Photo courtesy Devin Richter
Devin Richter, middle, a member of the Louisiana Army National Guard, stands in front of equipment with fellow soldiers. He was in Iraq for more than a year.

Over there — a future BYU-Idaho student’s experience in Iraq

Tina Dean DEA05004@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

(Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part series about two BYU-I students who served in Iraq. Part one appeared in last week’s Campus section.)

After more than a year devoted to the deserts of Iraq, Devin Richter, a member of the Louisiana Army National Guard, is home on American soil. Richter will always remember September 17, 2005, as the day he was welcomed by his family back to the United States of America.

Richter was in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Arabic Peninsula Stake while in Baghdad. An average of 15 members of the Church met in one of the army base chapels, and Sunday services lasted only two hours.

Typically, the sacrament was passed after one speaker addressed the congregation. Priesthood and Relief Society was combined because usually only one female was present. Sunday services for Richter might have been a little different than services at home, but Richter says the Spirit was the same.

Richter’s beliefs were not shared by many of his fellow soldiers, and his unique moral standards did not go unnoticed.

The hardest thing was not being able to convey the importance of sacred ordinances to other soldiers, Richter said. Teasing became part of his daily routine.

“I am sometimes thankful for that persecution because it strengthened my resolve to do what was right,” Richter said.

In addition to this internal struggle, Richter was witness to a much more evident war. He could not escape thoughts of death, he said.

“I would think about not being able to see my family ever again and not being able to have my own family and live out my life. That is always hard to think about, and I didn’t like it, but that thought was always in the back of my mind, especially when you heard about someone else being killed,” Richter said.

During difficult times, Richter drew strength from the scriptures.

“I tried to think of everything Job went through, and thought, ‘it’s not that bad for me,’” Richter said. “He went through so much ... he was wealthy and lost everything he had, but never wavered in his faith.”

Richter decided he could endure the bantering of a few soldiers and, more importantly, contribute whatever he could for the cause of Iraqi freedom.

He said U.S. forces continue doing amazing things for the people of Iraq that are not often reflected in the news, such as building homes and making soccer fields for the Iraqi kids.

Though in a war, he liked the country.

“It was always really neat to be in a country, in the region of the world where most of the Bible took place. This is the land where Abraham walked,” said Richter. “The place where Iraq is now, in Baghdad, is about 45 minutes or an hour away from the spot where historians believed the tower of Babel was built.”

On one occasion, Richter was on a recovery mission. A vehicle was immobilized in the mud and Richter and his crew also became stuck in attempt to free the other vehicle.

They remained in this condition for a total of four days, during which there were no incidents of violence.

On the fourth day, help arrived and Richter and his crew were to return to Ford Operating Base, but there was not room for everyone. The next day, mortars attacked those who were left behind.

Richter knew Heavenly Father was watching over him, making sure he came home safely, he said.

“He loves us. He definitely loves us. All of us, and no matter where you are in your life, and even though sometimes we do things that aren’t right, He still loves us and is going to watch out for us,” Richter, “I learned that it doesn’t matter what sins you’ve committed, or what mistakes you’ve made, you can always turn around. By having faith and keeping the command-ments we will be blessed.”

Richter is grateful for the knowledge he gained through this experience, and is, once again, able to focus on gaining knowledge through formal education.

Richter will attend BYU-Idaho this summer.