Mo. chaplain finishes work for children, women in Afghanistani

ROLLA, Mo. -- When the U.S. Army asked for a chaplain to serve alongside soldiers in battle zones in Afghanistan, they got much more than a spiritual leader.

The 325th Army Field Hospital and the people of Afghanistan got Capt. Richard Krenning and the support of two central Missouri towns.

When Krenning arrived in Bagram, Afghanistan, he saw the need to make life better not only for the soldiers, but also for local residents.

Since last August, Krenning and Rolla native Sgt. Kevin Schallion have spearheaded a drive with the people and businesses of Rolla and St. James to supply shoes and school supplies to children and women in Afghanistan. The collection process ends this month.

Through his duty as a chaplain for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Krenning left within weeks of being asked to go to the Middle East this summer.

On a visit with a Marine unit to an Afghan school he noticed essential school supplies and shoes for the children were lacking.

Krenning's wife, Judyann, said her husband got right down to business.

"He's a marvelous man. He calls himself a worker priest," she said.

DeLisa Akers-Keepes volunteered her garage as a collection point for the goods. She estimated thousands of shoes, 10,000 notebooks, several hundred backpacks filled with supplies and 4,000 stuffed animals have passed through her garage on their way overseas. Many times, 500 boxes have been shipped at a time for Krenning and others to distribute.

Krenning returns home in February. His wife said everything will be left in place and ready to resume if the new chaplain should decide to continue the effort.