Hurlburt chaplain wins Witherspoon Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michelle Vickers
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Chaplain (Capt.) Mark Hunsinger, 1st Special Operations Wing, accepted the Witherspoon Award during a gala in New York City, Nov. 21.

The National Bible Association presents the Witherspoon Award annually to one military chaplain from each service branch.

"The award is named after Chaplain Maurice Witherspoon, who served during World War I and II and was on the board of the National Bible Association; he definitely had a love for God's word," Hunsinger said. "The award recognizes those who have the same devotion to the Scriptures, as well as helping others in their walk with the Lord."

The Air Force Chief of Chaplains selected Hunsinger from among Air Force major command nominees. In order to be eligible for the award, chaplains must have deployed during the past year.

"Chaplain Hunsinger was nominated for this award because of his diligence with teaching and sharing the Scriptures through programs, activities and worship services both at home station and deployed," said Chaplain (Maj.) Kleet Barclay, 1st Special Operations Wing.

The award honored Hunsinger's work on the flightline and supporting security forces Airmen while deployed to Southwest Asia.

"My chaplain's assistant and I went at least once a week for midnight entry control point visits," Hunsinger said. "For the flightline, I attended their pre-mission briefings to pray them out the door. A number of the flying crews told me they had never seen a chaplain at a pre-mission brief. Some crews would actually come find me if I was late because they wanted a prayer before their mission."

In place of a trophy, Hunsinger accepted a framed page of Psalms from a 1611 King James Bible.

Hunsinger said he was surprised to win the award for his dedication and hard work.

"I was shocked," he said. "An award like this is an encouragement for all the effort that goes into day-to-day ministry."

Recently coming from his deployment and a previous assignment at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Hurlburt Field is already seeing the impact of Hunsinger's ministry, Barclay said.

"Chaplain Hunsinger recently joined the 1st SOW chapel staff and brought a contagious passion for serving Airmen," he said. "He works tirelessly to reach every Airman assigned to his care. It is an overwhelming task, but his continuous availability offers reassurance that whenever someone needs a helping hand, he will be there."