Nineveh. At no time in its history has it been free from conflict. The people of Iraq have never seen the end of war.
Regardless of the motivation we had to start the war, I want to finish it to give the Iraqis a chance at a better life. My squadron has been fighting here in Tal Afar, 60 miles west of Mosul, for six months and we are starting to make progress. We are clearing out the insurgents and, at the same time, rebuilding the infrastructure and securing the area. Our job was to ensure the Iraqis would be able to vote in safety in the elections. We can all be proud of the difference we have made.
I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in the Armor branch. After the Officer Basic Course in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, I was stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado, and assigned to the 3rd Armor Cavalry Regiment. I was sent to Iraq for the very end of the first deployment where I took over as a tank platoon leader responsible for 16 soldiers and 4 tanks. I had spent only two months in Iraq when we redeployed to Ft. Carson, Colorado. There we spent nearly 10 months training for our next deployment back to Iraq. During that time, I was moved out of my platoon and put into the S-4 shop (supply and logistics). Although I was not happy with the decision at the time, I thank God for it. This move has afforded me opportunities I would never have had otherwise. God has shown me I have a talent for logistics. I assist in all the supply and logistics for the squadron, which consists of over 1,000 people. In fact I decided to change branches to Quartermaster so I can do this job for the rest of my time in the Army.
I have also had many opportunities to witness during this deployment. I work in a bunker on the camp. Because of the close quarters, we have engaged in several conversations about knowing God and trusting in Him. Many soldiers have asked me why I am different. They wonder why I don’t talk about sexual conquests and partying and why I don’t swear. This gives me the chance to tell them how I have given my life to God. Recently, my shop stayed up until midnight talking about why bad things happen to good people and how to put one’s trust in God and in His plan. The one thing I pray for more than anything is that God will help me maintain my witness. We work and live together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There is no room for error and the Army is not known for being a very Christian organization. It is difficult, but, with God, I know we will make it.
Please pray for our soldiers all over the world. Pray, not only that God will keep them safe, but that God will touch their hearts and lead them to a saving knowledge of Him. Pray that the Christian soldiers will be able to be a witness to their comrades, because, “who knows but that [they] have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
Mark Juntunen, the Assistant Squadron Logistics Officer and Squadron Unit Movement Officer for 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Tal Afar, Iraq, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2003. He is the second of three sons of Revs. Mike and Nancy Juntunen, pastors of the Open Bible Church of Austin, Minnesota. Mark married Nadine Juntunen on February 11, 2005.