Posted on 09/11/2004 8:20:23 PM PDT by Ol' Sox
My step-dad, Wendall, is dying in the hospital tonight. He has lived a good long life, has suffered much over the last two years and is ready to move on. He's had the opportunity to tell each of us in the family good-bye, knows Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and is as well prepared to pass on as any man I've ever met.
Wendall was a Sergeant in the 296th Combat Engineer Battalion, VII US Corps during WWII. He landed at Normandy on D+2 and wound up at Bad Berka, Germany at the end of the war. He had never spoken of his service until one day about three years ago. While watching a football game together, he suddenly began to talk, and three hours later, had recounted his World War II experience. I got an atlas out and took notes.
He saw combat and built bridges. Carentan, Sedan, Bouillon, Florenville, Verviers, Monschau, Bad Berka, Buchenwald, Berlin. He was stationed close to Malmedy and remembered the dread he felt when he learned about the massacre during the Battle of the Bulge. He entered the Buchenwald concentration camp the day after it was liberated. His unit helped to take the residents of Bad Berka to Buchenwald. Under orders, they turned this area over to the Russians and moved on to Berlin, where I've heard that they entered the city three days before any other American unit.
Tonight, I ask for your prayers for this good man, who served his country with honor, his family with steadfastness and love, and God with a humble and generous spirit.
May God bless this warrior in his time of dying. How fortunate for his family that they know him and have had the blessing and pleasure of his company and his intimacy.
Prayers for Wendell and his family.
May God Bless you and hug you.
+ Continuing in prayer ...
Thank God for an American like your step-father. May he go with God. Amen.
Prayers sent. My condolences, friend. He must be a wonderful man.
Prayers are offered for your step-dad, yourself, and all those keeping vigil for this heroic man.
Please tell your step dad that we thank him for our freedom and wish him God speed.
Semper Fi
Keep your faith, my friend. And thank your dad for me as well.
God will be with Wendal, Ol Sox, don't worry! Many prayers going up for him right now! And for your family! God bless Wendal and your entire family. Hang in there!
rich glasgow
dallas
If i may ask for a prayer request for my grampa. He too was in WWII at D-Day+1 with the 29th Infantry Div. He is also in the hospital right now. We are hopeful and prayerful but he is 84 years old and ill.
THank you all for praying for my favorite soldier, Grandpa.
The world awaits the day when the ranks of the unemployed are all retired warriors.
You are in my prayers. May God give you peace, an welcome your stepdad into his eternal heavenly Kingdom.
Prayers.
May God bless and comfort you.
MMJ
Thank you to another member of the old Guard for service well done. My prayers are with him and your family. May he expirence peace from here on out.
We enjoy our freedoms because we stand upon the shoulders of such men. Prayers for all.
Prayers sent!
Your step-dad will be in my prayers.
God Bless him.
Thanks for your post. My Uncle Charles was felled by a Nazi sniper during the Battle of the Bulge. I'm sure he'll be happy to show your stepfather around the Good Lord's mansion when his time comes. God bless you and yours.
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