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Westling's experiences as a circuit riding chaplain would become part of training materials for future chaplains, documenting the way his work, far from chapels or military bases, allowed him to offer ministry even to military advisors who had never received "regular chaplain visitation" or support. Additionally, his work was recorded as an example of ways that chaplains, in addition to their primary role of supporting military personnel, could also become instrumental in civic actions that could build trust with local residents.
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psychotherapist for the Tehama County Health Agency, in Red Bluff, California. In his 2006 book, "When Johnny/Joanie Comes
Marching Home," Westling combines his knowledge of psychotherapy with his experiences as a chaplain, providing "invaluable insights for ministering to the emotional, relational, and spiritual needs that separations can cause."
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In addition to writing about the need to help military personnel "reunite" with their families after extended deployments, Westling has worked to create partnerships between civilian houses of worship and military chaplains that can offer support for returning veterans, especially those who return
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After retirement from the Navy in 1987, Westling's ministry within the
Episcopal Church included service as rector, All Saints' Parish, Redding, California; and priest in charge, St. Philip's Mission, Weaverville, California. A licensed marriage and family therapist, Westling served 1997–1998 as
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In the 2005 book, "Mobile
Riverine Force," Westling is quoted as saying he covered so many units in Vietnam, from ships to small groups of men on ambush missions, that on one Christmas he held 18 Christmas Eve or Christmas Day worship services, and "almost that many Easter services." Some of
274:, where he was ordained priest January 7, 1956. He became vicar of Good Shepherd Mission in (West) Berkeley, California, in 1957. Following this early work in the United States, in January 1960 he continued his ministry overseas in the
250:, in 1952; Master of Divinity, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California, 1955; Master of Arts (Pastoral Psychology), San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California, 1973; and Doctor of Ministry,
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Throughout his career, Westling was recognized as someone strong in his own faith but dedicated to the work of helping those of other faiths grow stronger in those faiths. In the article, "Prayers That Hurt," Rabbi
325:, he established the Family Concern Unit, introducing family therapy to the sea services, which inspired the Family Service Centers in the Navy and Marine Corps several years later. He served as command chaplain to
306:, Manila. His work as a missionary in the Philippines spanned seven years, and, when he ultimately made the decision to serve as a navy chaplain, he was commissioned at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
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from war. As
Westling puts it, "When one has returned to the safety of one's homeland and family, the compassion and understanding of others ... heals and helps one leave the war behind."
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Among his many civilian awards are the 1985 Episcopal Church
Presiding Bishop's Jubilee Award for Humanitarian Service (for civic action projects while serving on board aircraft carrier USS
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298:, he was transferred as assistant priest at the Chinese St. Stephen's Parish and as assistant chaplain, then chaplain, to the 4,000 students at St. Stephen's High School,
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Following graduation from the U.S. Naval
Chaplains School in 1966, he served on active duty as a navy chaplain for more than twenty years, including assignments with the
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476:"Manual for Ministry to POW Returnees and their Families in the Long-Term Readjustment Period" Doctor of Ministry Dissertation (unpublished, but available from
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218:: first with the Third Marine Division medical and infantry battalions, and later as a circuit riding chaplain for 65 combat units throughout the
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in 1996; and the award of Senior Police
Chaplain, presented in July 1991 for achievement by the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
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370:, crediting Westling as the chaplain who inspired him to "grow as a Jew," and then make the decision to become a rabbi.
254:, San Anselmo, California, 1974. In addition, he is a marriage and family therapist, licensed in California since 1975.
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Mozon Jr., Ollis J., "Military Family
Ministry Partnerships," The Church Citizen Magazine, Nationalministries.org.
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in Africa and Asia during its 1983 and 1985 deployments); the "Paul Harris Fellow" award, Rotary
Foundation of
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After serving as lay vicar and seminarian intern at a number of locations in
California, Westling was ordained
210:, and author. His more than fifty years of ministry have included service to parishes, missionary work in the
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History of the Chaplain Corps, Part 4, U.S. Navy Nonresident Training Course (NAVEDTRA 14284), August 1988.
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Westling, Lester, "All That Glitters: Memoirs of a Minister," Hillwood Publishing Col, 2003,
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576:"Veterans Parade Grand Marshal Was a Navy Chaplain," Shasta Lake Bulletin, November 2, 2005.
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Westling married the former Marjorie Clark in 1958, and the two had three children.
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American Episcopal priest, retired U.S. Navy chaplain, Vietnam veteran, and author
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429:, in addition to numerous unit and campaign medals. He was also awarded the
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Book Review, "When Johnny/Joanie Comes Marching Home," MinistryMagazine.org
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446:"All That Glitters: Memoirs of a Minister," Hillwood Publishing Co; 2003,
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214:, and twenty-six years as a navy chaplain, including two assignments in
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Resnicoff, Arnold E., "Prayers That Hurt," Curtana Journal archives.
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Captain Lester Westing, Chaplain Corps, United States Navy (Retired)
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456:"When Johnnie/Joanie Comes Marching Home," Praxis Press, 2006,
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302:. He was also the founding vicar of the Emmanuel Mission,
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366:writes of his time as a Naval officer in Vietnam's
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595:Mobile Riverine Fore, Turner Publishing Co., 2005.
466:"After The Parade" Hillwood Publishing Co; 2014,
198:(October 19, 1930 - May 2, 2019) was an American
712:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War
270:, to serve as curate at St. Peter's Parish in
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722:Anglican missionaries in the Philippines
510:Hillwood Publishing, "About the Author."
286:) in addition to circuit riding a dozen
278:, serving as director of Easter School (
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146:Northern California Veterans Cemetery
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290:missions in the Mountain Provine of
727:20th-century American Episcopalians
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252:San Francisco Theological Seminary
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405:His military awards include the
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323:Naval Training Center San Diego
682:American Anglican missionaries
431:Submarine Deterrent Patrol Pin
282:) and St. Elizabeth's School (
196:Lester Leon "Wes" Westling Jr.
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732:20th-century American clergy
697:United States Navy chaplains
692:United States Navy officers
276:Republic of the Philippines
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677:American Episcopal priests
660:Accessed January 26, 2011.
641:Accessed January 26, 2011.
629:Accessed January 26, 2011.
585:Accessed January 26, 2011.
581:February 16, 2010, at the
512:Accessed January 26, 2011.
478:Naval Postgraduate School
244:University of the Pacific
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272:Redwood City, California
523:"Lester L. Westling Jr"
490:San Anselmo, California
421:(with Combat "V"), the
419:Navy Commendation Medal
268:Bakersfield, California
38:, as no other articles
423:Navy Achievement Medal
352:Naval Hospital Oakland
294:. In order to use his
85:Lester L. Westling Jr.
717:Vietnam War chaplains
435:Combat Air Crew Wings
334:Submarine Squadron 15
238:Westling was born in
182:Years of service
137:Fairfield, California
525:. Record Searchlight
427:Combat Action Ribbon
400:Rotary International
248:Stockton, California
315:Republic of Vietnam
311:3rd Marine Division
240:Oakland, California
121:Oakland, California
656:2011-01-04 at the
614:2010-02-16 at the
266:June 13, 1955, in
204:U.S. Navy chaplain
176:United States Navy
57:for suggestions.
47:to this page from
687:Family therapists
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527:. Retrieved
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415:Purple Heart
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368:Mekong Delta
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132:(2019-05-02)
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707:2019 deaths
702:1930 births
407:Bronze Star
396:Carl Vinson
347:Carl Vinson
212:Philippines
151:Nationality
130:May 2, 2019
671:Categories
497:References
425:, and the
411:Combat "V"
288:outstation
202:, retired
114:1930-10-19
53:; try the
40:link to it
529:13 August
327:USS
228:Cambodian
185:1966–1987
62:July 2020
43:. Please
654:Archived
612:Archived
579:Archived
484:and the
482:Monterey
433:and the
258:Ministry
230:border.
154:American
441:Writing
413:), the
329:Proteus
313:in the
216:Vietnam
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470:
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417:, the
409:(with
390:Awards
382:Family
319:Saigon
300:Manila
280:Baguio
264:Deacon
220:Mekong
173:
36:orphan
34:is an
304:Tondo
292:Luzon
560:ISBN
531:2019
468:ISBN
458:ISBN
448:ISBN
350:and
345:USS
338:Guam
332:and
222:and
127:Died
108:Born
78:Rev.
336:in
81:Dr.
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601:^
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