EXCLUSIVE: [PHOTOS]: This past week, Rabbi Fishel Todd and Rabbi Chaplain Aaron Kleinman US NAVY and R’ Yosef Avigdor Todd were guests of the U.S. NAVY in San Diego. The following is an account of their trip. The week started off with a tour of the U.S. Destroyer Sampson, exploring the depth of the ship and its conditions. The precision and exactness and the investment made in supporting the United States Defense and war effort, is immeasurable. Our three Pirchei Members were escorted by the Chaplain Corps representatives which picked only 7 endorsers from the various religions. Pirchei Shoshanim was chosen as the Jewish representative.
 
The next day brought the group to the Naval Hospital in Balboa. There the focus of our visit was the unit which is responsible for replacing the limbs of those Navy, Marine and other personnel that have lost their legs, arms and other parts of their body. Witnessing young Sailors and Marines who now walk on artificial limbs and others who legs were blown off and have yet to fit with their new legs brought one totally to tears.
 
R’ Fishel went about thanking these young man for serving their country. Their young wives looked on hearing a Rabbi thank their husband for the personal price he paid. The will to live and go on by these young men was simply inspiring and cannot be properly described in words. The  Navy Chaplain team left no stone unturned in showing the effort made on the part of the Navy in supporting its personnel. 
 
The tour of the Fleet and Family Support Center was awesome. There is a phenomenal staff that literally spends every waking moment making sure that the family, children and needs of the service person have the proper support, from financial, to medical, to housing, to school, to counseling, to long distance communication. The head of the center shed another tear as her husband was again deployed after being home 3 months from Iraq on the U.S.S. Reagan whose picture is attached here. 5,000 Sailors manned this ship. The sight of the entire railing of the ship surrounded by those who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country was awe inspiring.
 
On the last day of the visit the group was given the rare privilege to see 100’s of Marines come marching in after 54 almost straight hours to proudly have the right to be called a UNITED STATES MARINE. The emotions and feelings and tears that were shed words again cannot capture.  The Commandant spoke of the spiritual support given to all the marines. THE COGNIZANCE  of G-D was a prominent theme throughout this visit.
 
Finally, of the ultimate stories was that of NAVY SEALS. Their training and state of mental and physical readiness has no measure. Only divine intervention could allow these young men to overcome the physical and emotional challenges that is set before them. Hell week for them would probably mean death for most. Of the 2500 who start the Seal School maybe 10 percent finish.  Part of their challenges is swimming 6 miles to their training area as a warm up.  We could write books about these young men whose theme of “ THE ONLY EASY DAY WAS YESTERDAY”, speaks for itself.
 
We can only say G-D Bless America for  providing for us a force of dedicated young men and women who have the talent to do anything in life but have chosen to use their talents unselfishly in defending their country and providing a safe home for us all. When you see someone in  a Military Uniform be sure to shake their hand and thank them along with your children, for you have no idea  how far that encouragement will go. TLS.