Dear Reader:

It is Veterans Day and while you are reading this I am in Conway for my brother Ben’s presentation on his soon-to-be published book Grace Under Fire. Those gathered today will be family, friends, congregational members and veterans. It is a benchmark day for my brother…a dream drawing closer to its final unveiling.

I will be leaving Conway and going straight to Mt. Pleasant to accompany Mandy and family for the opening of the James Island Lights Spectacular…to see the artworks of the schools in Charleston County…including Mandy’s of course. Then spend the night and go to the Disney on Ice Show Saturday afternoon with Mandy and Eva Cate…returning home late Saturday afternoon. So Sunday’s blog will be a culmination of lots of photos from Ben’s presentation to the James Island Opening of the Light Show to Disney on Ice. Whew! Life is never dull!  Isn’t that wonderful?

For today, however, I wanted to share an excerpt from the book about one of the miracles Ben experienced soon after he arrived…a memorable birthday.

“The Chocolate Cake”

Chapter Three

…This is when a ‘minor miracle’ occurred.

While we were cutting back brush to create a place to sleep, two helicopters somehow found us and hovered to lower supplies since there was no place for them to land. My squad of about twelve men was getting ready for night activities. These would include such things as assigning and deploying listening posts. These were often one or two Marines staying awake in shifts throughout the night. Being surprised by a night attack while on an operation was not a pleasant thought.

While settling in, I was told that there was mail to be distributed. It was unusual in the middle of an operation to receive mail. Nevertheless, mail was always welcomed. My squad leader brought me a package that was fairly large and completely unexpected. What made it even better was that my package arrived on my twentieth birthday. Everybody was telling me to open it! I did and got the surprise of my life – it was a birthday cake! I found getting a birthday cake from my mom on my birthday in a jungle in Vietnam to be completely unbelievable! I thought to myself that absolutely nobody would ever believe this was happening!

In truth, it tasted just as if it had come out of the oven. The postmark indicated it had been shipped from the States nine days previously. I did not cry but I came close.

My mom was good about sending mail but this was unbelievable! My friends, including Jerry P, another fire team leader, were more than happy to help me eat the cake. None of my friends had ever heard of anyone receiving a birthday cake out here in the jungles of Vietnam. I took some time to silently thank my Mom and God for such an unexpected experience. The cake was big enough to feed our squad. What a day! What a miracle!

*This was the last birthday cake Ben’s best friend, Jerry, would eat…he would be killed in am ambush soon after this incident.

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So until tomorrow….Let us stop and thank a Veteran today for all they did and for all they symbolize. Like my brother, many have paid a very high price for freedom for all of us. Lord help us, that we can keep it now.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh