Depriving Servicemembers of Spiritual Fortification

By Col. William Connor, USA ret
The Citadel, ’90 Member
STARRS Board of Advisors

Despite the repudiation of cultural Marxism in the military with the election of Trump, this radical ideology continues to metastasize.

Retired permanent professor of the Air Force Academy, Brig Gen Marty France, wrote the following excerpt of an open letter to the AF Academy Superintendent.

France opposed cadets attempting to establish a Turning Point Chapter at the AF Academy in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and wrote in part:

“I find the Christian-Nationalist perspective of TPUSA in direct conflict with (Air Force Regulations). As a member of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation Advisory Board, the possibility that an official or unofficial TPUSA chapter could result in even more religious bias within the Cadet Wing than is already present…… is all too likely to occur.”

France and others of his ilk, attempting to banish God from the military, betray what our founders believed of the importance of God to the nation and particularly the military.

It’s time we get back to the God respecting environment in the military we’ve had throughout most of American history.

First, the “Military Religious Freedom Foundation” (MRFF), of which Brig Gen France is a proud Advisory Board Member, is a major part of the problem.

In the wake of Kirk’s murder, the founding head of MRFF, Mikey Weinstein, called Kirk a “hateful divider” and exclaimed he was “ashamed” the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates considered posthumously making Kirk and honorary member (note: Charlie Kirk was member of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors when he was killed, though not a graduate).

MRFF has attacked even the most benign exercise of religion within the military. It’s clear strategy is to scare military members from even mentioning God or using the name of Jesus around anyone in the military.

In one case, a retired Marine Corps Lt. Colonel planned to speak at an off-duty voluntary gathering at Quantico of how he gave up alcoholism. MRFF went on the warpath about this event when it learned the Lt. Colonel’s Christian faith was a major part of him becoming sober and that the flyer for the event was posted on a public board. According to MRFF, the only place for the flyer was in the Chaplain’s office, since Jesus would be mentioned at the meeting as part of getting sober. Similar MRFF stories abound.

France’s (and MRFF) views on religion fly in the face of what American leaders have believed of religion in the military.

The following is a General Order from General Washington to his Army during the Revolution:

“All Chaplains are to perform divine service tomorrow, and on every succeeding Sunday, with their respective brigades and regiments, where the situation will possibly admit of it: And the commanding officers of corps are to see that they attend; themselves, with officers of all ranks, setting the example. The Commander in Chief expects an exact compliance with this order…..—And every neglect will be considered not only a breach of orders, but a disregard to decency, virtue and religion.”

George Washington’s expectation was not unique and up to modern times American political and military leaders have shown similar sentiments.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt published the following to the military and nation after D-day:

 “Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity………. help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice………… I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.”

Which “religion” does MRFF believe FDR was being preserved? Atheism?

George S. Patton requested his Chaplain write a prayer for good weather during the Battle of the Bulge. The prayer was distributed to every soldier in his Army and printed on hundreds of thousands of cards.

We won.  Thank goodness we didn’t have MRFF and France. We won WWII openly seeking God’s favor.

Unlike Weinstein and France, I have served in combat and experienced the importance of faith in God for those facing death. The adage “there are no atheists in foxholes” bears a great deal of truth from what I saw.

I can remember the exponential jump in the number of troops attending field religious services in combat zones. I also remember seeing everyone, including Islamic interpreters, joining voluntary prayer groups before going “outside the wire.”

Under the France and MRFF restrictions our troops would face death without Spiritual fortification they need.

In getting our military back to what was lost in recent years, we are going to need to allow God back in among our troops and stop the France/MRFF insanity.

While in Afghanistan, we wore the “Shield of Faith” on our dog tags with a quote from Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

Let that verse encourage us to fight to bring God back in our military.

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Colonel Bill Connor (U.S. Army, ret.) served for three decades as an Infantry officer, including service as the Senior U.S. Military Adviser to Afghan Forces in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Bill is a book author who has published numerous defense related articles nationally and internationally. He is now an attorney and law firm owner and the recipient of South Carolina’s highest award, the Order of the Palmetto

First published on Real Clear Defense