Men Who Fought...Boys Who Prayed

Book excerpt: Darkness--emotional and literal--shrouded the land as the big 707 touched down and taxied toward the blacked-out terminal. The passengers were quiet, with looks of uncertainty and concern etched on their faces. This was it! Vietnam! War! Some of those youngsters and many others like them would be my congregation during the next twelve months. As I looked into the red, watery eyes of the mostly teenage soldiers, I closed my own eyes and uttered my first prayer in Southeast Asia: Lord, make me equal to the task. And I made a silent vow to mothers and fathers whom I would never meet: As nearly as possible, this chaplain will stand by your son through it all. Men Who Fought...Boys Who Prayed tells how that promise was carried out.