Chaplain David Nagel has a simple request: baseball gloves.
Nagel is a chaplain for the 2/135th Aviation Battalion of the Colorado Army National Guard. On July 15, the “Blackjacks,” as they are known, will leave their home at Buckley Air Force Base for an intense three months of training. In the fall, they will be deployed to Kuwait in support of the war in Afghanistan.
“We will be leaving Colorado to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom,” Nagel said. “We will all miss our families terribly, but we will serve proudly.”
Little things, Nagel said, will make a world of difference for the men and women who have become his second family.
“I can’t tell you how much it would mean for our morale to be able to throw a baseball or softball around … maybe put together a game,” Nagel said.
The 2/135th Aviation Battalion is made up of the pilots and support crews for the Army National Guard.
“If you ever see those big Blackhawk or Chinook helicopters flying around, that’s us,” Nagel said.
During emergencies in Colorado, such as floods, blizzards and wild fires, the Blackjacks become indispensable. Soon they’ll be heading into the Middle East danger zone.
As battalion chaplain, Nagel considers it his job to not only provide spiritual support, but find ways to bring the troops some of the simple pleasures of home. With the help of an organization called “Colorado Supporting Our Troops,” Nagel has secured a popcorn machine, a snowcone machine and is organizing movie nights.
“When we start training, there are going to be some tough, 20-hour days in intense, hot conditions,” he said. “When we do get a break, the guys and gals need a way to unwind.”
Which brings us back to the gloves.
“We have a lot of big baseball fans, a lot of Rockies fans, in our battalion,” Nagel said. “We’ve got a few bats and balls, but what we really need are baseball gloves.”
He would also like to get his hands on a Rockies flag or banner.
“I would love to be able to take a Rockies flag with us, maybe get a group picture of us with the flag,” he said. “We think of ourselves as a hometown team fighting for people back home in Colorado. As much as it will break our hearts to be away from our families, this will help us feel closer to home.”
If you are interested in helping supply the Blackjacks with baseball/softball equipment, visit , or call Lainey Hamrick at 303-414-6853 or 303-808-9895.
Chaplain Nagel can be reached via email at david.a.nagel@us.army.mil.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
