What does it take to comfort those who've lost everything? For Tom Westall, the "Sagebrush Chaplain," it's about being present when others walk away. In this powerful conversation, Tom shares his extraordinary journey from a 17-year-old Air Force recruit to a military chaplain who escorted thousands of fallen soldiers home to their families during his 24-year service career.
Tom's stories from the frontlines of grief are both heartbreaking and inspiring. From overseeing recovery operations for 247 fallen members of the 101st Airborne to sitting with countless families in their darkest moments, his experiences reveal the profound impact of simply showing up. "Nice words are fine," Tom explains, "but the actions are really important."
After retiring from active duty, Tom channeled his compassion into founding Operation Military Blessings (OMB), now celebrating its 30th anniversary. What began as passing the hat to help struggling soldiers has expanded to 25 locations across the US and internationally, with programs addressing food insecurity, disaster relief, baby supplies, and specialized healthcare needs for military families.
The statistics driving OMB's mission are sobering: one in eight active-duty military members are on food stamps, with 31-39% considered "food insecure." As Tom puts it, "Can you imagine going to combat knowing your family's on food stamps? That's unacceptable." Unlike many organizations, OMB operates with zero overhead—every dollar donated stays in the community where it was given, with no salaries paid to anyone involved.
As Tom approaches 80, his energy remains boundless, his vision expanding to include partnerships with international designer Robert Comstock and ambitious goals to support military families worldwide. His message transcends politics and division: "Be a people helper. We're in a society that's pretty angry, and we need to tell them about hope."
Visit operationmilitaryblessings.org to learn how you can support military families and be part of this remarkable mission that exemplifies what happens when faith meets action.

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