Home Away from Home

 

A soldier needs grounding, especially before their combat experience. Instinctively, the army knew a leave home would accomplish much in building/reminding of inner core strength. However, two other elements served to fulfill me as a man. Faith and proficiency completed the inner strength needed for sustained adversity. The battle is always won or lost between the ears. Family, faith and proficiency were the elements below the waterline…that would sustain the external Currahee soldier. Dr. Andrew Lovy provided the proficiency. The Christian Serviceman’s Center provided the means of faith.

It takes a unique love to reach out to soldiers away from home. The constraints of home are largely abandoned within a few weeks of military life.  The army tends to break you down to build up the new soldier within. Old constraints are often replaced for peer acceptance in a coarser environment. The Airborne persona added merit in taking most everything to its extreme…as in drinking, fighting, cussing…anything! The major exception were the married men; they lived a dual life.

The Christian Serviceman’s Center rapidly became that home away from home. With the exception of field duty, I was bound toward the center in my civilians every Friday night. I opted to sleep on one of the many old couches, in lieu of the comfort of my own bunk. We had a simple game room. Often local churches would supply heavy snacks. Sunday mornings we filtered off toward  one of those local churches. However, it was in the Center that we could largely be ourselves. Although I was eighteen, I would never again fit in with a typical 18 year old crowd. I had already gone way past their life experiences.

Director Harold Witmer would often drive us to a Saturday night sing throughout the Tennessee hills. The car would be filled to the brim. We often comprised a simple majority at those sings…typically front and center. Harold always drove and Harold always prayed for us by name. I prayed real hard too! I couldn’t understand how Harold could pray and drive at the same time. However, I knew that Harold was no ordinary Christian. It was only toward the last that I discovered Harold could pray with his eyes wide open! Up to that time, I had resigned my fate to my personal peace with God…readied to meet my Maker!

Resident Director Glen Davis, by virtue of his personal calling, spent much of his weekend time helping us to sort out the balance between soldier and Christ follower. He  was personal and his message was of life with a personal God. Sometimes he would give a fatherly hug…always when most needed. Glen had the balance of being both manly and tender. By day, he excelled as a public school teacher. The weekends were overtime. Glen became my spiritual father…my personal example of how faith is lived in daily life. I surrendered much coarseness through time spent with Glen.

My home away from home became the final pit stop for good byes. Our only other resident paratrooper was a rigger; there we were all just Christian soldiers. We went through the motions, but everyone stopped to acknowledge my orders. They ribbed me because I was by far the smallest in this group…taking on the heaviest assignment. Most were going home straight from Ft. Campbell. They reflected that God has a sense of humor. But they also affirmed a faith in me, that I could get it done. They formed a ring around me, to pray and send me off to battle with those Currahees.

A man is not prepared to live until he is prepared to die. Although I lacked the promise of 72 virgins, it was this newly found faith that would cause me to disregard my own safety. I had no quest to be a martyr. I did see the medic as the highest of battle callings. It was a position where manly and tender intersect. By faith…I stepped up.

Providence is that place where God is in the details of our lives. Being said, I think it was Divine purpose that sent me with the 3/506th. I trust my Currahee brothers feel the same.

Currahee…We Stand Alone, together. Yet, God Himself watched over our Band of Brothers.