Delaware National Guard Hometown hero DE Chaplain helps mission, local orphans in Central Asia By Tech. Sgt. Benjamin J. Matwey, 166Airlift Wing\Public Affairs Chaplain (Lt. Col.) George Brubaker at Ganci Air Force Base . Lt. Col. George J. Brubaker is a Chaplain for the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard, and a catholic priest and pastor of St. John’s Catholic Church in Milford, Delaware. But lately he’s had another position. For the past summer and now extending through early December, he is serving as the Wing Chaplain for the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing in the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Brubaker is a member of a team from the Ganci Air Base Chapel program. The base, in the northern part of the country, is used to support ongoing United States and coalition military operations in Afghanistan. "We are a coalition base of U.S., French, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Australian, Spanish, and South Korean forces. Our chapel has worship services in English, French, Norwegian, and Dutch. We offer Marriage Enrichment and Bible Studies every evening," says Brubaker. Several orphans from the 'Dotskii Dom' or Children's Home. Kyrgyzstan is small, poor, and entirely mountainous Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty, with a predominantly agricultural economy. The Ganci airbase is at Manas International Airport, located 19 miles outside of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Bishek is in the northern part of the country, bordering Kazakhstan. It is only 300 miles west of the Chinese border, and Afghanistan is 400 miles away. Last winter Air Force officials named the airbase after Peter J. Ganci Jr., former chief of the New York City Fire Department. Ganci gave his life Sept. 11 during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Brubaker is working with a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) team to help identify humanitarian projects for funding. "The idea is to help improve the image of the base in the local community," says Brubaker. "We coordinate humanitarian projects in Bishkek, the nearby capital of Kyrgyzstan. Volunteers from the base help construct new housing for the poor through Habitat for Humanity. It's been very interesting working with the embassy and the CENTCOM team to put the proposals together. We have a few things going on that will hopefully make a difference." While deployed on back-to-back ninety-day missions, and on top of his normal Chaplain duties, Brubaker is helping the local community in his work with orphanages, one of which has its own school. "We’re starting to have groups visit the kids once a week. They’re a lot of fun and could use some help" Several orphans from the 'Dotskii Dom' or Children's Home. Ethnic groups in the nation are Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, and "other" 11.8%. The religions are Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, and "other" 5%. The languages are Kirghiz (Kyrgyz), and Russian – both official languages. How much of a challenge is this in communicating with the local children? Brubaker explains, "The language barrier is tough but we’re going to start teaching them a little English. That should help since no way are we going to learn Kyrgyz." The nation is slightly smaller than South Dakota, landlocked, and with a population of just under five million. Bordering countries are China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The country is part of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and became independent in 1991 from the Soviet Union. It was formerly named the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. "One orphanage we're visiting is called Dotskii Dom, which means ‘Children's House.’ They have about 130 children ages 6-16. There are several other orphanages in Bishkek too. One we have visited has children ages 0-4," says Brubaker. One of those other orphanages is named Voyano Antonoka. "Our visits to the orphanages have been weekly since early June. Some of our personnel are talking about adoption. The children are very well behaved but could use some assistance. Several bases are starting drives to collect clothing, school supplies, and sports equipment. Our people are also volunteering weekly to work with Habitat for Humanity building homes in Bishkek." The Chaplain's tent. After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Lt. Col. Brubaker spent many weeks, then months, along with other members of the Chaplains office of the 166th Airlift Wing in New Castle, helping counsel military personnel at the Readiness Center at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Two other members of their Chaplains office still serve at Andrews AFB, helping families and victims of the September 11 attacks. Peter J. Ganci, Jr., Air Base, named after the N.Y.C. Fire Department Chief who died in the Sept. 11, 2002, attacks on the World Trade Center. Photo by Capt. Kristi Beckman, 736th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.

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2002 Delaware National Guard