Hugh's News & Commentary

This frontline story is told by Air Force Chaplain, Captain (Major Select) Randy Sellers in his own words:

It is early in the morning. The dark still grips the landscape of Afghanistan when the medical team brings in two US service members from the battle field into our ER at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. One look at the gurneys’ full length tells you something is terribly wrong.

Although you can see the face of the service member at one end of the gurney, the opposite end has wires and medical machines.

I eventually get to the side of the service member to reassure him that he is in a safe place and to pray for him before he goes into surgery for at least the second time.

Chaplain Randy Sellers is standing with his face toward a wounded warrior offering comfort, a positive word of hope, and prayer in the trauma room at the SSG Heath N Craig Joint Theater Hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan. The patient's face is not shown because of Air Force policy.

By this time, I know for sure he is a double amputee. His battle buddy is also a double amputee. Both are heavily sedated and have a breathing tube. After short visits, they are rushed out of the trauma room into the operating room where our military surgeons are doing great things every day. I leave the trauma room to get some rest before the sun rises and the visitation of patients on the wards begin.

I usually always start my visitation on the ICU ward. I walk into the American ICU ward bay to the sight of two familiar faces. On the left are the two service members that I had prayed with in the trauma room. I walk to the service member further away from me. He no longer has the breathing tube and seems to be awake. I approach his bedside. He looks at me and says, “Hello Chaplain.”

I respond and we start to talk about his experience that brought him to the hospital. As I talk to him, I think how sad it is that someone so young has to face life without his legs. But my training tells me that, encouragement is what these men and women need. I also know that the medical community through prostheses has been doing wonderful things with US service members that have lost limbs.

My response is to share how sorry I am that he lost his legs and declare that God still has purpose for his life. His response astounds me! "Yes, God has a purpose for my life!” He continues, “I am excited to get home and experience what God has for me.” 

Wow! I was not ready for that response. But I will take it. It is apparent that God had already been in His room touching his heart and mind. We continue to talk about God’s goodness when he looks to his right to see if his comrade is doing OK. I look behind me to see the second US service member looking over at us. Then, I hear the words that have made an indelible impression on my life. “Jack (not the real name), how are you?” I look back at the patient who is speaking. I see his eyes connecting with the eyes of his troop. The words spoken next penetrate my very being. “I love you.” I am caught in a God ordained moment. The words “I love you” are not empty or strange. They are coming from a warrior who has relied on his fellow comrade to protect him while the bullets and shrapnel have flown around his helpless body and has in return protected his comrade.

It is to these kind of young wounded warriors that I have been able to share the love of Christ and the Psalm 91 Bandannas donated by the kind donations of all of the contributors and readers of Hugh’s News. Thank you for your kind donations, prayers and support! I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a God filled New Year!

Your servant in the IPHC Chaplaincy.

Chaplain, Capt (Major Select) Randy Sellers, United States Air Force

[Editor's Comment: Chaplain Sellers explains why the wounded warrior's face was not shown:

"Public Affairs will no longer allow pictures to be taken that show a patient's face without the patient's consent. So, if the patient is intubated and cannot communicate, a picture cannot show that person's face. The picture was taken in the trauma room at the hospital in Bagram. He had just arrived and was being treated. I am at his head offering prayer, comfort and support. It is significant because many service members come in with severe injuries and dis-oriented. It is here that the chaplain is a visible reminder of the Holy unseen God."

When I read about our young men losing their legs or other limbs, I am convinced that there is a host of heroes to whom this country owes a debt of gratitude it can never repay.

Chaplain Randy Sellers will be going back home to Enid, OK, in January 2011. He will return to Vance AFB as the senior Protestant chaplain. What a glorious day that will be when he is reunited with his wife, Shelia, and their children: Haley, Jon, and Dana. I can tell you that the sacrifices of our chaplains and their families are great, just as are the sacrifices of your your young people who are in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

Randy is a native American Indian. He is married to the former Miss Sheila Vavak, the effervescent, and delightful daughter of the well-known Gary and Bea Vavak of Oklahoma City. Randy married up when he married Sheila.

In addition, Chaplain Sellers is an ordained minister of the Heartland Conference where Bishop Frank Tunstall is the conference superintendent. Randy is a graduate of Southwestern Christian University and Oral Roberts School of Theology. He has been selected for promotion to the rank of Major. He and Sheila are preparing for his promotion ceremony on Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at Vance AFB, Enid, OK. I have a photo on my office wall of the day I was promoted to the rank of major. My commander, a brigadier general, was standing on my right side, and Melvine on my left side pinning on the oak leaves. The never-to-be-forgotten celebration brings back a flood of happy memories. I remember well the long wait from the rank of captain to major. It seems like an eternity; but, the wait is worth it.

Our IPHC chaplains go where your sons and daughters go. They sit where they sit, eat what they eat, sleep under the same conditions of the troops, and work in adverse situations. They do so without complaint.  It is so refreshing to find a young man committed to Almighty God and one who desires to serve a noble cause among the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of our nation as a chaplain. Randy Sellers is one of those men I hold in high esteem with great respect and love. He is a great American and a Patriot.