Capt. Carl Subler is a dusty boots chaplain.

"I am a priest who happens to be in the Army," he said as we sat and talked outside his tent.

"I am here to serve soldiers, any soldier."

The only Roman Catholic chaplain assigned to 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Subler has the wonderful ability to bring the Lord's message to the men and women he serves with.

And he does this by simply being genuine and straightforward in his interactions.

"I can talk to anyone - a general or a private.  It doesn't matter," commented Subler.

His path to becoming a priest began with a Protestant.

"I had a Southern Baptist girlfriend when I started college," related Subler as he took a drag on a Marlboro Lights Menthol.

"She got me to start reading the Bible again, and I started going to Mass again.  A couple of weeks later, I decided to become a priest."

But Subler's route to becoming an ordained priest was circuitous.

He dropped out of college during his sophomore year and joined the Navy.  For the next four years he served as a radar operator.

During this time, he acquired the anchor tattoo on his left arm.

Leaving the Navy at the end of 1998, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 2000.

In beginning his graduate and seminary work, Subler spent a year studying in Rome.  While there, he met the Archbishop for the Military Services at the Vatican.

"A buddy of mine who was Presbyterian but converted to Catholicism whom I met on ship called me and told me about the military Archbishop," related Subler.

After talking with the Archbishop on three separate occasions, Subler made the decision to become a Navy chaplain.

That's when another bishop gave Subler a pamphlet about Army chaplains.

"I had done some reading about Army chaplains during World War II who had been in the middle of the action," continued Subler.

"That is where I want to be."

After ordination in 2004 and serving the required three years in a parish before being released for active duty, Subler joined the Army in 2008.

At 34 years of age, Subler is the youngest priest in the Army.

Nine month later he deployed to Iraq.  He soon earned the reputation - and the respect - of one who would go anywhere for any soldier who needed him.

"He's the best I've ever seen," commented Lt. Col. Steve Allen, commander, 402nd Brigade Support Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

While officially assigned to the 402nd and under Allen's command, Subler has free reign to go anywhere in the brigade he believes he needs to be.

There is not a forward operating base, or FOB, that is not aware of Subler and his willingness to minister to soldiers.

"He is one with the soldiers," said Lt. Col. William Clark, commander, 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment.

Along with Protestant Chaplain (Capt.) Gregg Green, who serves with the squadron, Clark said that they are the best chaplains he's known during his 25 years in the military.

And Subler knows what its like to be in the middle.

On one mission, he went with a squad of soldiers to recover a vehicle.  While approaching the Stryker, they were ambushed by Taliban fighters.

"They hit us with small arms, grenades and mortars," recalled Subler.

He also said that he wanted to shoot back, but declined to use a weapon.

"It's not part of my calling, Subler said, "but I have been tempted."

Saying that getting to be a priest for men who put their lives in danger every day, Subler is very clear in his duty to them.

"I offer the sacraments of Christ for the salvation of their souls," he said simply.

Subler says the biggest problem he has is getting from one FOB to the other.

"I want to be out with the soldiers, and I am the kind of guy who will get in your face to get to where I need to be," said Subler.

Big enough to ride a 2007 Harley-Davidson Street Glide, Subler is not the kind of man one can say "no" to easily.

When out at the FOBS, he usually performs a simple Mass - on the ramp of one of the Strykers if need be - for soldiers preparing for a mission.

Subler recalled how he preformed a "ramp Mass," after which a sniper approached him and asked to become a Catholic.

"I baptized him, confirmed him and gave him communion," related Subler.

The simple rite completed, the soldier turned and said to Subler, "The Taliban better beware; now I am fearless."

At one of the Christmas Masses Father Subler performed at Kandahar Air Field, he took the communion bread out of a fragmentation grenade canister; the communion wine out a plastic water bottle.

His homily was short and to the point.  He told the French, American and Pakistani congregation that Christ's birth signaled God's intent to feel the same tribulations they do.

"And today, Christmas, we celebrate his entrance into this world."

He also said that the United States is in Afghanistan to help the country find peace and freedom.

Soon after, he blessed the congregation and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

This from a man of God who smokes, has a tattoo, rides a Harley and sometimes uses salty language.

What's not to like?

After the Mass, a FBI agent walked up to Father Subler, shook his hand, wished him a Merry Christmas and said, "This is the best Mass I've ever heard."