Chaplain (Maj.) Jeff Struecker joining staff of Calvary Baptist Church

U.S. Army Chaplain (Maj.) Jeff Struecker is the new associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church on Old Moon Road.

In the Army since enlisting in 1987, Struecker is an ordained Southern Baptist minister. In 1993, he was one of the Rangers assigned to a peacekeeping mission in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Struecker survived a battle with insurgents in Mogadishu. From there, he pursued ordained ministry.

He was later featured in "Black Hawk Down."

Retiring from the Army last summer, he said he and his wife Dawn prayed about what to do next.

The Rev. Don Wilhite, pastor of Calvary, offered him the associate's job in December. Struecker preached his first sermon there the day after Christmas, and also spoke last Sunday at First Presbyterian Church.

For more on this story, see Friday's Ledger-Enquirer and Ledger-Enquirer.com

This story was originally published January 13, 2011 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Chaplain (Maj.) Jeff Struecker joining staff of Calvary Baptist Church."