Maÿ, 1941
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
176
What Does Military Life Do to a Christian?
A Story of Men o f the United States Navy
for further “inspection” at his own home, two miles away. An Im po rtan t Question Throughout A m e r i c a , the coming months—and years—will see the first homecoming in uniform of many thou sands of young men either conscripted for training in the United States Army or having enlisted for the United States Navy or Marine Corps. In Christian homes, the iqost deeply felt question, even if unexpressed, will be, “How has camp life affected him morally and spiritually ?” In Jack’s case, joyful letters to his own Christian home and to the Naviga tors’ Director had told of the Lord’s miracle-working power. Here is one: “The only time for prayer is when you are beside some profane and cursing boot. I haven’t been alone since arrival, yet the Lord, of course, has been con stantly abiding, and in His presence it is no trouble or work at all to talk with Him. “No time to ‘get into the Spirit’; only a second to breathe a word in childlike faith and expect the needed answer im mediately (which always comes). You are not allowed to get up or ‘turn in’ early; so up to today, my Scripture read ing has been from the ‘fleshy tables of the heart.’ I wouldn’t sell any verses I have learned for $50 apiece, nor even ten times that amount.
He has to start from the beginning then. But think what an opportunity it gives him. as a Christian among the other fel lows now!” Then followed the hasty explanation of Jack’s promotion to a place of responsi bility in the work of 123 other new re cruits, where already he was conspicuous as “the guy that doesn’t swear.” “After all, with men on a dozen ships praying for him, I suppose we should expect something special to happen,” ad mitted the guest, recalling the keen in terest the Navigators had shown ever since Jack, after a year of college train ing and several months’ gospel team ex perience, felt called of God to enlist in the United States Navy, realizing the opportunity he would have .there "to win men to Christ.” Several in the group at the home that afternoon were eager to know what progress had been made by the young man Jack had led to Christ the previous week. “He’s showing his colors all right— bows his head for grace at table in spite of the kidding—and carries his Testa ment in plain sight in his uniform pocket,” was the brief but satisfying sketch. There followed a quiet moment of prayer as the group committed Jack and his testimony to the Lord’s keeping power. Then the new sailor hurried away
I NTO the back door of a comfortable bungalow adjoining the park lagoon and golf course in Long Beach, Cali fornia, slipped a young man in Navy uni form. He had the expectant manner of one who “belonged” and anticipated a welcome. It was the uniform that ar rested attention first, for though Long Beach is normally the home port of 40,000 men from a large number of war ships, the United States Fleet was mak ing a prolonged stay at Honolulu in the summer of 1940. Navy uniforms were a rare sight on Long Beach streets that July. A sudden stir of excitement brought a general rush to the living room, where Dawson E. Trotman, the young civilian who has served for nearly eight years as Director of a group of sailors and ma rines, called the Navigators Christian Service Men, was being enthusiastically seconded by his wife as he greeted the new arrival with much vehemence and delight. “Jack Forbes!* . . . Just back from ‘boot camp’—the Naval Training Sta tion, you know . .'. San Diego . . . Look at the stubby haircut. . . Yes, but it was still shorter a few days ago! . . . The first time we’ve seen him in uniform”— such were the fragments of conversa tion overheard in the general confusion. A guest, noting the three small chev rons on Jack’s right sleeve, exclaimed, “Look at those chevrons! How do you rate?” “ ‘Rate’! Why, it’s the Lord’s doing, of course!” the Director’s wife replied. “They appointed him a first-class recruit petty officer [Jack’s rank was Master at Arms] for boot camp. Doesn’t mean any thing for rank after he gets on a ship. *Actual name withheld . • Recruits on the drill field at the U. S. Naval Training Station, San Diego, Calif. Similar training stations are lo cated at Great Lakes, 111.; Newport, R. L, and Norfolk, Va. Photograph, courtesy of the U. S. Navy Recruiting Service.
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