European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Feature duty in holy land turns into a dream come True Rosemary Sawyer staff writer Francisco Mirani ontes parents always dreamed that someone in the family would make a trip to the holy land. But they never thought it would be their Soldier son from Giessen Germany. V a Quot a a. A they always thought it would be one of my Sisters a said the private first class from Pecos Texas. A a. My Sisters were the holiest not really holy but they were the ones who went to Church All the time. Me and my Brothers were the ones that skipped All the time. A i guess i got Lucky and got to  the 20-year-old catholics pilgrimage to the holy land was provided compliments of Uncle Sam when his Patriot missile battalion was among those sent to defend Israel against iraqi scud attacks during the persian Gulf War. Miramontes of he Btry 4th in 43rd air do sense arty not Only got to. Take a easter Day tour of the holy land. He and other soldiers also were baptized in the Jordan. River where it is believed Jesus Christ was baptized More than 2,000 years  a a when we got into the water it was freezing a said Miramontes who had been baptized As a baby and was re baptized easter morning. A i was shivering it was so cold. A �?�v&Quot., a and after they had baptized me i get dunked in and pulled Back out it Wasny to cold anymore. I Felt really Good inside. It was something ill never forget.�?�. A a a a a. A to be baptized in the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized that was really really special a agreed spec. John Mcneely 20, from d co 1st in 7th air defense arty in Kaiserslautern Germany. A it was. Just a great  capt. Michael Dugal the chaplain who performed the baptisms and was baptized himself described the Day As a a dream come  pastor of the open Bible Standard Church denomination said he had thought about perhaps sonic Day touring the holy land a but never never doing  a it was a once in a lifetime Opportunity to be Able to preach the gospel in Israel and even worship with the soldiers there on easter sunday a said the chaplain who is assigned to the Karlsruhe military  was a very emotional experience a very spiritual experience a definitely life  at 3 30 . Easter morning soldiers in Battle dress uniforms boarded buses to head out for a Sunrise service. Dugal delivered his resurrection Day message in a natural Amphitheater that tour guides say Jesus used to preach the Sermon on the mount. A \ a a a soldiers seated some 30 to 40 Yards away could hear his voice without trouble dug Alsaid. A the whole idea of a Sermon the Sunrise service at the mount of beatitudes and everything just everything was perfect a said staff sgt. Mamie Williams of he Btry 4th in 43rd air Cleuse arty in Giessen a it was an experience i never dreamed i d have and will never forget Quot Williams was one of those baptized at the Junction of the Jordan River and set of Galilee the site which is regularly used for pilgrimage baptisms pics North of w Here Jesus is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist tour guides told Dugal that the w Ater is too shallow for baptisms in the historical site just a East of Jericho Dugal and a Reserve rabbi from new York had the Job of ministering to the nearly 700 soldiers front 32nd army air defense coins who made up task Force Patriot defender in Tel Aviv and i Laii a Israel. A a. The chaplain said he began looking at possible easter excursions shortly after arriving in Israel a on Jan. 10, commander s had told him a if we re Here at East Ergo for it a Quot he said. Original plans to visit the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem had to be scrapped for Security reasons he said. As it was 20 israeli armed guards accompanied the five busloads of soldiers on the tour which took them to such Sites As the sea of Galilee where Jesus is said to have multiplied tie fishes and loaves Capernaum and the mount of beat. Stud is. Security Wasny to the Only Factor that threatened to squelch the soldiers plans Dugal said. At one Point it looked As if the service would have to be cancelled because there was so much work to be done to get ready for the units return to Germany that week. But some com Manders intervened. One of t hem was maj. Richard Ferguson executive officer Lor 1st in 7th air defense arty. The troops pulled to go Thor and successfully accomplished their task so the easter plans did no to have to be disrupted Ferguson said. A it was one of those things that needed to be done a Ferguson explained. A people can to spend easter sunday in the i Loly land without having an Opportunity to be where god has  a a a for a amps Jam gut Arroz pfc. Francisco Miramontes is baptized in the Jordan River by chaplain capt Michael Dugal. Sgt. 1st class Matthews Jones right is a Lay minister assisting Dugal.april-28, 1991 sunday a Page 7