European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 4, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse A. Elden Woodland the boxing chaplain s assistant Story ind photo by John Millar Wiir Burg Bureau Dun i let Cpl. I Den Ati h you nodding fit in i Stitth. If you in. Semi Ted out that he has it mean right Cross to b a Deiure joining i he Arnu Iki Sears ago. Woodland i i s assigned in tin Ltd in Mill Armor in is Imei Turl West , was ranked huh in the nation in inning s lightweight lass. Kinn a is the boxing Haj Ilain s assistant by members of Ilis unit Woorell ind he gels his share in of big Guys in the unit things like if you Dnn i go in i him h. Woody s going to beat you up " i in Washington do. took top honors in the t i and 87 All army boxing championships while stationed to Lort Bragg. . I Dun t consider myself a Hap Lam s assistant bul a member of the unit ministry team Woodland says. You think of n chaplain s assistant you think of these a Imp dudes Vilh glasses. But being part of a unit ministry team Means you do a lot More Ihan just drive the i around. Driving is Only one of Ilis Many duties i m More like a i be explained thai chaplains Are not required to .ir.". Weapons. During , Bantam s assistants would not Only handle administrative work but also provide Over Serues Are being held. Woodland Boss. Chaplain Dpi Stephen Seibel . When it omes Don to War i know he has the in flexes to protect and. Seidel explains having i Lover or a chaplain s ivs to helps the Overall Misdom of the unit s entrusts in of the thing1 that a ,tin s assistant has to Ovik fit i is the radar o Sivilie syndrome Seibe Sas. Adding that the pert up inn 011 a Plain s assistants As wimpy types makes it Altti ult Ell in Woodland Worts out in the Conn Barracks gym. Maintaining our credibility with the command and the troops. Asa Boxer Cpl Woodland has overcome that rather i Laving a Boxer for in assistant might lie a Relief for most Ali Plains. However Woodland says that s not the Case with Seibel. Who is a Wei Gillil Ter. He s very muscular. I be does t need Woodland does l consider him a of a very religious person although he says he grew up a Catholic and still lines the Faith. I went to every sunday and i still i yen though he s capable of pulverizing opponents in the ring he says Soldier come to him with their problems because Many Are afraid of officers even i. . I be considers himself the chaplain s eyes ail ears when in comes to problems in the unit. Shedding his camouflage Lor sweats at the end of tin Day. Woodland Heads Lor the gym on Conn is i the jumps rope use. A punt hmm bags and does aerobics to maintain his Ihling Edge. Because his Job does t allow him time to train during the Day Woodland says he spends a lot of i Iree Lime away from his family. I be s married with two children. The 25-year-old says a lot of my time is spent Here in the gym. When 1 gel Home i Lake a Bath and go to individual Effort seems to work for Woodland. He. Took a Silver medal in the recent Vii corps tournament in Augsburg. As sch Veinfurt s Lone representative he won his first two fights he lost the third to an old Friend Ricky Nunn of Bamberg. Capturing the Silver meant a Slot in a training Camp to prepare boxers for the us Arius tournament this Svee Kend. Woodland Hopes to bring Back a Gold modal from Mannheim and go on to All army. Until then hell keep working out by night and working for the chaplain by Clay. I guess it is an Odd Job As far As being a Boxer he says but not if i want to protect this Garcia ,. T Init nut it i run n even the pros. But first the t on Bat Engineer assigned to b co. 1 Ali in. In Revheim had to Start his ascent at command level a cutting Loose the knuckle artillery. There s Little doubt when the bout that Gak a is .1 dude of the ring. I in i junkyard dog glaring at a trespasser Garcia ii is his gae on his opponent. I Lesh. Kids. Take a chunk out of Hern. A big chunk. Bang bang Garcia s launches Are a bit tentative at first. Then suddenly Flash. They Start piping. His opponent Craig Thomas of Giessen reels. Thornas Gung Leo Victory thought turn to jello in these Ond round. Garda hits the Button with a left Hook and follows with an onslaught f Jutnas counters bul Garcia s defense wards Oil the k. Garcia heats up again. I unt lies rain Down from by Ervy there then zip they sprout from nowhere i Homas lakes an eight count. I her in the round he takes another. Now it s Natter of survival. Garcia digs in but Thomas w on t Godow n. 1 he tight goes the distance and Garcia. Who will fight in the 12s-Pound Feather weight i lass at us Artur is the v corps open lightweight 1 \1 Pound c Hamp. He s 125 pounds of Texas int Toh a fuse lit Bai k in his Hometown of Dallas. After the fight he looks Sali Mied when i finish i feel Good he says with a smile. It it s Oer fast i m Kinda us Sel. I like to gel a a k in 1988, though it would be helped Garcia to have one of those upsetting Type fights. One of those one punch hobbies. Ii was Houston june 1988, the Texas boxing championships. Garcia was shooting for a spot tin the olympic team. 11e worked his Way up through the tedious and demanding series of qualification bouts and reached the lightweight quarterfinals paired against two time National Amateur Champion Kelcie Banks the Chicago native fighting out of Houston. I lost a decision Garcia says glumly. There s not Mali to Tell. I gave him my Best t be s Tail and i tried to work inside. It was a close decision. I feel i gave More Ihan he did bul he was ranked no. I and it s hard to beat a Guy like 10 St rift Mega Mcrury 4, 1989
