In seven trips to Iraq, reporter Moni Basu has written dozens of war stories. "Chaplain Turner's War," her eight-part series that concludes tomorrow, offers some unique insights from a man whose job it is to help soldiers cope with the death and loss that are an inevitable part of war.

"Faith plays such a huge role in so many of our readers' lives here," said Basu. "I wanted to see how faith and war go together."

Basu initially sought out native Georgians who were on their second or third deployments. Late last year, Army officials sent her a stack of bios, and Darren Turner's was among them. She sent him an introductory e-mail, along with other stories she'd written from Iraq. She found it interesting that Turner had his own online diary and was serving with an infantry battalion that had seen its share of heartache and suffering. She believed Turner's perspectives as a relatively new member of the Army would be insightful.

When Turner returned to the States in January for a leave, she drove to Fort Stewart for a ceremony where redbud trees were planted in honor of fallen soldiers. Turner was there for the ceremony.

Turner told Basu about his plans to visit another one of his men at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington. After a couple of weeks of negotiations, Basu and AJC photographer Curtis Compton were allowed in as Turner visited with Spc. David Battle, who lost three of his limbs in the war. Compton photographed Battle and wife Lakeisa, praying with Turner as the couple's 2-year-old son slept at the foot of his father's hospital bed.

"It was incredible to be in that room," said Basu. "It was a great introduction to the chaplain. A lot of the soldiers have this perception of him being this steely, strong person. Nobody is really there for him when he gets hurt. Even with his faith and all his training and all ... it was tremendously emotional. It was special to him to visit David Battle; to give him the coin."

Basu's series has compelled AJC readers to respond by the hundreds, many saying the stories gave them a better appreciation of everyday life in Iraq.

"I have never written a comment concerning a news article before now; however, your article was one I will never forget," e-mailed one reader. "It was very informative. You were able to communicate the chaplain's feelings for his family, the men and women he serves, and the suffering they are all encountering because of service for their country."

To tell Chaplain Turner's story, Basu and Compton spent five weeks in Iraq, listening as he counseled soldiers about everything from marital problems to death. Basu followed Turner to several different patrol bases to get a sense of what his days and nights are like. Since Turner was part of a surge unit, the soldiers at Forward Operating Base Falcon slept in tents. In March, when heavy fighting flared up, a rocket landed a few meters from their tent, said Basu. "The steady attacks were unnerving to me. That wakes you up to the reality."

Turner helps soldiers work their way through the stress of multiple deployments, daily combat and the return home. How do you go on after you see a body blown up in front of you, probes Turner. What will post-traumatic stress look like for you?

Allowing a reporter and photographer to tell his story meant his time in Iraq would be documented for his small children.

As the story neared publication, Basu read him passages over the telephone and sent them via e-mail. While this is not something she typically does, she wanted to make sure she had every detail of Turner's story right. AJC editor Jan Winburn kept the story's chapters tightly focused.

Basu was careful to steer clear of conversations about the politics of war.

"I wanted to make this a universal message. No matter what your views are about the Iraq war, this wasn't about that. It's about the women and men who are fighting there now. They don't have a choice, they are fighting."

At least one reader appreciated that aspect of the series. "Thank you for just reporting what you see and hear without political bias regarding the war itself," wrote Tim Quint of Kennesaw. "Refreshing journalism."

AJC managing editor Hank Klibanoff is departing: Hank Klibanoff, one of the AJC's four managing editors, announced this week that he is leaving to pursue other interests. Last year, Klibanoff's book, "The Race Beat," co-written by longtime journalist Gene Roberts, won the Pulitzer Prize for history.

Here's wishing Hank well. His careful editing and thoughtful pursuit of great stories will be missed in these pages.

> Contact Angela Tuck by e-mail at insideajc@ajc.com, by phone at 404-526-5819, by fax at 404-526-5610 or by writing P.O. Box 4689, Atlanta, GA 30302.