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Chaplain’s Corner: Spring Renewal
March 17, 2025
Each year around Memorial Day and the July 4th holiday, I remember my family members who served in the military. My family’s ancestors were not in this country early enough to have fought in the American Revolution or the War of 1812, but there are legends of distant relatives who “might” have been in the Civil War. My dad and his older brother were in the Alabama National Guard unit that was the last horse cavalry unit in Birmingham. With the beginning of WWII, that unit was transformed into an air defense artillery unit which eventually served in the Pacific. My dad did not serve. Although he had been in the Guard, when it came time to activate the unit, he failed his physical. He had fallen out of a tree as a child and one leg was a little bit shorter than the other; he never noticed. My uncle saw action, survived, and made a career in the Army. His son, my cousin Chip, grew up wanting to be in the Army. His wish was fulfilled during the Vietnam era. Chip was an Airborne Ranger and did three tours of combat in Vietnam. Like his father, he survived and returned home. One of his medals was a Purple Heart.
Unlike our cousin Chip, my brother, who also joined the Army during Vietnam, was stationed in Germany for his entire active duty. When I turned 18, I registered for the draft and was granted a school deferment for being a college student. During my college days, the lottery was instituted; My number was high enough to get me through college and into seminary. Then our troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. At one time, while in seminary, I considered military chaplaincy, but did not pursue it. That war was over. I naively thought the need for military chaplains was also over.
I am thankful that I did not have to serve in combat. All of the soldiers, Marines, pilots and sailors that I know who did, and survived, came through it changed. Many had difficulty adapting to peace time life. We are still seeing that with veterans today. I also know a few, a very few, who were in combat and came through better for it. One friend had a so-called “fox hole” conversion and entered seminary after serving; he recently retired after working as a hospital chaplain for thirty years.
At times, I feel guilty for not serving. I passed my physical. I could have volunteered. Maybe what I feel is akin to survivors’ guilt. I was not spared because of my virtue, or because I was smarter than those who were drafted. I don’t feel right saying it was the providence of God that saved me. And yet, I am thankful. I confess there is a great deal about this life that I don’t understand. I suppose that is all part of why I respect all those who have served and who currently serve in the military. They did something I was not willing to do, and I am thankful for their sacrifice.
Peace,
Cary
