Capt. Brian Murphy's job is not just to fight for the souls of his soldiers, he said, but to give hope to the people of a nation destroyed by war.

Whether he is giving food and blankets to Iraqis or helping his soldiers keep their faith, the Cayuga County native and U.S. Army chaplain said he represents the shifting military role from warrior to vanguard in the reconstruction of a new nation.

Originally from the Cato-Meridian area, Murphy is currently a member of the Army's 101st Airborne Division and is stationed in Iraq. Prior to joining the 101st, he was a chaplain in the 108th Army National Guard, stationed in Auburn.

Murphy, who now lives in Dover, Tenn., when he is not in Iraq, said by phone this week that he misses his two children, Mason, 5, and Maddie, 9, his wife, Amy, as well as his friends and family in Cayuga County.

While he won't get to see his family until an 18-day leave next month, Murphy does get to talk to his wife and children daily, he said. His friends and family will also talk to him through e-mail or send him packages in the mail to show their support to the troops and the Iraqi people.

A lot of the packages Murphy receives have food and clothing that can be given out as humanitarian aid, he said. The role of the Army in Iraq, Murphy said, has shifted from waging war to supporting the new Iraqi government and its people. The Army will often conduct patrols, where both soldiers and doctors go out and offer support to villagers in the form of supplies and medical aid, Murphy said.

Stationed near Mahmudiyah, Murphy said these patrols show how much the area has improved. A part of the “Triangle of Death,” the area saw fierce clashes between Iraqi insurgents and allied forces in 2004. Insurgents would kill civilians, police and reporters and engage Allied forces on a daily basis.

“It was pretty bad, but now it's better,” he said. “We have gone out and made it safe for kids to go to school again.”

The soldiers also guarded a religious Ramadan walk which saw more than 2.2 million people traveling from Baghdad to the Shiite Muslim city of Karbala. A large portion of the trek required observers to walk through the “Triangle of Death” exposing themselves to insurgent attacks. Murphy said the soldiers worked around the clock to watch over the people participating in the walk to ensure their safety.

But that often means the soldiers have to risk their lives.

“When you hear one of your guys is hurt or worse, you dread being woke up in the middle of the night,” Murphy said. “Many times we are woke up and it's not good news and you dread those nights.”

But when you have people who are willing to put their life on the line for their country, Murphy said it was a bad idea to keep them away from their families for too long. With soldiers serving extended tours of 15 months instead of the standard 12, he believed the soldiers' personal lives were being subjected to too much stress.

“It was a very bad choice to make it a 15-month tour, but I'm no politician,” Murphy said. “It's affected all of our families. It is an honor to give to your country, but when it damages your family you have to stop and think. Making tours longer and longer is not right.”

Even though he disagreed with the length of his tour, Murphy believed he was needed in Iraq.

“I felt God wanted me to do this,” Murphy said. “I don't like it here, but I need to be here. I just knew I needed to be here.”

Murphy said the highlight of his tour has been helping his soldiers find Christ. As a chaplain, Murphy's job often involves holding church services or conducting baptisms and offering Holy Communion at a chapel in an Army base or at an isolated patrol base in a nearby village. Because conditions at patrol bases are rustic, Murphy said he and the men have to make the best of what they have.

“At a patrol base its just me and a bunch of guys singing and worshipping,” Murphy said. “We praise God in all things.”

Even in a country so far away from home, Murphy and his men found a way to spread some holiday cheer on Christmas.

“We had some non-denominational services, told Christmas stories and sang Christmas carols,” Murphy said.

Some of the soldiers even made a Christmas tree out of spare parts lying around the base. But they had to hold off on Christmas lights at night since it could give their position away, Murphy said.

“But we did the best we could with what we had,” he said.

Every day, the soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division have given their best to support the Iraqi people and each other, Murphy said.

“A lot of these guys, I'm proud of them,” Murphy said. “I'm proud to serve with guys like them. I don't think people realize what it's like to be in a place like this and to always give of yourself. I hope the people back in the states realize this.”

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net