After a distinguished military career spanning 33 years, Rick Roessler exchanged the role of colonel for the title of priest, and now dedicates his life to his work as a pastor.
Roessler served in multiple branches of the armed forces, including the Naval Reserve, Army Guard and Air Force. During his career he served overseas in such places as Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea. He and his family were stationed throughout the southern part of the United States during his service.
Roessler, a Vermont native, began his time in the military with the Naval Reserve. Later, he transferred to the Army Guard and became a field artillery officer. With a masters degree in public health and business administration, he went into active duty for the Air Force as a hospital administrator, specializing in medical disaster plans and response.
“Most of my jobs (in the Air Force) involved disaster management,” he said.
This involved ensuring the right personnel and medical supplies were in places they were needed. Logistics could be an obstacle, particularly in places where flying in resources by plane and helicopter could not be accomplished, Roessler said. The day after 9/11 in New York, he was required to set up a field hospital, but planes were not allowed in the area. Everything had to be brought in by vehicles.
Following the Boxing Day Tsunami in Indonesia in 2004, Roessler helped direct resources to the devastated area as the military set up an operation to assist the wounded.
“I was in aeromedical evacuation during Iraqi Freedom,” Roessler said.
He worked to bring people out of Kuwait into Germany. This required management of supplies and the crew who handled the evacuation of personnel.
Roessler also worked with the Afghan army regarding medical services. He recalled struggling with the language barrier as he was introduced to the minister of defense for health affairs, the highest ranking civilian in the Afghan army.
“In Afghanistan, they have a few languages they speak,” he said. “The language of the government is Dari, but there are many tribes in Afghanistan. The person who I advised was Pashto. As I came into his office, I tried to speak a little bit of Dari.”
Roessler’s interpreter quickly advised him the man would only speak Pashto.
Because of the interpreter, Roessler was able to communicate while in Afghanistan. Later, he helped his interpreter come to the United States, and the man and his family now live in San Antonio.
Life in Afghanistan had a big impact on Roessler, he explained.
“Seeing the people lined up at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Afghanistan (in Kabul), with all different issues, many of which could easily be resolved with immunization . . . various types of diseases like polio that are able to be completely eradicated with a vaccination, that was hard. It was difficult to see every day.”
South Korea was one of his favorite places to live outside the U.S.
“I envisioned it being like (the TV show) M.A.S.H., but it was not,” Roessler said, with a laugh.
He found South Korea to be highly modernized and industrious. Life on the military base was a fun and safe time for him and his family, which includes wife Tami and their two daughters.
As his time in the military passed, Roessler said, “I had found out I was going to be promoted . . . and I was praying, asking God to continue to be with me as I entered into senior leadership positions in the Air Force and God said, ‘I no longer want you to lead airmen. I want you to lead my people.'”
Following his retirement from military life, Roessler attended seminary and received a Master of Divinity. After completing his education, he and his wife returned to Vermont, but soon realized they missed the South and wanted to settle somewhere Southern.
When one of their daughters enrolled at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La., the Roesslers turned their attention to the surrounding area. He discovered Holy Trinity was in search of a priest and soon accepted the position in Vicksburg.
Tami serves as a deacon at Holy Trinity.
“Deacons work with pastoral care, people who are in need – they are more mission-focused,” Roessler said.
As the priest, Roessler concentrates more on sacraments and sermons.
Roessler said he has embraced his role as priest with the same dedication that defined his military career. He is enthusiastic about the hilly terrain of Vicksburg, and enjoys the challenge of biking from Openwood subdivision to the church as often as he can. His two daughters, now grown and independent, live close by.
After a lifetime of moving around, Roessler said he is happy to be settled in Vicksburg.
“I love Vicksburg,” he said. “It’s a beautiful city.”
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