Thursday, 04 August 2005
10:15 pm
Nils Thompson is a quiet kid; reserved and the most polite I've seen in quite a while. He’s a true gentleman who respects his military commanders and civilian elders alike; always letting others have the better while purposefully settling for the less comfortable. Nils is a really good friend. He always has a smile on his face when he sees me, relating his experiences since the last time we met at Chapel. He says that I’m the only one that really says his name correctly (pretty easy but I’m not gonna tell him that). Nils attends Chapel just about every time there’s an event if he’s not on a mission outside the wire. I won’t let Nils sit by himself in the back of Chapel. I always encourage him to move up front with me so he doesn’t feel left out, and he does. When I put out a call to folks back home for study Bibles to be sent over in late March, Nils was one of the first soldiers to receive a Starting Point Study Bible. He studies it often he tells me. I snapped a photo of him with his new Bible. My Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Art back in Fort Worth purchased it on Amazon.com and had it sent over for him. I made sure they received a picture of him with his new Bible so they would remember to pray for him.
A week ago last Sunday, Nils approached me after Chapel service with an excited expression on his face, carrying a second study Bible. He asked if he could take another one as he wanted to give it to a fellow soldier who would be interested in reading the Bible. I told him for sure - take it…his friend would still have to write a thank-you note to the person who donated it to his friend, though. Nils said no problem; he’d make sure that happened. Last Thursday night, Nils excitedly ran up to me at Chapel and reported that his friend had read the entire Old Testament in a little over a day, except for the Psalms and Proverbs – there wasn’t enough action in them to keep his friend’s attention just yet. Wow! This past Sunday night, I took Nils by the arm and led him up to Chaplain Tim, and had Nils relate (with that big smile on his face) how he had given this Bible to his friend and how his friend had read the OT within a day or so of receiving it. Chaplain Tim was blown away. He was excited to see the enthusiasm coming from this quiet kid for getting God’s word into the hands of his brother in arms, and excited about a soldier who had a curious new thirst for what the Bible had to say about life.
This past Monday as with most Monday nights, Nils came to Chapel for movie night on the big screen TV. As usual, Smallville (TV Series – story on Clark Kent aka Superman) was the feature. We’re doubling up on the episodes so we can finish out the season before the Deuce Four Battalion packs up & heads home to Fort Lewis, WA. As usual, Nils tried to take a seat toward the back of the Chapel. Again, I encouraged him to move up front with the rest of us…I’m glad he did. After all there’s only seven or ten who come. We’re a small group, but over the past six or seven months, some close friendships have grown out of our Monday movie night. Funny how just watching TV together can be a bonding activity. I can honestly say that Nils is a good friend.
Yesterday, Nils celebrated his 19th birthday with his Battalion buds…not much of a birthday celebration when you’re in a combat zone. No favorite flavored cake & special home-made ice cream, no presents, no Mom or Dad, siblings or long-time friends to cheer him on or sing to him as he extinguished nineteen candles. It was probably just his bunkmate and fellow soldiers at the chow hall.
Today, same as most other days, Nils went outside the wire into the city on a mission.
Late this afternoon, I saw a number of Stryker vehicles camped out just across from the CASH…it always scares me to see that, because I know a soldier from one of the Stryker units has been hit when they camp out near the hospital. It’s the Strykers and the Engineers that make up the majority of the attendees at our Chapel…it’s always a concern when a soldier is wounded, but even moreso when I possibly might know the soldier…but that’s hasn’t happened up to this point, thank God.
About two hours ago this evening, I arrived at chapel for Thursday night Bible study. I was 20 minutes early, looking forward to spending some time catching up to see what’s new with the Chapel soldiers. The Chapel was empty, except for Chaplain Tim. He was not smiling as he usually does; he did not approach me with his "Braa--haa-haad" greeting he usually throws my way with hand outstretched. I knew something was really wrong when I saw the concern on his face. He sat me down and related how Nils Thompson, my quiet, faithful Chapel friend was killed in action this afternoon. He was standing up through the hatch of his Stryker unit at an Iraqi police station when an enemy sniper killed him with a shot to the head. Nils life was taken from him instantly. Chaplain Tim said he would have felt no pain. Thank you God that Nils didn’t have to suffer a slow painful death.
At first after hearing the news from Chaplain Tim, it took my breath away. It was like someone was standing on my chest. I just kept saying to Chaplain Tim…oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I had to sit down. I felt so bad for Nils…having to go through something like that. So bad for his buds who had to witness it. So bad for Chaplain Tim who will have to struggle through a memorial service for one of his brothers in Christ and fellow soldiers. So bad for Nils’ family who will be receiving the news within the next few hours. I can’t imagine…God help them endure the pain. God give them peace. God help the soldiers here deal with this. God help us all.
Had Nils not been taken from us this afternoon, he would have been at Chapel tonight. I would have asked him if he’d called home recently & how his family was doing, if everything had gone ok on his mission today, and how was it going with the soldier to whom he gave the Bible. Unfortunately, I no longer have that opportunity to catch up with and encourage Nils. The quiet farm-kid from Pennsylvania will not be coming back.
Needless to say, I didn’t hear much of what was said at tonight’s Chapel study. As the study progressed, the tears streamed from my eyes down my face even though I didn’t really realize I had started grieving yet. I realized that getting involved at a military chapel in a combat zone, there was a chance a soldier I knew would be wounded or killed in action, but I didn’t hear of very many who were getting hit. I didn’t really stop to think that someone I knew personally would be killed in action. I mean, I pray silent prayers every time I hear small arms fire or bombs going off in the city or nearby. But I guess I wasn’t really prepared for losing a good friend.
Nils was a good kid. A brave American who fought in service to his country, fought for freedom, loved his buds, his family and most of all loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Nils had surrendered control of his life to Jesus. Nils was faithful, and found ways for the Lord to use him to reach others with God’s word.
Just over a month ago, Chaplain Tim and I stayed after Chapel service and talked in his office. Earlier in the week, some of the soldiers from his Battalion had been killed in action. The memorial service was still fresh on everyone’s mind. As he played the video / slideshow from the memorial service for me on his office computer, he broke down crying freely. He wasn’t sure of where these guys stood in their relationship to God, yet he wanted so desperately for all of his soldiers to know God in a personal, intimate way so they could be sure of the next life in eternity with God if they suffered a similar fate.
When I spoke with Chaplain Tim tonight, he was sure of Nils’ fate. Now, Chaplain Tim can stand in front of the Deuce Four Battalion at Nils’ memorial service here in a few days and with confidence tell his fellow soldiers EXACTLY where Nils is right now. Regrettably, we must endure the emotional pain of missing a brother in Christ and one of America’s finest. Right now, the Chapel family (soldiers and civilians alike) and ‘Deuce Four’ are coping with the grief of losing a dear friend and a brother in Christ. Though quiet and reserved, though not one to be noticed, Nils’ presence in our lives and quiet timid farm-kid smile will be greatly missed.
Chaplain Tim is planning a special combined worship service on August 21, open to soldiers and civilians on base. He will be sharing how to become a Christ follower, and is praying that many soldiers take this opportunity to surrender control of their lives to Christ during this service. Chaplain Tim is asking that you PLEASE pray for the soldiers who aren’t Christ followers to attend. He also would like to be sure that there are plenty of Starting Point Study Bibles for the soldiers making commitments to Christ, so they will have the same tools available that Nils had available to him. We currently have about 15 left in the Bible rack at our Chapel, which should be distributed in the next 7 days or so. If you would like to donate a Bible and have it delivered here in time for the service on the 21st (usually takes 10-14 days), you can buy one on Amazon.com…just follow the link below:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0310918901/qid=1123339592/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_1/102-8157361-1645703?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Make SURE that you put your name as the purchaser so the soldier will have a name and address of who sent them the Bible. They are asked to mail a Thank You letter to the person who provided it for them, so hopefully that will happen for you.
Thanks to all of you who have already purchased Starting Point Bibles for these guys. They really dig into the Bible now, and have a better understanding of what it means to be a Christian and how to live the Christian life. If you didn’t receive a thank-you card, I’m sorry. But rest assured, all the Bibles sent so far are in the hands of soldiers who need them. If you’d like to correspond with a soldier, I’d be glad to be the catalyst to get you hooked up with an address and a face. These guys could really use your encouragement from home…
God bless Nils Thompson, God be with his loved ones through this extremely difficult time…God be with our soldiers.
In honor of
Nils Thompson
Confluence, PA
Aug 3, 1986 – Aug 4, 2005
Brad Blauser
bblauser at gmail.com
[This message has been edited by b.blauser (edited 8/9/2005 12:22p).]
