Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II

by Larkin Spivey

  April 11

  Vital Lessons

  Maj. Robert Moore was second-in-command of 2nd Battalion, 168th Infantry, landing near Algiers during Operation Torch. He came ashore eight miles from his assigned beach to find his troops scattered and disorganized. Although resistance from French forces was sporadic, his unit took casualties in their advance. The first time he came under fire, he ducked for cover and then looked up cautiously to try to see what was ahead. He suddenly found himself on his back, stunned and confused. A soldier beside him was bleeding. Taking off his helmet he found a deep black groove cut across the side of it. An inch lower and the war would have been over for him.

  In these first hours of the war, Moore learned some vital lessons:

  Some lessons were fundamental: stay low; take a few extra moments to study the map before setting off. But others involved the nature of combat and leadership: a realization that battlefields were inherently chaotic; that improvisation was a necessary virtue; that speed and stealth and firepower won small skirmishes as well as big battles; that every moment held risk and every man was mortal.133

  Some people have a distinct spiritual advantage in life. Firemen, doctors, soldiers, and others close to life-and-death situations are never able to overlook the fact that they are indeed mortal. When someone faces frequent danger or sees the results of others doing so, they know how fragile life is. The poet who wrote, “Death hath a thousand doors to let out life,”134 seemed to understand this reality as well. For those of us leading more tranquil lives, we need constant reminders of our mortality to help focus our attention on matters of eternal significance.

  You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

  —Hebrews 10:34

  April 12

  An Old Ally

  On November 11, 1942, the French forces in North Africa agreed to a cease-fire on all fronts. In three days of fighting, U.S. forces had sustained more than 1,100 casualties, including 337 killed. In spite of these losses, the Americans set about restoring what to them was the natural order friendly relations with an old ally, France. Historian Rick Atkinson described the reconciliation:

  The bloodletting of the past three days, if neither forgotten nor quite forgiven, was set aside, just as a marital indiscretion might be glossed over for the sake of the children.

  Just past noon on November 11, Patton and Hewitt hosted a luncheon at a Fedala brasserie for their French counterparts, lubricating the pleasantries with Bordeaux and cognac.

  At the Miramar later that afternoon, Nogues, Michelier, and other French commanders drove past the coconut palms and banana trees lining the driveway to find that Patton had posted a welcoming honor guard. In the smoking room he complimented his adversaries on their gallantry and proposed a gentlemen’s agreement under which French troops could keep their arms. Patton sealed the deal with a toast to “our future victory over a common enemy.”135

  We can learn a lesson from General Patton in “getting over” an argument. If we really want to mend a fence we can start by honoring our former antagonist and acknowledging the validity of their motives. As one of my good friends says, this may require some amount of “eating crow,” or something that looks like it to others, but this is a small price to pay for a new and stronger relationship. We have the assurance always that peacemakers “will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

  Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

  —Matthew 5:23–24

  April 13

  The Hand of God

  After the Allied landings in North Africa, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Anderson took command of the British 1st Army advancing to the east to capture Tunisia. With a mixture of British and American units, coordination was difficult and the logistics network chaotic. Anderson himself was a good soldier with a reputation for personal valor.136 However, his approach to the campaign was to carefully marshal his forces before advancing, and this unfortunately served to give the off-balance German defenders time to regroup. As German reinforcements poured into Tunis and winter weather turned the roads into quagmires, it became apparent that there would be no quick victory.

  On Christmas Day 1942 Anderson wrote a lengthy letter to Alan Brooke explaining his actions and revealing a deep religious conviction. He said in part:

  Things have not gone well and all my plans have had to be scrapped… This is the hand of God… I feel deflated and disappointed, but it is no use getting depressed. It would be too easy if we all attempted everything and succeeded. The Almighty is much too wise to spoil us mortals that way.137

  In my earlier life as a skeptic I would have looked on these statements as a rationalization for lack of success. Now, as a Christian, I look at the general’s thoughts as a simple acknowledgment that human beings are not in complete control of any situation. We are always confronted with unforeseen acts of nature, especially human nature. God does not always act to smooth our way or to ensure our success. He acts in accordance with his own plans and purpose, which we often do not understand. We can only pray constantly that our actions are in accordance with his will.

  Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble… You, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.

  —Psalm 10:1, 14

  April 14

  A Prayer

  General Eisenhower arrived at the command post near Sidi bou Zid in central Tunisia well after midnight. In the cramped confines of a personnel carrier General McQuillan briefed him on the dispositions of Combat Command A units and German activity in the sector. Other than a discussion about minefields, the commanding general had little to say. Finally, Eisenhower stepped out of the personnel carrier into a still, moonlit night. Nearby a group of men were gathered. As he approached he heard an infantry captain leading his men in prayer:

  We do not pray for victory, not even for our individual safety. But we pray for help that none of us may let a comrade down—that each of us may do his duty to himself, his comrades, and his country, and so be worthy of our American heritage.138

  The general silently wept on hearing these words. It is hard not to be moved by such simple eloquence. This young officer’s prayer was genuine and heartfelt, and it reflected a great truth about combat. Men don’t fight as much for a higher cause as they do for each other. It’s hard to imagine a more meaningful prayer for a soldier than, “God, help me to not let a buddy down.”

  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

  —John 15:13

  April 15

  Father, Forgive Them

  During the darkest days of World War II, Dean Willard Sperry of Harvard University compiled a book of prayers for wartime devotionals. Even though the nation’s enemies were victorious on all fronts and feelings against the Axis powers were running high, he included a special prayer calling the nation back to its Christian values:

  O Peaceful Light, Redeemer of the universe, whose love embraces the whole world, we hear thy prayer from the Cross: “Father, forgive them.” In the name of the universal pardon, we dare to beseech the heavenly Father to give eternal peace to his enemies and ours… O Lord, do not condemn those who have persecuted us with their calumnies and their perfidy; be merciful toward all those whom we Christians have hardened without knowing it; may our holy prayer be for them a mystery of reconciliation. Amen.139

  Dean Sperry was not a pacifist. He apparently saw no contradiction between fighting our enemies and asking God to forgive them. I believe that in our own lesser conflicts we can do the same and more. We can ask God to forgive those who have wronged us, and we can also forgive them ourselves. Even when we have to stand up against wrong behavior, we should be
not be motivated by hate or anger. Such a forgiving attitude will often be beyond our capacity as human beings. We have to have a resource far greater than ourselves to act with love in the face of injustice. The only resource powerful enough to give us this kind of strength is the love of Jesus Christ within our hearts.

  If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?

  —Luke 6:32

  April 16

  He’s Our Guy

  Capt. Albert Hoffman was a chaplain with the 34th Infantry Division during the North African campaign. As one of the first Americans in the war, he began to redefine the traditional role of the combat chaplain. He didn’t neglect religious services when appropriate, but he felt that his primary duty was in the front line with his men. Historian Patrick Skelly wrote:

  He held (that) the unaided wounded lying out in the field had the highest call on the chaplain’s services. Then front-line troops would fight from greater moral motivation from knowing that their accredited representative of religion was with them personally.

  Hoffman, although a quiet nonbelligerent man, simply had a front-line temperament. And the front line troops throughout the regiment would tell one another, “He’s our guy.” They thought of him as a personal possession, the way they did a good combat officer.140

  Albert Hoffman provided an example to his men and to us of the most effective form of evangelism. Assigned to a combat unit, he concluded that he would be most effective if he shared the same risks as those he hoped to influence. He didn’t try to be a “holy man” or to stand apart from his soldiers. By sharing everything with them, he became one of them. From this position he was able to influence these men spiritually to an extent that would have been impossible otherwise. The apostle Paul first described this approach to ministry. It is the approach best used by all Christians, whether ordained or not, in bringing others to Christ.

  Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible… I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

  —1 Corinthians 9:19, 22

  April 17

  Innovations

  Pvt. Jefferson White landed at Safi with 2nd Armored Division shortly after midnight on November 8. His tank platoon cleared mines on the way to Casablanca and then saw action in Algeria and Tunisia. Based on his experiences, he had some interesting observations on American and German soldiers:

  The Germans I saw were good soldiers. But they needed somebody to tell ’em what to do, how to do it—and when. The Americans—we were mostly farm boys. If we couldn’t whip you one way, we’d whip you another. We had guys inventing things and coming up with practical ideas. One soldier invented a gadget that mounted on the front of tanks to clear mines. One of our machine-gunners switched out the rounds in the belts of.50 cal. ammunition so that one round was standard ball, the next was armor piercing, then a tracer. That way we could shoot by eyesight, not by gunsight. Those kinds of innovations kept a lot of American soldiers alive.141

  American soldiers, past and present, have been credited for their ingenuity. In fact, innovation and “out of the box” thinking are hallmarks of Americans in general. Freedom and independence seem to foster a mind-set that is uncomfortable with doing anything simply because it’s the way it has been done before. Even though this attitude can be misdirected, it can and has contributed to the greatest achievements. I believe that this trait has specific biblical roots.

  In his parable of the talents, Jesus praised the two servants who did something with the talents given them. Even though they started on unequal footing and achieved unequal results, both were declared “good and faithful servants.” The servant who hid his talent lost what little he had.

  Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.

  —Matthew 25:28–29

  Roosevelt and Churchill at Casablanca. (Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library)

  American Generals (Eisenhower Presidential Library)

  April 18

  Unconditional Surrender

  In January 1943, as the battle for Tunisia was still in progress, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met in Casablanca. Speaking to journalists, Roosevelt made a bold statement: “ The elimination of German, Japanese, and Italian war power means the unconditional surrender of Germany, Italy, and Japan.”142 Churchill nodded and then voiced his agreement. This “unconditional surrender” position, taken with relatively little deliberation, had long-range and controversial consequences. Many voiced criticism that the war would be prolonged, as the Axis dictators would be forced to fight on to the bitter end. Winston Churchill disagreed with this objection:

  We… demand from the Nazi, Fascist, and Japanese tyrannies unconditional surrender. By this we mean that their will power to resist must be completely broken, and that they must yield themselves absolutely to our justice and mercy. It does not mean, and it never can mean, that we are to stain our victorious arms by inhumanity or by mere lust of vengeance, or that we do not plan a world in which all branches of the human family may look forward to what the American Declaration of Independence finely calls “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”143

  With this statement Churchill articulated a higher vision of the Allied purpose in the war. The war had first to be won, but the peace would be characterized by mercy. This vision was ultimately borne out by the actions of the victorious nations. The defeated countries were not subjugated or pillaged. Instead they were rebuilt and reintegrated into the free world.

  Mankind has been blessed that our infinitely powerful and righteous Creator is also amazingly merciful. Rather than giving us what we deserve in judgment, he has given us redemption through his only son, Jesus Christ. It is only through God’s mercy that we have any hope of a secure place in his kingdom. When we display compassion toward others we are reflecting this mercy and doing his will.

  Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

  —James 2:12–13

  April 19

  Lost Friends

  Bill Cheall was a member of the Green Howards Regiment and part of General Montgomery’s 8th Army advancing into Tunisia in 1943. Jumping off early in an attack on a place called Wadi Akarit, Cheall’s company covered about four miles under bright moonlight before coming under heavy artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire. Under the eerie illumination of flares the Green Howards struggled up the hill toward their objective in intense close-range fighting. By 8:00 a.m. the hill was taken with heavy casualties on each side.

  Shortly after, Cheall and another soldier were detailed to bury a member of their unit who was killed nearby. He was appalled at having to gather horribly disfigured body parts, likely caused by an exploding artillery shell. As he went about his gruesome job, he found the dead man’s identity tags. He learned that he was about to bury one of his closest friends in the company. There was nothing to do but carry on with the task at hand. He later said, “I don’t know how I contained my emotions at that moment.” The next day he learned that another close friend in another unit died in the same attack. He lamented:

  I was now devastated once again. That was two grand lads only nineteen years of age—dead—and when I had last seen them only a matter of days ago they were laughing and cracking jokes. What a tragedy war is. No, I will never forget the 6th of April 1943, but life had to go on.144

  In wartime soldiers often have little time to mourn lost comrades. This is a big part of the psychological stress that they have to endure during and after combat. Thankfully, the grieving process can be more deliberate for most of us. We can find comfort for ourselves and confidence in the fate of ou
r lost loved ones through our faith and in the promises of God revealed in his Word:

  Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

  —Revelation 7:16–17

  April 20

  Purple Heart Box

  During a lull in the North African campaign, Gen. George Patton escorted a British general on a tour of his frontline units. He was not slow to brag on his men and equipment. At one point the generals came up to a crew working on a vehicle known as a half-track. Sgt. Bob Bishop was underneath the vehicle, making repairs.

  He and the other men present heard General Patton explain the vehicle’s superb mobility, great firepower, and armor that could stop almost anything.

  “Isn’t that right, Sergeant?” asked General Patton.

  “No, sir,” said Sergeant Bishop, getting up. He walked around to the other side of the half-track, the generals following him, and he pointed up.

  “You see this hole? One bullet from a strafer. One bullet, pierced the armor here, rattled around inside, and killed Private Torgerson. The men call it the ‘Purple Heart Box,’ sir.”

  General Patton turned pale and quickly escorted General Alexander somewhere else.145