A Combat Veteran’s Liturgy
- Jason Burkett
- Apr 21
- 5 min read
by. Jason Burkett
INVOCATION:
GOD of Creation, help us to understand our role in the violence we see around us, be it war, be it domestic abuse, be it how we treat our neighbor, or the stranger among us. Open our eyes, our ears and hearts to the way of shalom.
Be with us as we listen to learn and to sit with the tension.
REFLECTION:
This video is an adaptation of Mark Twain’s "The War Prayer." You may see this uniform and think, “WOW, he has done a lot of cool stuff, lots of shiny things.” What you don’t see are the stories behind each part of my uniform, the unspoken prayers for our soldiers. Yes, there are some fun things I have done, like parachute out of airplanes and helicopters; rappel from helicopters; travel the world (Panama, Korea, Oman, Jordan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Okinawa); and lived in multiple states (GA, WA, KY, NY, OK, NC, CO). Yes, I have gained much experience in leadership, getting everything out of someone who wanted to give up. Yes, I learned a foreign language, “Je parle francais, un petite peu.” Yes, I have learned from some of the best leaders this country has to offer. I have some of the best friends anyone could ever have. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I needed help, they would be at my door, and I would do the same for them. What you do not see is the time, the effort, the injuries - physical, mental, and spiritual - behind the uniform.
You see my rank, E-7, Sergeant First Class, a senior Non-Commissioned Officer, yes, it provided for my family, but it also took from my family. It took time from them while I was away at a leadership school, sometimes up to 8 weeks away, while still in the United States.
You see my Airborne wings, both US and Korean. Yes, it was exhilarating, yes, I was paid an extra $150 a month to exit a perfectly good aircraft that was going to land anyway. What you do not see are the injuries sustained, the hard landings, the times your head slammed the ground, just thankful to be able to “walk” off the drop zone. Yes, I have Korean jump wings. The thing is, I had to be in Korea for 1 year to earn those; my family was still in the US.
You see the awards; each one has a story. The UN service ribbon, for serving in Afghanistan, along with ALL the other soldiers from around the world putting their lives on the line, away from their families. 4 Overseas service ribbons, not to mention the multiple moves across the nation and the stress that puts on our families, especially our kids. Yes, overseas 4 times without family, 1 year in Panama, 1 year in Korea, 15 months in Afghanistan, followed by another 1 year in Afghanistan, separated from family, hopefully being able to get through on the phone lines for a quick call on birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas, hoping the siren didn’t go off until after your phone call.
Three times I went to an NCO leadership school, learning more ways to plan, execute, and lead soldiers into combat; the first was when I was 20 years old, still a kid learning how to lead other kids. Afghan Campaign ribbon, showing the world that I had served in Afghanistan twice. National Defense Service ribbon with star, indicating I had served during times of conflict twice, the first being Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Good Conduct medal, showing my 20 years of selfless service. 6 Army Achievement Medals and 11 Army Accommodation Medals, 2 of which were for just being in Afghanistan. 1 Army Accommodation Medal was given to me for exemplary service during what we call a “TIC,” Troops in Contact. During this particular event, we lost a soldier, but I was still given the award. Every Sept 12, I sit back and reflect on that day.
What you don’t see are the times that I have had to drop bombs and mortars on my “enemy”; you don’t see the carnage that comes with that, the smell, the images of fathers, husbands, sons that will not come home to their families that night. What you don’t realize is how fireworks affect me, or gunshots.
You see the 4 hash marks on the right sleeve, over 2 years in Afghanistan, 27 months to be exact. You see the 6 hash marks on the left sleeve, representing the 20 years of service. What most fail to see behind the “Man in the uniform” is the pent-up emotion, the pent-up tears, the pain mentally, physically, and spiritually. I am one of the lucky ones; I only served in combat for 2 years; there are MANY others who have over a decade in combat. I have lost too many friends to suicide, to homicide/suicide.
We were sold lies by the church: be patriotic, go defend the nation, serve the empire. We were not told “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,” Matthew 5:9. We were not told “those that live by the sword, die by the sword,” Matthew 26:52. Please, do not say “Thank you for your service”; it makes many of us uncomfortable. Do not trust us like heroes; do not ask us to stand up on Veteran’s Day; do not celebrate Memorial Day - that is a day of lament. What we ask, what I ask for is this:
“Church, turn from the ways of the Empire; turn away from the addiction to war and violence. Do as Isaiah 2: 4 says, ‘He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’”
PRAYER OF RESISTANCE:
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, help us to resist the ways of Empire, the systems of violence.
Holy Spirit come, be our Guide.
We reject violence, in ALL its forms and fashions; we repent and seek forgiveness from our veteran Brothers and Sisters. Help us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before You.
Amen.
Jason Burkett has been married for 28 years, has 4 children (all grown), and is now a new grandfather. He served 20 years in military service with the US Army in many locations in the US, as well as Panama, South Korea, Jordan, and two Combat Deployments to Afghanistan. Currently, Jason travels to the Middle East, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq/Kurdistan, and the Holy Land in a missionary capacity.