When the war

in Iraq was gearing up, I heard on the evening news that the media would

be given full access to the battlefield and would be accompanying our

troops. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. I said to my wife, who was

watching with me, that this horrible mistake would be the beginning of

the end.

I was, of course,

referring to the way we were totally sold out by our media in Viet Nam.

I just couldn't believe America had not learned anything and was willingly

making the same mistake again. I never thought I would be saying this

but I was wg! (I used to love it when the "Fonz" on "Happy

Days" could not say the word "wrong.")

I hope I am

not speaking too soon because the war is, in my opinion, being waged with

superb coalition leadership and totally dedicated soldiers and I must

admit that the media, because of the "toothpaste tube," is,

so far, handling themselves honorably. Actually, it's about time that

they join the "coalition of the willing" and work for America,

and not our enemies as did Jane Fonda and others.

If your wondering

what this reference to the "toothpaste tube" is, let me explain.

When a soldier is living out in the field, no matter what environment

he or she is in will be reflected in their "toothpaste tube."

When I was the Division Chaplain of the 6th Arctic Light Infantry Division

with our Headquarters in Fairbanks, Alaska, we conducted many field exercises.

The most "fun" was the one conducted in the dead of winter at

Fort Greely, which, I might add, is the largest training site in the free

world.

Now Fort Greely

is located south of Fort Wainwright (Fairbanks) and the place where all

US Forces receive their cold weather winter training. It was also the

cold weather test center for American industry to test equipment for sub

zero use. To give you an idea of how cold it gets there, it is on the

same longitude and latitude as Siberia. The names of the exercises were

"Brim Frost" and "Arctic Shield." It was in this environment

that we trained to fight and survive.

On the last

exercise that I participated in, it got down to 50 degrees below zero

and we were in tents. Many Americans will never know the sacrifices American

servicemen and women make for this country and our freedoms.

Here is where

the toothpaste tube comes in. If you survive sleeping in the minus 50

degrees below zero and you awake to start another day in the Arctic, you

begin with the normal functions like anywhere; this being the brushing

of your teeth. Well, all is well until you encounter a totally frozen

solid tube of toothpaste. Now you have several options open to you. You

can take it over to the glowing cherry red yukon stove and begin a "drop

it on the stove but keep it moving in a BBQ rotisserie fashion,"

or you can leave it on too long and have melted toothpaste tube and burnt

toothpaste on your brush.

There is, of

course, another option. You can unbutton the many layers of Arctic clothing

and put it under your arm to slowly warm it. This, of course, has its

problems because you have just let out any warmth your shivering body

has created. Then there is the shock of the frozen toothpaste tube under

your arm.

Some soldiers

tried keeping the toothpaste tube in the sleeping bag with them. This,

of course, has its problems because you can imagine what a tube of toothpaste

can do to a person and their sleeping bag while they toss and turn all

night to stay warm. I saw some often comical, but at the same time tragic,

situations of someone who woke up to endless toothpaste all over them.

Then there is the joy of getting some "unfrozen" water to clean

up the mess. The beat goes on!

I am saying

this to point out that the idea that to have the press accompany the front

line and rear troops was brilliant. These men and women are finally learning

what our gallant troops face on a daily basis. I certainly do realize,

however, that many of the press teams are living in grand hotels while

our troops brave sand storms and real hardships of live combat. It will

be interesting to see when real serious problems do occur with this war

with Iraq, and they will, that the media who were on the front lines with

our soldiers remember the "sand in their toothpaste" and not

sell out in their reporting of what President Bush and our "coalition

of the willing" is trying to do.

God Bless our

Godly President, his entire staff, our allies of "the willing,"

our soldiers of all branches, and the true reporters who remember the

"sand in their toothpaste." Long live freedom and the soon liberation

of the Iraqi people.

The Rev.

Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev.

Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the

Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The

church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of

Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church

office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected]. The church's

new Web site is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com.

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