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Lt. Col. Gary Califf: Serving in the sands of Iraq
“The heart of a servant leader is drawn to people’s needs—recognizing, indentifying, empathizing and doing something about them,” says Lt. Col. Gary Califf ’77.
Currently serving as a military chaplain at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, Califf recently received an award highlighting his commitment to service: the Military Chaplains Association 2008 Air Force Reserve Chaplain Distinguished Service Award.
While recognized for his exemplary service in ministering to and caring for the troops, Califf views service as a necessary part of his life. “When the Air Force Reserve called and asked if I would consider volunteering to take a deployment to Iraq, I thought of many justifiable excuses,” he said. “However, as I prayed I kept hearing God tell me that I should make the sacrifices, go and help. My wife, Kathy, said, ‘You know you have to go. You wouldn’t be happy if you said no.’”
Califf’s primary role is to coordinate religious services for the denominations represented at Camp Ramadi. He also services specific units or detachments whose commands and chaplains might be based at another camp. In addition, Califf handles the preparation of other chaplains in the Air Expeditionary Force.
On the home front, Califf pastors First United Presbyterian Church of Dubois, Pa. His wife, Kathy (Grimes ’73), and children understand the sacrifice that he makes in following God’s call to service in Iraq. Califf’s daughter Michelle ’09 says that his service has taught her important lessons about life.
“Seeing him put his life on hold and doing what God calls him to really shows me that it is important to follow through with the plan God has for our lives,” she says. “He has given me advice that has really helped me learn how to be a true leader and succeed in the roles I hold.”
Along with the other religious ministry staff, Califf is involved in improving the forces’ quality of life by working on the camp environment. Their efforts have been spent cleaning up debris, removing old structures, fixing roads around the camp and, most recently, repairing the memorial chapel and adding a mural to the chapel’s enclosing concrete barriers.
“I think that placing others’ needs ahead of your own is the necessary first step in serving and being generally happy,” Califf says. “My job [at Camp Ramadi] is to remind everyone during these hot and dirty months that our service to others is a godly work. We are not happy when we say no to serving others.”
– Laura Cerbus ’08