arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

April 24, 2003, 12:43AM

Army clears Houston chaplain in inquiry over Iraq baptisms
By ROSANNA RUIZ
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
The Army has cleared a Baptist chaplain from Houston of any wrongdoing stemming from a published report he offered filthy U.S. soldiers a dip in his 500-gallon pool in Iraq if they agreed to be baptized.

The Army determined that Josh Llano, 32, did not coerce any soldiers into conversion as an April 4 Miami Herald article indicated. The article generated numerous complaints that led the chaplain chief, Maj. Gen. Gaylord Gunhus, to call for an inquiry.

Lt. Col. Eric Wester, spokesman for the Chaplain Corps in Virginia, said the Army also disputes the article's contention that Llano's pool was the only such source of water during a shortage at Camp Bushmaster.

The article said thousands of Army V Corps combat support troops were filthy and that Llano's "pristine" pool offered soldiers a chance to be "clean for the first time in weeks."

"The implication that soldiers were without water for hygiene or other purposes was false," Wester said.

"All needs for water were met before this chaplain was offered water to provide for immersion purposes."

Mark Seibel, the Herald's managing editor, defended the article in a report about the Army's findings.

Wester said Llano does not recall saying, "It's simple. They want water. I have it, as long as they agree to get baptized."

The Army said Llano has conducted 57 baptisms at Camp Bushmaster, where he is assigned with the support unit, but that only a few converted to the Baptist faith.

"Most were soldiers who already practiced a Christian religion and wanted to be baptized either as reaffirmation of their faith or because they had never been baptized," the Army said.