Fr. Tim Vakoc

I suspect a very few people will know of Fr. Tim Vakoc. Fr. Tim was a friend of mine. We served together in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In fact Fr. Tim and I overlapped as I was preparing to re-deploy back to the U.S. after 10 months. On May 12, 2004, Fr. Tim's Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. He had just finished saying Mass; May 12, the 12 anniversary of his ordination as a priest. Fr. Tim sustained serious injuries in the explosion. His left eye was blown out and there was severe brain damage. Fr. Tim received emergency treatment, was flown to Landsthul Army Medical Center in Germany and then eventually to Walter Reed Hospital. He remained in a coma for the better part of a year. He was medically retired from the army and after two years at Walter Reed he was sent to his home in St. Paul, Minnesota where his family lived. Fr. Tim put up a heroic battle but on Sunday, June 21, Fr. Tim died.

I remember an incident that occurred while Fr. Tim was at Walter Reed. Fr. Jerry Haberak, another Army Chaplain was visiting Fr. Tim, who, at this time was still in a coma. Fr. Haberak entered his room and noticed that a doctor was there sitting quietly and saying the rosary. When he saw Fr. Haberak and noticed the cross on his left collar, indicating that he was a chaplain, the doctor asked him if he was a priest. Fr. Jerry said that he was. The doctor said, Father I come here every day at this time to spend a few minutes with Fr. Tim. I know that he doesn't even know I'm here. I and my family haven't been to church or Mass for almost twenty years. I couldn't help when Fr. Tim arrived and to hear what happened to him, the explosion, the lost of his eye, the severe brain damage, all because he was there helping soldiers like me. Well we all go to Mass now and my life has been changed, because of this priest.

Fr. Jerry paused for a second and then said to me. Can you believe it Joe? Tim's in a coma and he's still working as a priest bringing faith to those who lost it.

God Bless...