During his 2003-2004 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Chaplain (Major) Ken LeBon served as chaplain for the 37th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne), operationally controlled by the 101st Airborne Division, and operating in Mosul, Q-West and Irbil. In this two-part interview, he discusses how he went about preparing for this deployment; how his previous Operation Desert Storm experience gave him "instant credibility" with his unit; the conduct of the ground assault convoy through Baghdad to Mosul; the full range of the religious and counseling support he provided the battalion; his organization of religious history tours of the surrounding areas and interaction with Iraqi Christians; the principal challenges he faced as a chaplain in a combat zone; as well as the establishment of a Building Strong and Ready Families program upon the battalion's redeployment. LeBon also talks about how the Army is not as proactive as it could be in dealing with the media, his work with the family readiness group, and further suggests that the Army orient its recruiting efforts more towards those interested in careers that go beyond merely being a soldier, that additionally teach people to be diplomats, humanitarians and politicians as well.

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