May 29: In the Line of Fire

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader Podcast. Today is May 29th, and our story is In the Line of Fire. On May 29th, 2004, Father Henry Timothy Vacoque celebrated the 12th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Had Vakok been at home that day, he might have marked the occasion by going out to dinner or enjoying cake with the parish staff. But Vakok wasn't at home. He was in northern Iraq, serving as chaplain for the 44th Corps Support Battalion.

In his eight years as a military chaplain, the Minnesota native had traveled with American troops to Germany, Bosnia, and Korea. By May 2004, he'd served in Iraq for six months. Despite the danger, he dismissed his family's concerns, explaining to his sister, the safest place for me to be is in the center of God's will, and if that is in the line of fire, that is where I will be.

And so, instead of eating cake to celebrate his twelve years as a priest, Wachach celebrated by leaving the safety of his base to say mass for a group of soldiers serving in the field. The drive out that morning was uneventful, but on the return journey, the Humvee in which Wachach and his two military escorts traveled struck a roadside bomb. The two soldiers were fine. The priest was not. Vakhaq's companions knew they couldn't wait for medical assistance. They administered first aid, then drove back to the base on two flat tires.

From there, Vakhaq was airlifted to Baghdad, then Germany, before returning to the United States. For six months, Vakhaq lay in a coma, his brain badly damaged. Once he awoke, he could only communicate with the help of a computer. Yet all who visited him in the years he lay immobilized in a hospital bed say that he bore his cross with humor, patience, and grace. Awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his service, Father Vakok died of complications from his injury in 2009.

He was the only military chaplain to give his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom. By choosing the most dangerous post, Father Vacock placed service to God and others above personal safety. His example challenges us to act courageously in our own lives, embrace responsibility, and serve others even when it is difficult or risky, trusting God to sustain and guide us. Reflect today on one way you can serve others selflessly, even when it is inconvenient or challenging. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, May 30th, for another story of faith and courage in America.