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Captain Lester L. Westling Jr., USN
(ret.) “has been an Episcopal Priest for over a half century. His vocation encompassed years of parish ministries in
California, missionary service in the Philippines, and as a Navy Chaplain. He volunteered for military service to serve in
Viet Nam, and spent two chaplaincy tours of duty in-county. First he served with the Third Marine Division medical and infantry
battalions, then he returned as a circuit riding chaplain for 65 combat units throughout the Mekong and Bassac River canals
and along the Cambodian boarder. He served with the fleet, and retired from Naval Service after 26 years with the rank of
Captain. Among his many decorations, those awarded for com at include the Bronze Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Navy Commendation
Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Combat Aircrew Badge, and the Submarine Deterrent Patrol Pin. Father Westling is married with
three adult children. He earned the postgraduate degrees of Mater of Divinity, Master of Arts in Pastoral Psychology, and
Doctor of Ministry, and has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1975. He belongs to a number of professional
and veterans organizations, and is a Son of the American Revolution.”
Lester L. Westling is the author
of All That Glitters: Memoirs of a Minister and When Johnny/Joanie Comes Marching Home. According to the book description of When
Johnny/Joanie Comes Marching Home, “Preparing for reunion by the deployed service member, as well as family
members left behind in the homeland, is crucial for the success of sustaining longstanding, happy relationships, and even
for retention in the military. Now, women who deploy in ships-of-the-line and as warriors in field combat, return to their
own families. Their needs are new to the Armed Services, this book addresses those needs and offers excellent tools by which
successful homecomings may be achieved.”
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