Post by choicemaker on Jan 14, 2008 8:55:46 GMT -6
+SEMPER FIDELIS+Psalm 91+
A Mother's 'Always Faithful' Prayers
By Jim Baxter Sgt. USMC
World War II and Korea
My brother and I joined the U.S. Marine Corps
right out of high school and went away to World
War II. Our mother, a True Believer, wrapped us
in Psalm 91 and claimed God's promises over us.
He went to the Paramarine/Raiders and the 5th
MarDiv and I to the OSS and the 2nd MarDiv. We
both went through combat and returned home safely
after the war.
In 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War, we
were both recalled to active duty with the 1st
Marine Division. Our mother again wrapped us in
Psalm 91, gave each of us a small New Testament,
and again sent us off to war with the Lord's
blessing.
As a 12-year-old, I had accepted the Lord but had
never been well disciplined or obedient. I wanted
to play patty-cake in the sand piles of the world.
At 25, when I went to Korea, I started reading the
little New Testament my mother had given me.
At the Inchon landing, and for the next two weeks
of heavy combat as a rifle-squad leader, I read a
few Bible verses every day. I loved my brother
Marines who suffered and died alongside me. As the
death and destruction grew more intense - and as I
stood on the brink of eternity - I did not like
what I saw.
As my outfit, Fox Company [F-2-1], attacked up the
streets of Seoul, I was hit with a machine-gun
bullet. I made it behind a burning police sub-
station in the middle of the street. My corpsman,
Chico, dressed my wounds and as sniper bullets
crashed into the street beside us, he laid on top
of me - covering me with his own body - and yelled
in my ear, "You've had enough!" Other riflemen
nailed the snipers and as Chico left me to help
other Marines lying wounded in the street, he was
hit by two bullets that blew the shinbone out of
his leg. I never saw Chico again.
Several Marines threw a wooden door on the ground,
rolled me on it and ran me down the street under
heavy fire. It was a fearsome ride. I was placed on
a DUKW, given a shot of morphine, and dreamed a
beautiful restful sleep to Kimpo airfield and the
flight to Japan.
At Yokosuka Naval Hospital for three months, I
proclaimed my loyalty to Chico, my corpsman. One
night, the Lord came to me. I saw the blood running
down His forehead, into His eyes, and down over His
cheeks. I looked into His blood-filled eyes. He
spread out His bloody hands and said, "I did this
for you."
I was willing to be loyal to Chico - but had not
been willing to be loyal to the Lord.The Lord said,
"Come and follow me. I will make you a man. Put
away childish things." I knew what he meant. I said,
"Yes Sir."
With the Lord as the Lord of my life, I re-joined
my outfit and went back into front-line combat for
another five months before returning home. My
brother came home with frostbitten feet and I came
home with a tender rear-end. Our mother cried with
joy unspeakable.We were both baptized and have been
His loyal Marines ever since. Everyday we say, "Yes
Sir," to the Lord Jesus - our CHAMPION and HERO.
My Lord and my God.
Winston Churchill once said, "Courage is the most
important virtue because it makes all other virtues
possible." As a senior in high school ready to join
the Marine Corps, I thought his statement was good.
The sequence sounded right.
As a 26-year old veteran of front-line combat in
two wars, I came to understand that Churchill was
not accurate. Courage is not the prime virtue. It is
faithfulness/loyalty/commitment that is the prime
virtue. It is being faithful that makes all other
virtues possible, including courage. The Corps has
it right: semper fidelis. Always Faithful
"Moreover, it is required of stewards that a man be
found faithful." I Corinthians 4:2
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