Chaplain Ministers to Many Faiths

By Marine Corps Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
1st Marine Logistics Group
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Aug. 25, 2011 - Navy Chaplain (Capt.) Michael A. Mikstay was just a small boy when he first heard the calling to become a priest.

Navy Chaplain (Capt.) Michael A. Mikstay, 56, was a civilian Catholic priest in Ohio until he decided to join the Navy's Chaplain Corps in 1992. U.S. Marine Corps photo

"I began to be interested in priesthood in second grade," said Mikstay, a Canton, Ohio, native who serves here as the head chaplain of the 1st Marine Logistics Group. "I went to Catholic school, and I saw the priests very involved in the lives of people."At that point, I thought that would be a wonderful thing to do," he continued, "and I believe as I got older, that calling and attraction got stronger and was affirmed by numerous people."
Mikstay, now 56, realized his dream, and served as a civilian priest for several years, until the first Gulf War.
"I had been a priest in the town of Poland, Ohio, and we had a number of parishioners whose family members were being activated in reserve and Guard units," Mikstay said. "It became a very difficult time, so I felt a need to respond to the crisis that the nation and the world was experiencing."
Mikstay, then 37, joined the Navy's Chaplain Corps in 1992. He was too late for Operation Desert Storm, but he found himself in the middle of a different fight just a few months later.
"My first unit was with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit -- we went to Somalia," he said. "Six months out of chaplain's school, in downtown Mogadishu, I found myself praying, 'Oh God, what did I do?'"
In Somalia, Mikstay traveled between his ship and forward operating bases in the region to provide services, along with religious and spiritual guidance and counseling.
"I had a whole lot of opportunity to get around," Mikstay said. "I went around with all aspects of the MEU." In addition to providing religious services, Mikstay said, he helped to distribute food and water to residents of Somalia.
After service with the 24th MEU and Somalia, Mikstay served with 5th Battalion, 10th Marines, at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.; and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Serving in the military has helped his growth as a priest, Mikstay said.
"[My service in Somalia] set the stage for my life in the military," he explained. "Being at the MEU level was a great experience, and it allowed me to be involved in many of the operations that the Marine Corps is involved in.
"Civilian ministry and military ministry are different in many ways," he continued. "Civilian ministry is geared toward a denomination, church or parish. Military chaplains serve people of all faiths."
Mikstay may be a Catholic priest, but as a Navy chaplain he facilitates religious services for troops of all beliefs.
"When you get down to it, the primary reason we have military chaplains in any of the services is because our nation is adamant about the fact that we provide for the free exercise of religion," Mikstay said. "It's one of our constitutional rights to be able to exercise our religion, and chaplains are here to guarantee that, regardless of what faith you believe in, or even if you have no faith whatsoever."
Mikstay said becoming a Navy chaplain is a calling, much like the priesthood, noting he enjoys sharing his experiences.
"It's a response to your faith," he said. "At this point, I've been promoted to a position that is supervisory, so I now have an opportunity to pass on to younger chaplains and [religious program specialists] my experiences and knowledge."

The hospital ship

The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is anchored off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during Continuing Promise 2011 Aug. 20, 2011. Continuing Promise is a regularly scheduled mission to countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean, where the U.S. Navy and its partnering nations work with host nations and a variety of governmental and nongovernmental agencies to train in civil-military operations. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric C. Tretter, U.S. Navy/Released)

State Level Haematology Quiz held at CMC

North Zone competition on October 5^th in PGI 

CMC Ludhiana and Patiala to represent Punjab in the zonal round

Ludhiana, 26^th August, 2011: On behalf of the ISHTM (Indian Society of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine), the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh State level quiz was held in CMC Ludhiana.  Six different medical colleges with post graduate courses from CMC Ldh, DMC Ldh, GMC Patiala, GMC Amritsar, Adesh Institute Bhatinda and RPG medical College Kangra participated in the quiz.

In closely contested competition, Drs Neha Talwar, Navin Mathew and Jessita from CMC Ludhiana were the winners and Drs Kavita,  Vivek Rana and Amit Madaan from Govt College, Patiala were runners up. DMC Ludhiana got third prize.

This was conducted as part of the 1^st National Haematology quiz for post graduates.  The state and zonal co-ordinator Dr Naveen Kakkar said that the unique nature of the quiz was that it was a 3 member team with post graduates from medicine, paediatrics and pathology.

The national co-ordinator Dr M Joseph John, Associate Professor & Head of Clinical Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant at CMC Ludhiana commented that the goal of initiating this event at the national level was to increase the awareness of Haematology as a sub-specialty among the students and the 3 member team would stress on the importance of clinicians and pathologists working together to render the best care for the patients. 

The winners and the runners up would be taking part in the North Zone competition on October 5^th in PGI Chandigarh.  The grand finale would be held at the same venue during the national ISHTM conference on 11/11/11 at 11 am.

‘Cry Against Corruption of all Political Parties is Hoax

-Anna should demand stepping down of Most Corrupt ‘UPA’ 

Nagpur- Dated 25^th August 2011

The complete U tern of UPA government after all parties meet yesterday is clear sign that all political parties don’t need watch dog independent of existing corrupt political system which has ruined this country in last 66 years .the civilian unrest and massive protest of millions of common masses has given authority to Anna Hazare to ask this most corrupt UPA step down and allow country to elect new political alternative to existing rotten and corrupt political system .India is threshold of economic and social freedom and civil unrest in clear indication of revolution but Team Anna is limiting it ‘JANLOKPAL’ and ‘LOKPAL’. country wants to get rid of these corrupt leaders and executives and demand eradication economic and social corruption hence Anna should extend the demand from ‘JANLOKPAL’ to change present corrupt Govt. and people of Indian will force them to step down ,Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti urged Team ANNA today.

‘in fact rural India’s 70% population of farmers ,tribal and land labors are real victims of massive economic corruption due to wrong policies of state .the well-established policies of giving subsidies, license and free trade ,globalization ,GM food and privatization of health care, education and rural employment are basic issues of corruption which are beyond scope individual base and policy base corruption hence Anna demand even it is conceded today will same fate that was of first lokpal bill 1069 hence present momentum and public unrest is right opportunity for civil society to uproot this US-UK-USSR BASE corrupt political rulers system to allow young generation to take over the power .India needs change and Anna’s civil movement can do it other wise bloody revolution will follow hence Team Anna should expand demand and get ready for long fight as common man is behind them,Tiwari added.

Even after 66 years of so called freedom 90% population is denied food, shelter, healthcare ,education and forced to die due to starvation ,despair and distress then there is need to change system and policies and year 2011 is set to have that change and Anna Hazare’s movement against graft is the beginning of that revolution and we urged all section to civil society to join the second freedom movement in order to save million of dying vidarbha farmers and tribal who are innocent victims of this post-independence hostile systematic political and administrative corruption , Kishore Tiwari said

“2,30,000 Indian farmers suicides in last decade is largest genocide in world history of mankind is result of on going corruption at high level that is resulting in wrong anti-poor and farmer policies and vidarbha is capital of that genocide hence our protest and support to anti-graft agitation is much more valid and legitimate hence to echo this mass genocide in all civil disobedience agitation we have been participating and extending support actively and this time too we are joining Team Anna for the same ”Tiwari added.

‘If Annaji can sacrifice life then why we should not spare come on the road to make ‘corruption free India’ ,we have decided that whole vidarbha agrarian community will join the agitation along with civil society to take issue to the final conclusion’ Mohan Jadhav of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed.

Marine Locates Enemy Fighters

By Marine Corps Cpl. Bryan Nygaard
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Afghanistan, Aug. 22, 2011 - As a torrent of bullets whizzed past their heads, the Marines in Observation Post 8 quickly dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding what could have been their deaths. As they lifted themselves off of sandbags covering the bottom of the small bunker, they looked up to see Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Christopher Sharp smiling down at them.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Christopher Sharp prepares for Operation Black Sand in an observation post in the southern portion of the Musa Qalah district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Aug. 5, 2011. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard

"What are you ducking for?" Sharp asked with a chuckle. "They're not going to hit you. They're too far away."
Sharp quickly turned around in his seat, a makeshift wooden bench situated toward the front of the bunker, and raised a pair of binoculars to his eyes. The small-arms fire that caused the Marines behind him to fall prone continued to buzz past their heads. The Marines were at the post providing support for Operation Black Sand, a mission designed to destroy a bazaar being used by insurgents to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices.
Sharp, a native of Mesa, Ariz., is the chief for Supporting Arms Liaison Team Delta, 1st Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, at this combat outpost on the western side of the Helmand River, across from Sangin and on the southern tip of the Musa Qalah district of Afghanistan's Helmand province.
With five combat deployments under his belt, Sharp is no stranger to being shot at. As a joint terminal attack controller in a unit that specializes in coordinating close air support for ground forces, Sharp has had his share of close calls.
"As a Marine I'm taught that once you take ground, you don't give it back, so I'm not going to duck down," Sharp said. "I'm going to try to [locate] where the enemy is so that I can fire back or direct the fire back on to it."
During Operation Black Sand, while the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion used assault breaching vehicles to move into the bazaar, Sharp primarily stayed inside the small, cubicle-sized sandbag bunker that overlooked their position. His mission was to be the liaison between his team and the combat engineer battalion's mission commander, Marine Corps Capt. John Shubeck. Throughout the operation, Sharp and his Marines provided the engineers with surveillance, reconnaissance and close air support.
"As long as the CEB commander is up here, I'm up here," Sharp said. "I'm supporting him. So whatever support he needs, I want to be right next to him to provide it for him."
The operation lasted about a week. Sharp was busy about 20 hours each day, wearing a radio headset and peering through binoculars that seemed to be permanently attached to his eyes. For hours on end, Sharp scanned for insurgents firing at the coalition forces, trying to get eyes on suspicious activity.
"The real challenging part about this operation is trying to find where the enemy is, which is kind of fun when they're firing at you," he said. "The real hard part lies with [the combat engineers]. They're the ones that have to destroy this bazaar and clear out all the IEDs. Those are the guys that are really in danger out there. I'm just here to support those guys -- making sure that the danger they can't see, I can see and [trying] to help mitigate them from taking small-arms fire through close air support or artillery."
During the operation, the night offered no rest to Sharp. Late one night, intelligence reports said insurgents were approaching the coalition forces who were protecting the engineers near the bazaar. Sharp got on his radio and ordered a pair of illumination rounds to be fired.
"It lets them know, 'Hey, I see you. You better relax and not start anything,'" Sharp said.
The rounds burst a couple of hundred yards over the insurgents' heads, giving away their position. The insurgents quickly scattered. Once Sharp was convinced the threat was neutralized, he caught a few hours of shuteye with his rifle, radio and binoculars by his side.
In addition to providing fire support, Sharp also coordinated casualty and medical evacuations.
On the morning of Aug. 6, a 2nd CEB Marine was hit by an IED and needed immediate evacuation. In less than a halfhour, the wounded Marine was on a helicopter and headed to a nearby trauma unit.
Shubeck said he has had 29 Marines in his command become casualties, and that he never had seen a medical evacuation executed so quickly.
"Twenty minutes from IED strike to the Marine being on the bird, ... you don't see that often," said Shubeck, a native of Centerville, S.D. "That's just a testament to how well-versed [Sharp] is at his job."
"I'm glad we were able to get the aircraft in fast for him," Sharp said. "That's the only thing I was worried about – making sure we we're able to save his life. That's the rewarding part right there: knowing that at least he survived. ... That, and harassing the [insurgents]."
Ultimately, Operation Black Sand was deemed a success. The combat engineers leveled the Ladar Bazaar using line charges packing more than 1,700 pounds of C4 explosives. While the line charges were being detonated, Afghans from surrounding villages came out to watch the fireworks show. Many of them were children. Sharp just shook his head.
"The kids around here have to grow up in this kind of environment," he said. "I've got two children of my own, and I'd never want them in this kind of environment. I don't even tell them what I really do over here. I don't tell my wife that stuff until I get home, because I don't want her to worry.
"As long as she thinks I'm safe and good to go," he added, "then everything is kosher."

Related Sites:
NATO International Security Assistance Force

SAD PANTHIC AGENDA FOR SGPC ELECTIONS

SGPC TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST

SOCIAL EVILS-BADAL

Chandigarh, August 20:-- The Shiromani Akali Dal Patron and Chief Minister, Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal appealed to the sikh masses that to maintain Supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, management of Sikh Shrines in the best possible way, upgradation of Sikh educational institutions and to defeat the forces inimical to the panth, they should vote for SAD-Sant Samaj candidates in the general elections to the “Parliament of Sikhs”, the SGPC. 

  Releasing the Panthic Agenda of SAD-Sant Samaj Combine at the 26^th death anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal S. Badal said that Sikhs have made huge sacrifices and fought numerous battles to get Gurdwaras vacated from the “Mahants”. He said that a number of “Morchas” were organised by the community including Saka of Nanakana Sahib, Panja Sahib, Jaito Morcha, Guru ke Bagh Morcha and Chabian da Morcha besides others. He said that hundreds of Sikhs were martyred, thousands were imprisoned and thousands other were brutally tortured by the British regime.

Describing SGPC as “Parliament of Sikhs” the SAD Patron said that Shiromani Akali Dal has the honour to claim that right from the time of its inception in 1920 till today the sikh masses have always trusted the SAD for the management of sikh shrines. 

Releasing the agenda, S. Badal said that people were aware of the fact that right from the establishment of SGPC, the Congress party had always tried to interfere in the religious affairs of the Sikhs with an intention to get the control of SGPC.

Briefing about the document released today  S. Badal said  that  for the information of the masses, the achievements of the SGPC in the last seven years and earlier, have been included with self explanatory photographs of all important educational institutions, sikh missions, Gurmat Vidyalas and Sarai (inns) built for the convenience of pilgrims.

  S. Badal complemented SGPC for establishing Sikh University and described it as a historic achievement of the Khalsa Panth.

 S. Badal further expressed satisfaction over the performance of all 110 education institutions run by SGPC and informed that 74745 students are getting quality education at a cheaper rate in these institutions.

Panthic Agenda begins with the three page impressive appeal  of the SAD President S. Sukhbir Singh Badal. In his appeal S. Sukhbir Singh Badal has described the menace of drugs, female foeticide, environmental pollution as the big challenges before the Khalsa Panth. He stressed that there should be a quality school, a well equipped hospital and a nice play ground along with each and every Gurdwara Sahib being managed by SGPC.

S. Parkash Singh Badal said that a long pending demand of direct telecast of ‘Shabad Kirtan’ from Sri Harmandir Sahib has been fulfilled. He also lauded the use of Internet and other modern techniques by the SGPC for preaching  sikh religion.

          Disclosing about the future agenda of the SGPC, S. Badal said that apart from establishment and up-gradation of the education institutions, a campaign against the drug abuse, female foeticide and social reform would be a launched by the SGPC. He also said that Institute of Advanced Studies in Sikhism in the name of former President of SGPC Panth Ratan Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra would be completed in time. Similarly, the most important job of authentic translation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which is under progress, will be completed in the shortest possible time and it would further be translated to different languages so as to spread the message of social equality and universal brotherhood enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib to whole of mankind. He said that SGPC would establish a wonderful Museum with a cost of Rs. 100 crore at Akali Market Sri Amritsar and  Rs. 25 crore would be spent of construction of Sarai (inn) at Saragarhi site. He said that Langar building at Sri Harmandir Sahib is being upgraded with Rs. 20 crore.

         

Congratulating the SGPC on successful conduct of ‘Khalsai’ sports S. Badal said that sports is the need of the hour and ‘Khalsai’ sports will continue with the same vigour in the times to come for the better future of the sikh youth.

( Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema )

Secretary & Spokesman,

Shiromani Akali Dal. 

64477 cusecs water was discharged from the Pong Dam

BEAS, SATLUJ WITNESS INCREASED DISCHARGE
PONG DAM WATER LEVEL TOUCHES 1387.48 FEET

Chandigarh August 21: Beas and Satluj rivers in Punjab witnessed increased discharge from Pong Dam, Naushera Mirthal and Dhilwan   in Beas, Harike and HussainiWala in Satluj.

       64477 cusecs water was discharged from the Pong Dam against the inflow of 76674 cusecs. There was discharge of 54500 cusec in Beas at Naushera Mirthal and 122500 cusecs in Dhilwan .  Satluj also witnessed the  discharge of 67746 cusecs from Harike and discharge of 51537 cusecs from Hussainiwala.       

       According to an official spokesman the water level in Pong Dam was 1387.48 feet against it maximum capacity of 1390 feet. Last year on this day it was 1370.28feet.        

Due to continuous heavy rain fall in the state, the water level in Bhakra Dam has been increasing. The water level at Bhakra Dam today touched 1667.35 feet water mark whereas its capacity was 1680 feet. According to an official spokesman water level on this day during the previous year was recorded at 1670.83 feet.        

The water level at Ranjit Sagar Dam has touched 518.69 meter whereas its capacity was 520.94 feet.     

He said that the data received from the Department on 21-8-2011 indicates the level of rain fall during last 24 hours in Madhopur 7mm, Ranjit Sagar Dam 8 mm, Shahpur kandi 7.8 mm , Shena Khera 4.00mm, Mallanwala 2 mm, Kandukhera 5 mm Sidhwan 6mm, Moga 3mm, Bhoond 6.40mm, Khairy 5.60 mm ,Basoli 4.40mm  and Chamba 9.40mm.

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