ND National Guard faces chaplain shortage

[unhappycamper]

ND National Guard faces chaplain shortage
The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Mar 7, 2009 16:03:40 EST

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s staff of chaplains is about half-strength after the retirement of longtime state chaplain Col. Jeff Franko.

Franko, 59, who served as the head chaplain for 16 years, retired Saturday. Guard spokesman Lt. Dan Murphy said Franko will be succeeded by Col. William Ziegler, who currently is serving at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

“Chaplain Franko has selflessly served his fellow guardsmen extremely well during his tenure as our state chaplain,” Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, the state Guard commander, said during Saturday’s retirement ceremony for Franko in the Bismarck armory. “He has been called upon countless times to comfort, counsel and provide spiritual guidance to our citizen soldiers, citizen airmen and their families.”

Ziegler has served in various chaplain assignments with the Fargo-based 119th Wing and the state Guard headquarters. He is expected to be replaced at Hickam in June.

Maj. David Johnson, state chaplain for the Army Guard, who served under Franko, said the Army side of the Guard has only four of eight chaplain spots filled. The Air Guard has two chaplains, with a third open slot.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_nd_chaplains_030709/%2e