DETROIT – He crawled under barbed wire, was shot at and didn't sleep for three days, but if he had to, 2nd Lt. Andrew Bloomfield, Staff Specialist (Chaplain Candidate), would do it all over again.

Bloomfield is a parish intern at St. Martin dePorres Parish in Warren, and a third-year theology student at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He graduated in August from the Chaplain Officer Basic Course in Fort Jackson, S.C.

"I made great memories, great friends, the ecumenical experience and had great physical training," said Bloomfield, 27.

About a year ago, Gen. Chaplain G.T. Gunhus, a two-star general who was chief of chaplaincy at the time, came to the seminary, and Bloomfield was assigned to show him around. Chaplain Gunhus, a Lutheran, "talked to me the whole day about the Army chaplaincy," he recalled.

"He told me how very important it was and how it was a great opportunity to serve both church and country," said Bloomfield. "He made it a real part of his tenure as chief to really recruit Catholics, because they're an important part of the chaplaincy, and there are not enough Catholic (chaplains)."

Nella Hobson, public affairs officer for the U. S. Army Chaplain Center & School in Fort Jackson, said there are 1,212 Protestant (all denominations) chaplains, compared to 105 Catholic chaplains. That makes about 1 Catholic chaplain for every 1,000 Catholics in the U.S. Army, compared to about 1 Protestant chaplain for every 200 Protestants.

"Of all three branches of the military – Navy, Air Force, Army -- the Army has the smallest (number) of Catholic chaplains," Bloomfield said.

The physical training was somewhat demanding, Bloomfield admitted, noting chaplains – who are officers, and have a higher rank -- had to pass with a 60-percent margin compared to soldiers in their first year who had to pass with a 50-percent margin. "We had some big, fast guys who were part of our group," he said, "and we had some pretty tough sergeants who made sure we did work every morning. More than anything, it was a good challenge."

He admitted the sit-ups were a little rough on him, and he wasn't able to run as fast as desired by Army standards. Nevertheless, in 13 weeks, he lost nearly 20 pounds.

However, the culmination of his training --- a grueling test of his physical and mental abilities -- included not sleeping for three days and going through a war-like situation, getting shot at and keeping a watchful eye out for enemies.

The camp "really stretched beyond what you think you can do," he said.

Bloomfield will remain a chaplain candidate until he is ordained in May 2005. Once he is ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit, he must serve in parish ministry for three years before he can go on active duty, he said.

Although that's still a little far off, the thought of being in a war situation "does scare me."

"I would love to be over there to support our soldiers -- not only to do that and say to them we love them from back home -- but that what they're doing is important to preserve our freedom," said Bloomfield.

As a result of his experience in Army Chaplain School, Bloomfield made several connections to those serving in war-torn countries.

"I have three close friends from this summer in Iraq," Bloomfield said. "There's a really large part of my heart (with them) and in my prayer time I wish to be able to be there with them."

The chaplain friends in Iraq for whom he prays constantly are a Lutheran, an Assembly of God and a Southern Baptist.

"It helps my ministry when you know you have soldiers who are of different faiths and you can send these guys to someone you know and trust them on their faith practices," he said.

"I've met a lot of other Catholic seminarians from around the country and the world. It gives me a sense of the largeness of the Church and the importance and fidelity to our beliefs."

War situations are difficult, he said. "It's tough to know we're to fight war in a moral way, but there's a truth to that. If we're morally upright and if we're just, then when we prosecute terrorism or international crimes, there's something about the mission that becomes effective if it's just and morally upright."

Since he's been back, he's been able to share his experiences with members of St. Martin dePorres Parish, a 1,700-family parish.

"There are several of the guys who served in World War II and Korea and some who trained at Fort Jackson," said Bloomfield, who has been at the Warren parish since September. "It's great being able to share military culture with a lot of parishioners and it's a fun way to initiate conversation. I've met a lot of people where otherwise there might not be a connection."

Fr. Roman Pasieczny, pastor of the St. Martin dePorres Parish, said, "I look with faith and hope that he will be a good priest."

He said he believes Bloomfield has an excellent head start. "He has a pleasant personality and he's a friendly and good communicator with the people of the parish and with the children."

Because of Bloomfield's work ethic, Fr. Pasieczny said it can be hard to find him sometimes. "He wants to be everywhere … he's very active. Already everybody knows him as 'our Andy, our Army guy.'"

Debbie Bloomfield, his mother, is proud of her son.

"It's exciting to think that he's serving God and county both at the same time. It's quite an opportunity." When his father, Richard Bloomfield, discovered on the Internet he could wear his U.S. Army uniform to his son's graduation, he searched for it in the attic.

"He still fit into his uniform, and that was 40 years ago!" Debbie Bloomfield said and laughed. Richard Bloomfield, a permanent deacon at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wyandotte, said, "I am very proud that Andy has considered the possibility of military chaplaincy. As a Vietnam veteran I know how important it was to me to have a chaplain available in combat situations. A dedicated chaplain is extremely important to the morale and spiritual welfare of our fighting forces.

"My background as an officer in the Army has aided me in my responsibilities as deacon. Andy's chaplain training will complement his seminary studies making him a more effective priest whether serving in the archdiocese or as an Army chaplain," he said.

Richard and Debbie Bloomfield said they are happy for their son and whatever the future holds for him. "I'm excited for Andy," Debbie Bloomfield added. "We'll keep praying God's will be fulfilled."