You wouldn’t know he had received a Purple Heart.
He wasn’t a big, muscle-bound young man. He wasn’t that tall. He wasn’t tattooed, or scarred, or hurt where you could see it. He was about 5’6” and slim. Very polite and calm. But as we talked and shared about our lives, we learned he was a hero and a man of faith.
Into the military at 18, he was deployed at least two times that he shared with Gary and me. In his first deployment, he was part of the team from his military unit who went in to talk to the village leaders. The talks seemed to go well. As his team left, it seemed safe, until they were attacked by a radical group of armed men.
He was stabbed seven times: in his arm, his side, his stomach, his leg, and several times in his chest. He said the medics were amazing and came to help them. One of the knife wounds missed his femoral artery in his leg by an eight of an inch. His body recovered. His life was spared.
But the emotional and mental scars remained. He said he spent time talking to the chaplain, who helped him work through the effects of the attack and his near-death experience. He said he would always respect pastors and chaplains and the help they gave hurting people.
On another deployment, he was again faced with death. He and his very good friend, who had been with him a long time, were selected to go in first into a suspicious building. They would face the most danger on the beginning of this mission. He was in the lead. Weapons up, they pushed open the door, and entered the building. They were facing armed men!
He said everyone was armed over there so it wasn’t surprising, but these men started shooting before they knew it.
“I felt strong hands push me,” he said, and I went down. “My friend was coming up behind me. I heard a shot whizz by my ear. I heard him get hit. Then, even with all the adrenalin pumping through me, I noticed my back felt hot from my shoulder down. I reached behind me to my back, and my hand came back covered with blood. But not my blood. A bullet had struck my friend in the neck, and his blood had poured over me, but the bullet missed his carotid artery. He survived. I felt of my shoulder and found a bullet hole that had gone through my uniform, but missed me. I was unhurt.”
Later, he said he asked his friend, “Did you give me a big push as we went in that door?” “No,” my friend said, “I didn’t.”
As he paused, I said, “that was God giving you the push.”
He looked intently at me and said, “Yes, I believe it was God I felt giving me that strong push.” How brave of this young man to face danger fighting in our military. How bold and powerful he would so beautifully share his testimony and belief in God. I asked him if we could pray together, and he said yes. We left each other strengthened, encouraged, and in awe of our powerful God!
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
