YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.

Some U.S. Soldiers in Iraq Seek Baptisms (Hrvoje Hranjski, AP, 8/24/03)

With war and death on his mind, Spc. Barry Page was baptized Sunday in the Tigris River by an Army chaplain at the sprawling U.S. military headquarters on the fabled river's banks.

A Southern Baptist working as a military policeman, Page said he decided to 'reannounce his life to Christ' in the birthplace of civilization.

'I realized death is walking in this place,' said the 22-year-old from Houston, his uniform and boots soaking wet. 'It can be any of us. Next time it could be me.'

The temperature was 120 as Page and three other soldiers waited outside one of Saddam Hussein's palatial complexes to take their turn in the water. The baptism took place behind the palace, where the river waters surround an artificial island overgrown with palm trees.

'This ground has a historical, biblical meaning,' Page said. 'I can say I was in the same waters. I'm glad I found peace with God.'

Each of the soldiers took careful steps into the arms of Army chaplain Capt. Xuan Tran, of the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 22nd Regiment. Waist deep in the river, Tran briefly submerged the soldiers, recited a verse from the Bible, and proclaimed 'Amen' three times.

The quintessential American story. Posted by David Cohen at August 24, 2003 7:58 PM