Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II

by Larkin Spivey

  Such a high priest meets our need one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

  —Hebrews 7:26

  May 7

  Inbeat

  The Marines were pinned down by an enemy machine gun and were taking casualties. Lt. Paul Moore raised himself up to throw a grenade and was struck in the chest by an enemy bullet. Looking down at the wound, his mind raced:

  The air was going in and out of a hole in my lungs. That didn’t mean I was finished, but I thought I was dead, going to die right then, because I thought if that happened you were gone. I wasn’t breathing through my mouth but through this hole. It felt like a balloon going in and out, going pshhh. I was thinking to myself, Now I’m going to die.

  While undergoing treatment for his wound, he later learned:

  The bullet… came through my chest between two ribs, slightly shattering them, went past my heart, as the doctors later told me, when it must have been on an inbeat instead of an outbeat, and then missed my backbone as it went through the other side of my body about an inch. So it was a very close shave.174

  What would life be like knowing that a bullet had missed your heart by less than an inch? Perhaps you would feel that it was no coincidence, and that God had spared your life for a purpose: your work on this earth was not yet complete.

  The apostle Paul told the Corinthians all about his own “close shaves.” Five times he received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one (forty lashes were thought to be lethal, so they stopped short at thirty-nine). He was beaten with rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, and the list goes on (2 Corinthians 11:24–27). Instead of these brushes with death stopping him from his work, he carried on by God’s strength. God has numbered each of our days as well, from the moment we were born (Psalm 139:16). The Lord will call us home when the time is right, whether we die from a car accident, a heart attack, or an act of war. But in the meantime, he has work for us to do; we should not think our contributions to the kingdom of God are over as long as we are alive. (JG)

  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

  —Ephesians 2:10

  May 8

  Hearing the Call

  The mission came from Col. “Chesty” Puller himself. Lt. Paul Moore was to assault a Japanese position on the other side of the Matanikau River with his platoon of Marines. Four other units had been repulsed in the same effort. It seemed like suicide, but he didn’t hesitate.

  Expecting to wade across, he and his men found themselves swimming instead. As he neared the opposite bank, he described an incredible scene: “ mortars and hand grenades going over our heads and into the water as if it were raining, with bullets striking all around us.#8221; As casualties mounted the Marines could not continue to advance. Moore finally called for his platoon to fall back. As he was trying to help one of his men to safety across the open beach under fire, an amazing thought passed through his mind:

  I remember when I was leaning over trying to bring one of my men to safety seeing bullet marks in the sand around my feet and thinking, you know, it I get out of this, maybe it means I should do something special. There was a feeling—I don’t know if it’s good theology, whether it’s superstition or what, but certainly I felt that I had been extremely fortunate, and that I was, in a sense, living on borrowed time, and that this was another good reason to give my life to the Lord, and it seemed that being a priest was the way.175

  Paul Moore did become an Episcopal priest and bishop after the war. I doubt that many discern their call to the priesthood in such dramatic fashion, but in every case it is a powerful calling. We are blessed that good men and women have heard and responded to this call in the past and continue to do so today. The body of Christ is made up mostly of lay people trying to do his work. Our “commissioned officers” are our priests and ministers. We need them to teach and lead us spiritually. They need our support and loyalty in return.

  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am. Send me!”

  —Isaiah 6:8

  May 9

  Chesty

  Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller arrived at Guadalcanal on September 18, 1942. He was forty-four years old and had already spent more than half his life as a Marine. Just promoted to lieutenant colonel, he commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. When another famous Marine, Mike Edson, saw Puller land, he commented to someone nearby, “ There comes the greatest fighting man in the Marine Corps. ”176

  Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller. (U.S. Marine Corps)

  With two Navy Crosses already to his name, Puller was destined to earn three more before his career was over. His units were called on for the toughest assignments, and Puller put himself in the most dangerous places to best direct the action. In training and in combat he demanded every ounce of effort from every man and was unrelenting in his drive to successfully complete every mission. He was hard on his men, but he was also hard on himself.

  Chesty Puller was undoubtedly a natural soldier and a great fighter. His men respected and feared him, but amazingly, they also loved him. This is because he looked after them like a father. He was ruthless with junior officers who took advantage of their “privileges.” He was often seen standing in chow line with the men and eating with them. He pushed them to the limit on forced marches, but was usually seen helping carry machine guns and mortars to give those men some respite. Of commanders on Guadalcanal, he alone wrote personal letters to the wounded who had been evacuated. Sharing every danger and privation, he made his men feel like he was one of them.

  Puller made a lasting contribution to the unique style of leadership that became firmly imbedded in Marine Corps tradition. It was not a “rank has its privilege” model. It was fundamentally a “servant” model. Every Marine officer learns, almost as a religious principle, that the needs of his men come before his own. The true prototype of this model is of course Jesus Christ. Service and sacrifice were the hallmarks of his life and ministry on Earth.

  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.

  —Philippians 2:5–7

  May 10

  Chaplain Controversy

  Chesty Puller was not known as an outwardly religious man. Nevertheless, he took an active interest in the religious welfare of his men and made sure frequent services were held, especially for his troops in the front lines. He wanted the chaplains to do their jobs and to be with their men. He became incensed when his Protestant chaplain remained in a rear area during an extensive patrol into enemy-held areas. The chaplain protested that he thought he could do more working in a medical station caring for the wounded. Puller shouted, “ You weren’t up where the fighting was. I think I’ll prefer charges against you for being absent from your regiment. Your place was with the fighting men—your battalion.”177

  Due to this incident and others not known, Puller formed some strong opinions about chaplains and their denominations. He complained that, “ In all our fighting I’ve known only a few Protestant chaplains worth their rations. ” After the war, he made another pointed comment to his Episcopal bishop in Virginia: “ I can’t understand why our Church sends such poorly prepared men as chaplains when fighting breaks out. The Catholics pick the very best, young, virile, active and patriotic. The troops look up to them.”178

  Chesty Puller’s opinions on clergy reflect his own experience, and I don’t know how generally true they were. I cite his comments only to point out that his priorities were in the right place, for himself, his officers, and his chaplains. We can’t effectively lead our families, employees, or congregations from a distance. We need to be “in the trenches” where the problems and frustrations can be understood and dealt with.

  Be shepherds of God
’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

  —1 Peter 5:2–3

  Marines man a machine gun in the jungle. (National Archives)

  Worshiping in a jungle chapel. (National Archives)

  May 11

  Manila John

  Sgt. John Basilone is a Marine Corps legend. Nicknamed “Manila John” by his men, he single-handedly held a key position defending the line on Guadalcanal against an all-out Japanese assault on October 24, 1942. Noticing one of his machine-gun positions silenced during the battle, he carried another gun and tripod, weighing about ninety pounds, across two hundred yards of fire-swept terrain and took up the fight by himself. During the night he retraced his steps to get more ammunition, holding his position all night under repeated attacks. For these feats he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism on Iwo Jima, where he was tragically killed in action on February 19, 1945.

  In between these battles Basilone returned to the United States, where he traveled the country, speaking on behalf of the war effort. The Marine Corps offered to commission him an officer and to assign him to stateside duty. His response, “ I ain’t no officer, and I ain’t no museum piece. I belong back with my outfit.”179

  Before returning to duty in the Pacific, he found time to pen a thoughtful prayer for publication in the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Prayer Book:

  Prayer by a Marine Corps Sergeant

  O God, I confess that I did not really appreciate the value of religious freedom until I was wholly certain of the righteousness of our course. Born of humble parentage I was not endowed with a spiritual expressiveness. Since my exploits I was uplifted by the power of Christ. It was He who watched over me with an unmistakable sign of divine guidance. How I ever was spared from the Great Beyond only the Lord knows. I pray each night for my comrades who paid the Supreme Sacrifice and I know that they are triumphant inhabitants of heaven white flowers of a blameless life. I now carry the riches of God in my heart something that I shall forever be thankful for. Almighty God, I ask for your continued guidance. Please redeem and purify humanity, for thine is the power forever and ever. Amen.180

  Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

  —Job 14:1–2

  May 12

  Munro

  Coast Guard personnel were an important part of the amphibious forces assembled for the Guadalcanal operation. Many of them came from lifeguard stations and their experience with small boats in rough seas was invaluable. They proved to be seasoned coxswains for the all-important landing craft moving men and supplies from ship to shore.

  Douglas Munro was one of these Coast Guard sailors. He distinguished the Coast Guard and himself by heroically rescuing a group of Marines in trouble on Guadalcanal. The Higgins boats used by Munro in this action were thirty-four foot plywood craft with no protection for the crews. The story is best told in Munro’s Medal of Honor citation:

  For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Officer-in-Charge of a group of Higgins boats, engaged in the evacuation of a Battalion of Marines trapped by enemy Japanese forces at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, on September 27, 1942… Munro, under constant risk of his life, daringly led five of his small craft toward the shore. As he closed the beach, he signaled the others to land, and then placed his craft with its two small guns as a shield between the beachhead and the Japanese. When the perilous task of evacuation was nearly completed, Munro was killed by enemy fire… By his outstanding leadership, expert planning, and dauntless devotion to duty, he and his courageous comrades undoubtedly saved the lives of many who otherwise would have perished. He gallantly gave up his life in defense of his country.181

  Douglas Munro grew up in the small town of Cle Elum, Washington. He showed an early aptitude for music and was a leader in his high school and college bands. In 1939 he was twenty years old when he felt the call to serve his country. He picked the Coast Guard because “ it was dedicated to saving lives.”182 By putting this mission before his own life, he became the only member of the U.S. Coast Guard to receive the Medal of Honor.

  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

  —John 12:24

  May 13

  Why?

  On the night of October 13, 1942, a group of Marines on Guadalcanal had a special celebration for a young private who they affectionately called “The Kid.” That afternoon a rare delivery of mail had brought news that the Kid’s wife had finally had her baby.

  Sgt. Jim O’Leary, one of the toughest noncommissioned officers in the unit, was especially excited, as he had taken a special interest in the expectant father over the weeks of anxious waiting for this news. He organized a party and led the celebration on a night seemingly blessed by the absence of the usual air attacks.

  Later that night, however, the Japanese launched a frenzied all-out attack on the Marine lines. During a lull in the fighting a Navy chaplain went forward to help with the wounded. In the darkness, he found Jim O’Leary wandering in a daze, his face streaked with tears. When O’Leary recognized the chaplain, he yelled:

  “The Kid’s dead… he’s gone. What the h___ good are your prayers and your religion? Did they stop the shrapnel that tore half his head off? Why wasn’t it me instead of him? If there is really a God and He had to have a human sacrifice, why couldn’t He have been satisfied with O’Leary, instead of taking a kid with a young wife and a brand new baby who’ll never see his father? Why should anyone believe and trust in Jesus or Mary when they’ve allowed a crime like this to happen? Why did it happen, Padre? Why? Why?”183

  Knowing it wouldn’t help much at the moment, the chaplain softly replied, “ We must take God on faith. ”184

  Books have been written attempting to answer this apparent riddle. If God is good and all-powerful, how can he let such bad things happen? The answer lies in how God created human beings and the universe. It was his plan that humans have the freedom to do good and bad, and that nature should create and destroy according to properties that he established. He doesn’t cause our pain, but he knows that we will be blessed by it if it brings us closer to him.

  I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

  —Psalm 27:13–14

  May 14

  Looking for a Divine Hand

  The nighttime bombardment of Henderson Field was more intense that night than usual. The naval gunfire shells from the Japanese ships streaked red as they rained in and around the Marines’ positions. Each blast was a violent upheaval of shrapnel, dirt, and acrid smoke. An ammunition truck was hit, causing an enormous explosion that shook the island and hurled thousands of fragments through the air. A Navy chaplain huddled in his trench, sharing the terror with those around him:

  Alongside me, head bowed, there were Catholic boys reciting their rosaries, Protestants murmuring prayers, and Jewish boys, with closed eyes, fingering the holy mezuzahs they wore around their necks. The adage that there are no atheists in foxholes was already familiar to me. In moments of deadly peril, the human hand reaches out for help from above. Even those who hadn’t uttered a word of prayer or been inside a house of worship for years before the war, were looking now for a Divine hand to shield them.185

  In times of real danger our superficial concerns are stripped away, and we are brought back to an elemental reality. There is a God, and we need him desperately. The universal need to pray at such times is proof of this point. Unfortunately, these prayers are often not remembered after the crisis passes. On thi
s score I have been the worst offender. My bargains made with God while in physical danger were soon forgotten. I didn’t give him credit or thanks that I survived a war and was able to live a blessed life with my family. One of my foremost tasks as a new Christian has been trying to make up for all those years of ingratitude. I have a long way to go.

  O Lord, I say to you, “You are my God.” Hear, O Lord, my cry for mercy. O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle.

  —Psalm 140:67

  May 15

  Tokyo Rose

  During the war, a dozen women of American descent made daily broadcasts on Radio Tokyo designed to demoralize U.S. servicemen deployed in the Pacific. These women combined “soft” propaganda with popular music, and became known collectively by the GIs as “Tokyo Rose.”186

  As the war progressed, the troops enjoyed the music and generally laughed off the obvious attempts to undermine their morale.