European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cover Story a amps Lyndo Davidson master sgt. Eric Carlson left and chaplain capt Brady Eggleston Lead worshippers at a lutheran service at Ramstein a Germany  continued from the cover by various religious groups Boston said. Since 1973, the official position of the american civil liberties Union has been that the military chaplaincy violates the first amendment said Bob Peck legislative counsel for the organizations Washington office. Quot the chaplains Are under military control in terms of their pay and promotions the uniforms they Wear and the scope of their duties a Peck said. Quot so it seems to be the kind of government involvement in religion that a prohibited by the first  the military does no to think so. A somebody has to guarantee the free exercise of religion in the military Quot said chaplain col Michael Ashley command chaplain for . Air forces Europe. A a that a the role of the  the chaplains their 2,000 enlisted assistants and the programs they provide arc funded with taxpayer support. However the military says that the Cost is impossible to determine because the Money comes from operations funds maintained by each major command with no centralized accounting at the service level. The Legal basis of the military chaplaincy has been questioned at least once when two Harvard Law school students filed suit in 1979 claiming it violated the first amendment which slates that a Congress shall make no Law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise  the defense team in that Case was led by a jewish orthodox rabbi who was also a lawyer and an army Reserve chaplain. He argued that legislators were clearly aware of the military chaplaincy when they framed the Bill of rights and thus must have Felt it did not violate the first amendment As they wrote it. . District court judge Joseph Mclaughlin agreed ruling that the program was a valid and Legal Means for the military to provide Freedom of worship to its members. A Congress has provided for chaplains in an Effort to allow All service members to worship however they choose if they choose to do so at All a Mclaughlin said. Quot Given the obligations and restrictions imposed upon those in the military Congress May. Do no  some pacifist groups continue to Harbor reservations about the military chaplaincy and occasionally suggest that it should at least be civil ionized again Boston said. But such chaplains would have Little credibility with the people they would be serving said chaplain rear adm David White Navy chief of chaplains. A How do you serve the institution if you Are not part of it a he said. A the effectiveness is not. There if you do not have to conform to the same rules policies and practices As everyone else in the  civilian chaplains also could not be required to serve in War. That might leave troops with no Way to exercise their Freedom of religion in combat zones should chaplains decide their moral views  support a particular military action White said a the chaplain exists so that people who serve in the military arc Able to enjoy the same freedoms that everyone else enjoys one of which is the Freedom of religion. A it seems Only right that those who serve to defend that Freedom should be Able to Avail themselves of i especially when they arc asked to leave their Home and Homeland to defend our  in any event opposition to the military chaplaincy is too Small and diffuse these Days to make an Impact Boston said. A for All intents and purposes the Issue is settled Quot he said. A the historical roots of the military chaplaincy Are so deep and the system is so entrenched that its Here to  Statt writer Peggy Davidson contributed to this report. A amps Poggy Dovid ton chaplain col Frank Ornburn serves at lands Uhl army regional medical  the Faith in a sick bed and the Chapel by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau each Day that command sgt maj. William Kirk Lay in a Hospital bed wondering if he had cancer chaplain col Frank m. Ornburn dropped in to Chat. "1 less kind of a breath of fresh air Quot Kirk said of the Lau Stuhl army regional medical Center chaplain. Quot with the chaplains help i was ready for  Quot he s helped so  Kirk a wife Karla said of Ornburn. A the was Able to put to rest a lot of  Valerie Thorn Refl Clad in a to shirt and tights danced and exercised to High Energy Christian music during a tuesday morning body and soul aerobics class in a Ramstein a Chapel. Thornberry had been taking aerobic classes at the base gym but quit when she found them not to her taste. A the classes were so crowded the music so loud it Wasny to relaxing Quot Thornberry said. A a there a not a lot of people in the Chapel class but we All have the same goals the same  sgt. Richard Beuscher wanted to avoid the problems that damaged his first marriage. So he and his then Fiancee received premarital counselling trom a military chaplain in his unit. A the opened my eyes to a lot of things a Beuscher said of chaplain capt David v. Smith the chaplain at Grefrath Germany a new Suh Coni Unity of Shinnen Netherlands. Chapels and chaplains Arentt just for sunday morning services any More. 1 he More than 500 army air Force and Navy chaplains in Europe provide an abundance of programs and services to military members and la Weir families. By Law and by regulation Quot they Are Quot required Page 4 a sunday january 5, 1992