BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- –
Back in 2001, a former Navy corpsman saw the light and crossed over into the blue, and he is now the 940th Air Refueling Wing' s newest Chaplain.
Air Force Reservist Chaplain Maj. Herbert "Herb" Hodde III is excited to help the 940th ARW transition from a refueling wing to a command and control wing go as smoothly and effectively as possible.
"Our number one goal is to support the mission regardless of what it is: religiously, spiritually, morally, and socially from the lowest ranking airmen to the highest ranking officer in the wing," said Chaplain Hodde.
During his seven years in the Air Force Reserve, Chaplain Hodde deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq in August 2007, serving as the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group Chaplain.
Chaplain Hodde graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas with a bachelor's degree of religion and later received his master's degree in divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. On Sundays between drill weekends, Chaplain Hodde teaches Sunday school at Trinity Southern Baptist Church in Fresno, Calif.
Chaplain Hodde is prepared to assist wing Airmen as they endure the many challenges associated with the new emerging missions and any possible uncertainties that they may face.
"I'm going to get out there and try to meet every member of the unit to get an insight into the needs of the wing," said Chaplain Hodde.
Chaplain Hodde said he and his staff are open to any suggestions for worship services and Bible studies to better help serve the spiritual needs of the 940th Reservists.