In his first-ever media interview, the military chaplain who was punished for making references to the Bible during a suicide-prevention seminar last month says he was simply doing his job.

“What I had tried to communicate with my audience is that depression can be conquered, depression can be overcome, and there are a myriad of ways of dealing with depression,” the chaplain, Capt. Joe Lawhorn, told The Daily Signal in a Skype interview.

“In this particular case,” Lawhorn explained, “I had struggled myself personally with the issue at hand I was teaching.”

Lawhorn conducted the mandatory training session on depression and suicide prevention Nov. 20 at the University of North Georgia.

During the class, he explained how he followed the example of Israel’s King David to overcome his own depression while an Army Ranger. He also distributed a handout to soldiers that included references to the Bible and provided referrals for local counseling that included secular and non-secular options.

“It was my faith that helped me to persevere and remain resilient in the face of depression,” says Lawhorn.

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Full Letter to Chaplain Lawhorn from the U.S. Army

COL Fivecoat Letter of Determination (12 DEC 14)