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Veterans Speak Out —
How We Can Pray Today
excerpted from the Greenville FMC Newsletter
 On
November 11 we observe Veteran's Day — a day to honor the servicement
of all America's wars. Recently we asked a few of the veterans from
the Greenville Free Methodist Church to share some of their thoughts
and experiences about serving our country. Here are some words from
Belvin Bartholomew, Bill Childs, Marvin Knight and Al Moore.
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Click
the names below to read more about how these men served.
Belvin
E. Bartholomew
Army Signal Corps
World War II
January 1942-June 1943
Bill
Childs
Retired Lt. Col., U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserves
Cold War, 1971-late 80s
Desert Shield/Storm, 1990-1991
Marvin
Knight
U.S. Navy
World War II / transition to peace
August 14, 1945 to October 17, 1947
Albert
A. Moore
U.S. Navy
Korean/Cold War
June 1952 to October 1955
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How
did serving in a war impact your life?
BC:
I experienced God's peace in a very real way. We were based (where)
terrorists were a big concern, especially as we traveled …
between where we lived and where we worked. We were transported
in … buses with all the windows covered with curtains …
so the terrorists couldn't see how full the buses were. … I
felt like a sitting duck. However, the Lord gave His perfect peace.
I felt like I was sitting in a cement culvert and that the terrorists'
bullets could not get to me. I felt safe where I should have been
scared to death.
AM:
My time of Naval service was a defining experience and a high honor.
I received technical training and leadership experience that subsequently
opened the door to my civilian career with IBM. I also learned to
love and appreciate foreign travel.
Do
you have a story of a spiritual anchor that you held on to during
the war?
BB:
I had Free Methodist parents and grandparents who continued to pray
for me.
BC:
I served at Veddah, Saudi Arabia, which is a Muslim country. During
my first trip over … after Desert Shield began, I planned to
attend Sunday morning worship … even though I hadn't seen any
signs telling where worship would be. Part way through eating breakfast
it dawned on me that the "Morale Meeting" … could
be church. It was! At the beginning of the service the chaplain
announced that the door was locked, but anyone who wanted to leave
could do so … but what we were doing was illegal. It was illegal
for me to carry my Bible as I had been. Our worship "in secret"
was very sweet! By the time Desert Storm began, the Saudi government
decided we could worship legally. For three weeks, though, I was
part of an "underground church."
MK:
Being brought up by believing parents, and their prayers while
in service guided me in knowing what choices and decisions to make.
AM:
My Free Methodist roots were a big factor in my spiritual health
during my military service. Other anchors were my praying parents,
my wife's prayers, and my commitment to keeping my marriage vows.
How
did your understanding of the world/other cultures change?
AM:
My first exposure to a third world country (Haiti) was an unforgettable
experience. I saw abject poverty for the first time. I came away
truly counting my blessings.
Based
on your experience, how should we be praying for our men and women
serving in Iraq?
BC:
Besides praying for those deployed, the next most important thing
is to support the families of those deployed. That removes a big
concern and better allows those deployed to concentrate and safely
complete their tasks. I was only deployed for 2 ½ months
during Desert Storm. During that time, Carol and the kids received
at least one form of encouragement or support EVERY DAY I was gone.
We all need to do our part as prompted by the Lord.
MK:
Pray for wisdom for our leaders in resolving this situation. Contact
friends and relatives in service and let them know they are in our
prayers.
AM:
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our military personnel
past and present. Our freedoms, our way of life, have been purchased
at a high cost in sacrificial service, blood, and of course treasure.
The ware against terrorism is the latest in a long history of recurring
conflict that has involved our country. We need to pray often and
fervently for our commander-in-chief, but especially for our men
and women who are in harm's way. We also need to pray for their
families; they may even be more stressed than their loved ones in
Iraq.
What
do you feel your personal contributions to the war/your unit were
during that time?
BB:
Because of my Pennsylvania education before 1941 (bookkeeping, typing
and other skills) I was selected to be in General MacArthur's headquarters,
including the Signal Corps division, as a Personnel-Sergeant Major.
I moved whenever General MacArthur relocated to an advanced location
in Australia in the war against Japan.
BC:
I was an Air Operations Planner for the largest air refueling
unit ever formed. We coordinated mostly fighter air refueling support
for Air Force, Navy, Marine and some other coalition air forces.
My group was responsible to provide the "mission planning"
so the crews could pick up their completed information package to
do their mission. I worked 13 hours a day, 7 days a week. I only
flew five times during the war when they were short a pilot for
some reason. However, since there were no backups for my staff job,
I would work my 13-hour shift, fly, and then work another 13-hour
shift.
MK:
So many servicemen were being discharged they made an attractive
offer to those who would re-enlist. My commitment was for six months
or less after the war ended, so I re-enlisted from the reserves
to the regular Navy for two years.
AM:
As Damage Control Officer on a destroyer, I was responsible for
repair, maintenance, water-tight integrity and fire fighting. I
also stood regular watches on the bridge and in the Combat Information
Center while under way and Quarter Deck Watches while in port.
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