Illinois Air National Guard chaplains help in Japan

Story by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens, 126 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/10/2014)(readMedia)-- NAVAL AIR FACILITY, ATSUGI, Japan – Members of the 126th Chaplains Office assisted the U.S. Navy clergy here for two weeks in June.

An Illinois Air National Guard chaplain and a chaplain assistant performed their annual training with the sister service, while filling in for chapel staff members who were on leave or at training seminars.

Capt. Carlos Bohorquez of Beardstown, Illinois, a chaplain with the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base, provided counseling and performed Catholic Mass services at The Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Master Sgt. Melissa Macke of Marshall, Illinois, a chaplain's assistant, also with the 126th Air Refueling Wing, provided administrative and chapel service support.

The Catholic Mass was especially important according to U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Dale Wellman, a religious program specialist with the chaplain's office.

"We haven't had a Catholic priest here for two years, so Father Carlos is filling a vital spiritual role for our community," said Wellman. "Many people were excited to hear he was coming."

U.S. Navy Lt. Wilking Jean, a staff chaplain assigned to Atsugi, said he saw a positive impact having Borhorquez assist with counseling and workplace morale visits known in the Navy as "deckplate visits."

"Sometimes, we see problems developing," said Jean. "So we try to pay more attention to those shops. Regular visits improve the situation."

The two National Guardsmen were also involved with the local community. According to Macke, they helped with a weekly effort to feed the homeless in surrounding neighborhoods near the base.

Capt. Carlos Bohorquez of Beardstown, Illinois, a chaplain, and Master Sgt. Melissa Macke of Marshall, Illinois, a chaplain assistant, both with the 126th Air Refueling Wing, conduct mass at the chapel on Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan, June 12. The Illinois Air National Guard chaplain's office, from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, provided assistance to offices at NAF Atsugi while gaining training experience. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Laura Muehl)

Capt. Carlos Bohorquez of Beardstown, Illinois, a chaplain with the 126th Air Refueling Wing, conducts mass at the chapel on Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan, June 12. The Illinois Air National Guard chaplain's office, from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, provided assistance to offices at NAF Atsugi while gaining training experience. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Laura Muehl)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Melissa Macke (right) of Marshall, Illinois, a chaplain assistant with the 126th Air Refueling Wing, and U.S. Navy Lt. Wilking Jean, a staff chaplain at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, perform a deckplate visit with the HSM-51 "Warlords" prior to a launch of a Sikorsky MH-R60 "Seahawk" June 16. Macke performed two weeks of annual training for the Illinois Air National Guard by assisting at the NAF Atsugi chapel. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Laura Muehl)