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.
Pray for W and Our Soldiers
Wendell has fought the good fight and run his race well.
A crown of righteousness awaits this faithful one from his Savior.
May his passage from this world to the eternal,real world be one without fear or sorrow, but one of joyous expectation.
He has nothing to be ashamed of when he reports for duty upstairs. To him and to men like him of his generation, we are in their debt.
Your experience reminds me of a similar experience I had with my father-in-law who passed on in 1978. One Saturday night we were watching TV together and I just point blank asked him if he would tell me of his World War 2 experiences. He would never, ever talk about it.
For the next two hours, he shared many details of his five years in the US Army, and what he did and saw. When he died unexpectedly about a month later, I was able to recount these things to his son, who had never them.
We have quiet heroes in our midst.
Wendell - well done good and faithful servant. Be thou at peace.
Prayed.
Prayers up for safe passage.
Wendall - well done good and faithful servant. Be thou at peace.
You tell Wendall that we pray he will stay with us a little longer. Tell him we honor his service and we need him to hold the fort for us. My words may be in vain, but he has much to share with us before he goes to the Castle in Heavan. Salute!
Fracas, you have my prayers also. To have a wonderful man as your father is to have a bountiful legacy.
We are thankful to his service to us as well. My life has been secure, thanks to veterans like your Dad.
+
Godspeed, soldier, and thank you!
I thank god for men like these. They saved the world.
Seems like Jesus will be saying, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Please post your replies to Ol' Sox
Ol' Sox, my prayers going up for your step-dad, Wendall (a gentle passing into the arms of our Lord) and the family (comfort for their sorrow).
CodyJacksMom, thank you for the ping
Blessings,
trussell
If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.
Father in Heaven,
We commend into your keeping this servant who placed himself between his loved home and the war's desolation in a moment of our history when it mattered. Father, help his passing into your arms be swift and painless. Surround his family and loved ones and comfort them as they go through mourning the loss of this hero from our midst.
We praise you for placing among us exceptional souls such as this one.
Amen
Prayers for Wendall, and for you and the rest of Wendall's family. May God give you strength and insight as you go through a difficult time. May you be comforted in His promise of reunion in everlasting life, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Heavenly Father, please be with the families of these two veterans. Comfort them as they morn the passing of great men, help them remember how they cared for their loved ones and to recall the triumph each brought to America and the cause of liberty. Father help us to remember each one who has given so much for our freedom. We thank You that our country has been blessed with these sons and that the world was blessed by Your Son. May we live in such a way that one day we will be welcomed by You. Amen.
Oh, Bless you and your family with comfort!
May you love the memories of your Dad and know he is appreciated for his gift to this Country!
He is a treasure!
Blessed assurance Jesus is mine............
Oh what a foretaste of Glory divine.......
Heir of Salvation,
Promise of God........
Born of His spirit...
Washed in His Blood!
He is probably singing like this in his heart!
God Bless you all!
I am in your debt as well--thank you for service on D-Day for our country and the freedom of many whose names you will never know.
Thank you for the thoughts on your home page,cmotormac44.
We are of like mind.
Prayers for a great American, dad, and man. What a blessing.
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