The very thing that separated a father and son is also the very thing that brought them closer together.  When Ernie Carroll was serving as a Chaplain in Iraq (web|news) ... his son was serving his school on the football field. Two very different types of battles, but both required the same kind of heart and faith to get them through.

Ernie Carroll a Chaplain who served in Iraq has come back to the U.S. and wants to share his story. "You serve it like you would any congregation here at home the only difference is you have people trying to kill members of your congregation. "

Earnie Carroll served his country in Iraq recently, but had to face the one thing he didn't want to do. Hegave the eulogy at a service for a slain soldier.

Ernie Carroll says, " You have to minister to the troops when you lose soldiers and that's the hardest part and I prayed before I went that I'd never have to do one... Course I ended up doing five of them."

As an Alabama National Guard Chaplain, he knew at any time he could be the target. Ernie Carroll says " If the insurgents sees that cross you're gone. "

He decided to share what he learned on the battle field with others in his book "A SEASON IN BAGHDAD".  It paralels his son's battle on the football field as Oneonta won the 3A state championship in 2004.  He says his role as Chaplain in the middle of danger mirrored his son's  battles on the football field.

Ernie Carroll.  "Whatever's going on in your life you're gonna take it to the field and play with it. Sex, drugs cheating in the classroom if that's what you take and play with you're gonna lose but if you take your character, relationship with God to help you be the best you can be whether you win or lose... you're the best. "

It wasn't easy being in a war torn country but it was also a struggle knowing he was missing his son's football victories.

Ernie Carroll. "This is one of those sacrifices I had to make to be there and yet my sone was going through the highlight of his life at the time." 

His son Nathan Carroll agrees, " We hope the book will encouraged people in their faith by seeing the faith it required us to trust God through tough times."

Ernie Carroll's book is available at eh Barnes and Noble and the Summit and the Samford Book Store.