Church services for the LDS military group in Iraq include two one-hour meetings a day, writes U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Eric Russell.
"Each meeting is structured like a sacrament meeting all the way up until after sacrament, when we turn to lessons instead of talks," added Russell, of Lee's Summit, Mo., who is an assistant group leader.
There are about 20 who attend the early afternoon session and about 10 to 15 who attend the evening session.
But even then, they wear their uniforms to church and bring their weapons — as they do everywhere, he added.
Russell is one of the many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who is on active duty overseas. Some meet in groups like Russell, and others have had missionary experiences as they live the gospel while serving their country. Some are on their first deployment and others have been overseas several times. They include soldiers, sailors, engineers, medics and gunners.
In celebration of Independence Day, Mormon Times readers are sharing information about their loved ones on active duty overseas.
1st Lt. Kevin Pratt, U.S. Army
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Kevin Pratt, 27, who has served in the armed forces since 2003, says it's the example of church leaders that prompted him to join the military.
"From my mission president to the general authorities, many have shared lessons learned from military service.A question I have been asked a few times is how one can go from being a Mormon missionary to the infantry. My heroes from the scriptures were great spiritual men and military leaders," says Pratt, who is stationed in Killeen, Texas, and has been deployed in Iraq. Pratt, a father of two, graduated from Brigham Young University in 2006 and has also served in the Russia Samara Mission. His family are members of the Killeen 1st Ward in the Killeen Texas Stake.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Nickolas Lyon, U.S. Navy
The questions that U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Nickolas Lyon, 23, gets are "if you're a sailor, why don't you drink?" "why can't we go in that big church?" and "how many wives do you have?" writes his wife, Corianna Lyon.
These questions actually end up as opportunities for him to share the gospel. He is currently deployed in the Pacific Ocean. "Nick has been able to teach people about the church just by not doing whatever everyone else is doing in port stops," she wrote, adding that many people have been very accepting.
Corianna Lyon says her husband had wanted to join the military since he was 7 years old and wanted to be a pilot. But at 6 feet 7 inches, he was too tall to fly. Nickolas Lyon, who joined the Navy, has been stationed in San Diego, Calif., and he and his wife are members of the Imperial Beach Ward in the Chula Vista Stake.
Lance Cpl. Justin David Cottle, U.S. Marine Corps
When people thank 21-year-old U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Justin David Cottle for his service, he sometimes ducks his head but always says "you're welcome," writes his mother, Cathy Welker of Woods Cross.
Cottle, who is currently serving in a second deployment to Iraq and stationed in Hawaii, wanted to serve in the military since he was 8 years old and joined right after high school. He has cousins who are also serving in the armed forces and his grandfather and great-grandfather also served, Welker added.
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Arthur Allsop, U.S. Marine Corps
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Arthur Allsop, 23, didn't know of any other Mormons on board ship bound for the Arabian Gulf, but he received permission to conduct sacrament meeting services and also started nightly scripture study classes, writes his mother, Malia Allsop.
Through both sacrament meeting and the night classes, he has met several who are interested in the church and others who are inactive. He has also attended the Bible study classes taught by the military chaplain.
"He has a desire to learn what other religions believe and express our church's views at the same time. This has brought others to the LDS scripture classes, wanting to know more about what the Mormons believe because they saw him at the Bible classes and were impressed that he would come to another denomination's group," Malia Allsop wrote.
Jeffery Allsop, of Sandy, is stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and was a ward missionary in the San Clemente 5th Ward before his deployment, which is his second to the Middle East.
Seaman Sean Ellison, U.S. Navy
It's U.S. Navy Seaman Sean Ellison's life-long dream to serve on a submarine.
The 22-year-old sonar technician is stationed in Washington and is now aboard a submarine in the Pacific Ocean, writes his father, Ron Ellison, who also served in the U.S. Navy. Sean Ellison's grandparents served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps.
The father of two has served for 15 months and plans to continue studying history and secondary education, according to Ron Ellison. Sean Ellison's family are members of the Silverdale 4th Ward in the Bremerton Washington Stake.
1st Lt. Leif H. Sorenson, Idaho National Guard
Leif H. Sorenson was 18 when he headed to U.S. Marine Corps boot camp. Now, about 25 years later, 1st Lt. Leif H. Sorenson, 43, is a mental health provider who has been deployed to Iraq with the national guard.
After boot camp, Sorenson, of the Mill Hollow 1st Ward in the Rexburg Idaho North Stake, served a mission in St. Paul, Minn., and later continued with the Marine reserves and the Idaho National Guard, writes his mother-in-law, Carmen Thomas. Sorenson served 12 years before going back to school to pursue a master's degree in social work.
"Leif's family is very proud of him," Thomas wrote. "We miss him and pray for him every day."
Lt. Michael A. Darracq, U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Lt. Michael A. Darracq is an emergency room physician who has been deployed to Afghanistan for a year as part of an embedded training team at Afghan National Military Hospital.
"Our mission is to mentor, teach and advise the Afghan National Army medical corps to improve the quality of health care offered to army and police service members and their families," writes Darracq.
Darracq has been stationed in San Diego and is a member of the San Diego 1st Ward in the San Diego Stake.
Capt. Jared Foley, U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force Capt. Jared Foley is nearing the end of his fourth deployment as a pilot and co-pilot, writes his wife, Delmar Foley.
Foley's father, James, served in the U.S. Navy, and his brother, Robert Foley, is in the U.S. Army and has been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jared Foley, 34, is stationed in Washington and his family, including two children, are members of the Wollochet Ward, Gig Harbor Washington Stake.
Senior Master Sgt. Benjamin N. Rogers, U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Benjamin N. Rogers' childhood dream was to work on airplanes, writes his wife, Scarlet Rogers of the Pantano Ward in the Tucson Arizona East Stake. Benjamin Rogers has served 25 years in the Air Force and is currently deployed to Afghanistan.
On life overseas, Rogers writes: "It's kind of funny attending church, everyone is armed to the teeth; M-9, M16, grenade launchers. ... There's always a very strong spirit … Speakers talk of experiences they have here, not from the distant past, a lot easier to relate/liken to. … I'm making a lot of progress, spiritually, and I share my experiences with others that are struggling. They ask questions and it gives me an opportunity to share my knowledge or should I say testimony."
Rogers' father, wife and brothers have served in the armed forces.
Spc. Joshua Grimmett, Texas National Guard
Texas National Guard Spc. Joshua Grimmett, 32, and his fellow gunners have started a tradition of a "gunner's prayer" before they start each mission as they protect convoys in Iraq, shares his father, Russ Grimmett.
While the gunners were waiting for a mission to begin, one of the gunners, who is Catholic, asked if he could pray for their safety. All agreed and he offered a simple prayer via their radio and communications networks, Grimmett wrote.
"Josh immediately felt a pang of remorse as he, an elder and returned missionary, hadn't thought to do it," his father wrote. On their next mission, Josh offered the prayer. "They were all touched by his words and commented how sincere it was and how close to God he seemed to be. As a result he now offers the prayer before every mission."
Grimmett said his son has also stenciled an Angel Moroni on the turret of his gun.
"As he tells it, all the other gunners have stenciled the Archangel Michael on their turrets, the protector of infantry, so he thought the Angel Moroni would look good on his," Russ Grimmett wrote.
Joshua Grimmett and his family are members of the Arlington 1st Ward in the Arlington Texas Stake.
Lt. Col. Eric DeLange, U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric DeLange, 40, first heard about the Air Force from his grandfather, who had been a historian in the Army during World War II, writes his wife, Stacy DeLange, of Arizona.
Eric DeLange's grandfather was impressed with the Air Force Academy and encouraged his grandsons to consider going to school there.
Eric, who is a computer communications officer, applied and was appointed.
He has served 16 years in the Air Force, including assignments to Colorado, Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, D.C., Germany and Rhode Island. He has completed deployments to Africa and Asia and is currently fulfilling a yearlong deployment to Iraq, Stacy DeLange wrote.
"He loves the fact that his job is more than just a way to make a living; it is a chance to serve the country he loves," she wrote.
Sgt. Tamara Goodbaudy, U.S. Army
While stationed in Germany, U.S. Army Sgt. Tamara Goodbaudy, an Army medic, found a relative while fulfilling a church assignment, writes her grandmother, Dorothy Goodbaudy, of California.
"She was happy to discover her sister's husband's brother's wife who is her visiting teaching companion in Germany," Dorothy Goodbaudy says. Tamara Goodbaudy was deployed to Iraq during 2007 and 2008.
Capt. W. Kimball Lewis, U.S. Army
U.S. Army Capt. W. Kimball Lewis joined the Army as a reservist — with his parents' permission — before he graduated from high school.
After returning from an LDS mission in California, Lewis attended college and enrolled in the ROTC program.
"He has also had some wonderful church experiences during his deployments and is currently teaching Sunday School at the branch he attends in Iraq," writes his wife, Annalise A. Lewis, who is a member of the Lacey 5th Ward in the Lacey Washington Stake.
Kimball Lewis' brother is serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, his father served in the Army during Vietnam and his grandfather served as a lieutenant colonel in the Army. Lewis, 35, served in Afghanistan in 2007.
Lance Cpl. Gustavo Bustos, U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corp. Lance Cpl. Gustavo Bustos says "it's a dream come true" to serve in the armed forces.
Originally from Colombia, the 31-year-old who is stationed in Iraq became a U.S. citizen last year.
"I have always had the urgency to serve the country," writes Bustos, who has served more than two years in the Marine Corps. "I am glad to serve a country that has given me so much."
Senior Airman Brian R. Urquhart, U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian R. Urquhart isn't the only one in his family in the armed forces.
His father, retired Air Force Maj. Robert A. Urquhart, served for 21 years. Two brothers joined the military ranks. Christopher served in the U.S. Navy, and Michael is currently a K-9 handler in the Air Force, writes their mother, Bobbi Urquhart.
Brian, 29, served an LDS mission in Florianopolis, Brazil, and is a alumnus of Brigham Young University-Idaho. He has been deployed to Diego Garcia. "I think our boys have joined the military because of their dad's example, living outside the country (Germany, Korea, Panama) and seeing how great our country is and their appreciation for the sacrifices of others," writes Bobbi Urquhart.
1st Lt. Andrew Stockhoff, U.S. Army
During his deployment in Afghanistan, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew Stockhoff, 26. was being assigned to an area and given an assignment that "seemed almost impossible" for the civil engineer working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, writes his wife, Melissa.
"Shortly before he left, Andy was called as the new servicemen's group leader and has been given a great opportunity to serve the Lord there," writes Melissa. "He has expressed his excitement on more than one occasion about this calling and a renewed realization that the Lord knows our needs better than we do."
Andrew Stockhoff graduated from West Point in 2007 and has been on active duty for about two years.
Seaman Andrew Nolan Harris, U.S. Navy
Twenty-year-old Seaman Andrew Nolan Harris joined the U.S. Navy "to have life-expanding opportunities in a field that would give him skills for a future career," write parents Jeral Dee and Kathy Harris.
Andrew Harris is currently serving in Italy and is from the Beaverton 1st Ward in the Beaverton Oregon Stake.
Cort Hacker, U.S. Air Force
Thirty-six-year-old Cort Hacker, who has served in the U.S. Air Force since 1995, has worried about many things and those worries went with him when he was deployed from Colorado to Afghanistan.
"I have learned that through faith, my prayers are answered in very real ways," Hacker writes. "Through all this, I know that Father in Heaven has heard the prayers of one child in the middle of a war zone and brought peace, comfort and safety to my family. My fears have been taken away and replaced with peace. I still miss my family and yearn to be with them again, but I do not fear any more."
Hacker attends a military branch in the Kabul Afghanistan Military District.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Keene, U.S. Army
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Keene, 44, is serving his third in the Middle East as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2002, during a 15-month tour of duty with Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was handpicked by one of the generals as a personal bodyguard.
During times of stress or difficult times, he remembers the stories of the Nephite armies and the battles they endured.
"I am a firm believer in what we did over there and I am a firm believer in America," says Keene, who is stationed in Texas and is principal at the West Ridge Academy. He has also had the chance to share the gospel with others.
Sgt. Ira Glenn DeFriez, U.S. Army
U.S. Army Sgt. Ira Glenn DeFriez, 31, has served in church callings in Korea and Iraq as he has been deployed twice to the Middle East and once to South Korea.
DeFriez joined the Army in 2000 after serving a mission in St. Louis and is stationed in Colorado.
He is music chairman in the military branch and one of his favorite hymns is "Faith of our Fathers," which he plays on his guitar and sings in his branch, write his parents, Stan and Joan DeFriez of the Heber Utah 5th Ward. "He has strengthened his testimony of tithing and keeping the Lord's commandments through his military service he feels that every commandment given by the Lord has a blessing and when you have the Lord on your side, you can't lose," they write.
Spc. Morgan K. Iverson, U.S. Army
Even though he is stationed in Iraq without a regular ward or branch to attend, U.S. Army Spc. Morgan K. Iverson carries an extra copy of the Book of Mormon to give away, writes his mother, DeAnn Iverson.
It was two years after Morgan Iverson, 25, a combat medic, returned from serving an LDS mission in Independence, Mo., that he joined the armed forces.
DeAnn Iverson writes that her son has helped reactivate fellow soldiers and attends the temple whenever and wherever he can as he has been stationed in Georgia and Texas.
"He is currently trying to organize a church group to have meetings on Sundays," she writes. "He knows that the Lord is with him and will bless him as strives to do what is right."
Maj. Stephen Browne, U.S Army
U.S. Army Maj. Stephen Browne's involvement in the Civil Air Patrol is what sparked his interest in joining the military.
Now, the 26-year-old father of four has been in the Army for 12 years and is now on a tour of duty in Iraq
"Stephen has a great love of country and believes good, righteous men and women should lead in its defense," writes his mother, Carol Browne. Stephen Browne and his family have been stationed in Texas and now are stationed in Washington, D.C.
2nd Lt. Jason Thomas Gold, U.S. Marine Corps
When U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Jason Thomas Gold was returning from serving an LDS mission in the Lima Peru South Mission, he was delayed because of the events surrounding Sept. 11, 2001.
"He had a strong desire to both serve his country and protect the freedoms of others," writes his father, Harley V. Gold. Jason joined the Marines in 2007 after his younger brother, Paul, did.
Jason, a Weber State graduate, volunteered to go to Iraq and is there serving with a reserve unit.
His wife, Tifanee, and their family live in Taylorsville.
1st Lt. Eric Russell, U.S. Marine Corps
The LDS church group that U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Eric Russell meets with in Iraq uses the base chapel's annex building along with a Jewish group.
"It was a little strange at first blessing the sacrament while armed," says Russell, who is one of the group leaders.
The group has two one-hour meetings, which include the sacrament and lessons.
"Two meetings can mess with our institutionalized language. During a closing prayer at the afternoon session someone said, 'and please bless that those who could not make it this week will be able to attend next week … or this evening,' " Russell wrote.