Insects :: Incredible and Inspirational

Legacy

Cold Warriors?

By Karl Priest August 21, 2009 (revised 1-26-23)
(This article appeared in the Cold War Times, vol.9, issue 4, November 2009, pg.37)

A fellow Cold War vet called me a “Cold Warrior” and I pointed out that I was only a flunky. So, who would qualify to be labeled a “Cold Warrior”?

Would it be a Navy SEAL who served as a sniper from his hidden perch in the trees? Or would it be the draftee who crawled up a hill with bullets buzzing by? Is a pilot dropping bombs more of a warrior than the pilot flying reconnaissance missions? Is a pacifist medic who serves with the Army in heavy combat less courageous than the soldiers beside him? Is a tank driver less brave than the man who drives a jeep along a mine infested road? In actual combat, is the guy knocked out by the percussion of a shell less worthy of praise than his buddy who charged forward and destroyed the enemy mortar crew?

For every combat veteran there are thousands of other military personnel doing the jobs they were ordered to do.

A friend of mine served in Vietnam and spent the entire tour in an air-conditioned building doing clerk work. Should he not be proud of his service? Another friend of mine spent two years in the Navy and never went to sea.

How can a man who serves on a sub be compared to one who puts a plane safely onto the deck of a swaying surface ship? Is the crew of a supply ship somehow of lesser value than the crew of a battleship that launches shells to a coast several miles away? Should the crews of the lone wolf ships Northampton and Wright be considered more heroic than the crews of the aircraft carriers which were heavily protected by escort ships? Were the officers aboard the Wright and Northampton who carried the code to launch nuclear weapons more important than the officers who sat deep in a bunker ready to press the button?

Should a veteran of the Marine Corps be honored more than an Air Force vet? What is the difference between a friend of mine who served as a Marine Reservist with a few months of active duty and another Marine friend who completed several years with the regular forces?

In May of 1968 there was a lot of combat in Vietnam. During the Battle of Kham Duc over a dozen United Sates soldiers were killed. At nearly the same time, in the lonely North Atlantic, the submarine U.S.S. Scorpion was lost killing 99 crewmembers while conducting surveillance of Russians. Which service members were the bravest?

I have no problem with calling some career Special Forces men “Warriors.” But, is there a hierarchy of warriors? Is a warrior with 20 notches on his rifle butt more of a warrior than another with only 10? Also, every warrior’s account of battle I have read describes his fear during the action. Does that make him cowardly and only able to succeed because he feared death?

I think you see where I am going.

It takes courage and determination to honorably complete a tour of military duty. Whether soldier, sailor, airman, guardsman, or Marine—they all are worthy of respect.

Every cook, clerk, mechanic, musician, personnel specialist, and pot scrubber should be proud of the service they gave to the United States of America.

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A version of this article appeared in the Charleston Gazette-Mail as “Karl Priest: Every veteran is important”

(https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/karl-priest-every-veteran-is-important-opinion/article_082f1dfa-0f67-5a94-b1d8-fdf958a61421.html) on 11-9-19 (pg.4A).

Another version appeared in the Charleston Gazette-Mail as “Essays on Faith: Thank God for veterans, for country and Christ”
(https://www.wvgazettemail.com/life/religion/essays-on-faith-thank-god-for-veterans-for-country-and-christ/article_68583fb6-55af-52b4-98bb-43e431a569ce.html) on 11-6-2020 (pg. 6B).

The following was added to the end:

Every Christian is called to serve in the Army of the Lord.

As the song goes: I may never march in the infantry; Ride in the cavalry; Shoot the artillery. I may never shoot for the enemy, But I'm in the Lord's army!

And, of course, this song: Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.

Ephesians Chapter 6 tells Christians to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Read all the verses from 10 through 18.

Christians may serve in many capacities from preacher or Sunday school teacher to usher or choir singer. Wherever, God calls you to serve, serve Him with honor.

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NOTES:

The arguably most formidable military warriors are U. S. Navy SEALs. In a “60 Minutes” (CBS) interview (9-8-2012) the SEAL Team 6 author of No Easy Day about the killing of Osama bin Laden highly praised two guys who refueled their helo as they returned from the mission. He also complimented the 50ish helo pilot.

Other ratings do more than just build gedunks. The SEAL Team 6 author of No Easy Day wrote about the preparation for the mission that killed Osama bin Laden that “in the weeks leading up to the mission, the SEALs trained on a full-size model of the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where they would eventually kill bin Laden.” (http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/10/world/navy-seal-60-minutes/) It was construction ratings personnel that build that model.

Here is what another SEAL says about SEAL operation dependence. “By October, Naval Special Warfare Task Group Central had acquired four fully deployable SEAL platoons (for Desert Shield and Desert Storm). In addition, we had numerous naval support personnel backing us up in various specialties such as medicine, radio electronics, legal affairs, mechanics, administration, and Special Boat Units (SBUs). The Task Group was now ready for war.” (p. 140). Also, on page 151 the author describes how a Seabee backhoe operator was instrumental in providing protection from incoming missile attacks and praises Air Force helo pilots on page 153. Meeting God Behind Enemy Lines--My Christian Testimony as a U. S. Navy SEAL by Steve Watkins (http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4swatkinsnavy_p2lc.htm)

SEAL of God by Chad Williams who was “one of only 13 from a (SEAL) class of 173 to make it straight through to graduation, Chad served his country on SEAL Teams One and Seven for five years, Chad shares his own radical conversion story and talks about how he draws on his own experiences as a SEAL to help others better understand the depths of Christ’s sacrifice and love.”

Other books by Navy SEAL Christians:

SEAL! by Lt. Cmdr. Michael J. Walsh & Greg Walker

Splashdown: The Rescue of a Navy Frogman by John Wolfram

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In August 2011 over 20 SEALs (some from SEAL Team 6 which is the “Elite of the Elite” and credited with killing Osama bin Laden) died when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. One was Aaron Carson Vaughn who was a man of deep faith, insisting to his family that he didn't fear his job as a Navy SEAL "because he knew where he was going" when he died. Aaron was a Christian and he's with Jesus today," Geneva Vaughn of Union City, Tenn., told The Associated Press on Saturday. "He told us when we saw him last November that he wasn't afraid...He was a tough warrior, but he was a gentle man." (He) was already a decorated fighter when he was asked by the Navy to return stateside to become an instructor. But he applied to SEAL Team 6 after two years, earning his way onto the squad in 2010. He asked the military to return him to combat and shipped out just six weeks before he was killed. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/07/2349090_p2/family-friends-remember-fallen.html

Atlantic Shores Baptist Church at Virginia Beach had three members who were killed in Afghanistan. Navy SEALs Kevin Houston and Louis Langlais died on August 6, 2011. They worked with the youth ministry at the church. In March 2010, SEAL Adam Brown was killed in Afghanistan. Source: WAVY.com and a CBSnews.com article.

Anyone who knew Adam would tell you it was important to him that his legacy be remembered and his story be told. He spent the latter part of his life helping those around him haunted by the mistakes he made years earlier. Adam was an incredibly strong Christian who loved the Lord and served him until his last, mortal breath. The majority of the members in his unit perished when the Chinook helicopter transporting them was viciously shot down while on a mission in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011, only a few short months after Adam's death. Adam was always the first through the door to clear the way for other members of his team and in classic Adam fashion he was yet again the first through heaven’s door......only the last door he went through wasn't filled with darkness and enemies, but light, with his Lord and Savior there to meet him. A light that shines down on all that knew him as a husband, father, friend, and there is no longer a need to be fearless. He's home. (http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=677022)

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From an article by former SEAL Jim O'Neill:

“America needs to bring God back into our national fabric. This, more than anything else, is what our country sorely needs. We have lost our moral anchor, our guiding star, and only acceptance of God, and His natural law, can return us to our intended course. God either exists or He does not. If He does not exist then nothing ultimately matters, and we are left with naught but the ash heap of atheistic nihilism.

“But if God exists (and oh He does), then we would have to be insane to deny His existence, or more commonly, we would need to be in secret (often a secret hidden even from ourselves) rebellion against God — refusing to acknowledge anything higher, more important, or more worthy of devotion than our own sweet selves. Such an attitude is a soul sickness, and America is sick in her soul.” http://constitutionalwrites.com/2011/07/16/time-to-reboot-america/

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Marcus Luttrell, author of Lone Survivor, said, regarding a decision not to kill some unarmed Afghans, that he could not do it because he has a “Christian soul." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12690379 “Luttrell says he talked to God while in battle and prayed that he would survive so that the courage of his comrades would not be forgotten.” http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2007/November/One-Navy-SEALs-Tale-of-Survival/

"I write a journal to my wife every day," Luttrell shared. "I write her letters and stuff like that, and at the end of it I say, 'Thank God for you because He gave you to me.'"… Luttrell believes the ultimate example of service is Jesus Christ.
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/july/lone-survivor-shares-seal-stories-of-bravery-sacrifice

Luttrell describes himself as a God-fearing Christian.
https://georgerede.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/marcus-luttrell-the-lone-survivor/

In his book he wrote, “But I was not giving up. I had only one Teammate. And He moved, as ever, in mysterious ways. But I was a Christian, and He had somehow saved me from a thousand AK-47 bullets on that day.”
https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/marcus-luttrell/page,22,43884-lone_survivor.html

Morgan Luttrell is the twin brother to Marcus.

“Our freedoms are under the constant threat of the socialist agenda,” said Luttrell. “The radical left is waging a culture war on Texans very way of life. We can’t allow the conservative values we’re teaching our children to be threatened by Washington, DC...
Morgan Luttrell built a life centered around service. A 5th generation Texan raised on a horse ranch, Morgan learned the importance of hard work, discipline, and personal responsibility. He turned his strong Christian values, deep love for America, and passion for helping others into a career of distinguished service. Following an honorable 14-year military career, Morgan retired from the Navy in 2014 and applied his personal success and experience to help fellow veterans recover from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries sustained in battle. Luttrell went on to serve in President Trump’s administration as Special Advisor to Energy Secretary and Former Texas Governor Rick Perry. At the Department of Energy, Morgan led the creation of the Artificial Intelligence and Technologies Office to ensure America continued to outpace Russia and China in the development of machine-learning technology.
https://montgomerycountynews.net/retired-navy-seal-morgan-luttrell-announces-for-congress-enters-the-race-p9702-1.htm

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Ex-SEAL sniper Chris Kyle (author of American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military) was a Sunday-school teacher/deacon’s son. (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/meet_
the_big_shot_BxlVpxzQijkC9mwZcmwkrN) After his death, Chris Kyle’s brother said that Kyle was a “devout Christian.”
(http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/04/family-of-slain-navy-seal-chris-kyle-releases-statement-on-kyles-death/) Kyle credited God and his own guardian angel for protecting him in war-time, even surviving being shot twice his last tour, one bullet stopped by his body armor and the other deflecting off his protective eyewear. In an interview last year at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX, Chris Kyle spoke openly about his Christian faith. He was somewhat a reluctant hero. Kyle told the congregation, “The red on our flag stands for the blood. Our rights as Americans were paid in full by that blood.” In much the same way Christ paid for our salvation with His blood, pastor Ed Young added. (http://www.examiner.com/article/america-s-deadliest-sniper-chris-kyle-killed-helping-troubled-vet)

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Brady Duke is a husband, father of five, Christian minister, and decorated former Navy SEAL sniper. Spending nearly a decade with SEAL Team One, Duke served multiple deployments to the Middle East in support of the Global War on Terror. Brady is now leading Intervene Ministries .
https://thenorthstarnarrative.northstar-academy.org/2021/10/20/inner-healing-through-forgiveness/
He has a BS degree in Christian Ministries from Liberty University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brady-duke-b4039817a

Transitioning from the Navy, going to school for Christian Ministries, and training SWAT teams around the country, Duke went on a three-year spiritual journey growing his faith, strengthening his relationship with his wife, and understanding his irreplaceable role as a father. Brady and Julie became involved in the life changing journey of mentoring military couples and starting their own para-church ministry.
https://bradyduke.com/about/

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Eli Crane. Man of faith. Husband. Father. Veteran Navy SEAL. Entrepreneur. And now, candidate for Congress in Arizona’s battleground First District…Eli Crane was in his senior year of college at the University of Arizona when the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001. He left school one week later to join the Navy, and then ultimately became a Navy SEAL.

“I think it’s all a part of a servant mindset…. I was always taught… that it’s better to give than to receive. It sounds great, but when you’re growing up, that’s not what you believe at all, just me, me, me, take, take, take…Hand-in-hand with a servanthood mindset goes Eli Crane’s Christian faith, which has been a firm foundation for his life choices in the past, and speaks into his decision to run for Congress.

Crane’s wife (said), “We felt God’s calling into this new season earlier this year, and after many weeks of prayer, our family is excited and ready to serve our country again.” Noting that his current steps toward a Congressional seat are for the glory of God and not for himself, Eli Crane added: “I’m a man of faith, and I also feel that this is a calling. I wouldn’t be doing this if it didn’t feel like we weren’t walking in God’s favor, a path that He is guiding us. “And so, there was a lot of prayer that went into this decision, and that’s something that as I’ve gotten older that I really try to make sure that I do a much better job at staying closer to God, trying to understand that this story isn’t about me. “It’s about Him.” Crane also models sharing his faith after Jesus Christ’s example, never forcing beliefs and always respecting the Constitutionally-protected right to worship…

“I’m a follower of Christ and I watched how he lived his life; he never forced anybody to follow him. And I see a similarity in our Constitution, in that we have freedom of religion, and I swore an oath to uphold and protect that Constitution….“I don’t try and force my faith on anybody. I want anybody who lives in this country to have the Constitutional right to worship how they want to worship…

“In the Word of God it says that we are all created in His image. And I one hundred percent believe that. I know that the amount of melanin in our skin means nothing as far as worth or value, especially when we’re created in God’s image.”
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/let-endorses-eli-crane-veteran-navy-seal-for-congress/

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Derrick Van Orden is an American patriot, retired Navy SEAL, husband, father, grandfather, and Christian.
https://www.tpusa.com/derrickvanordentpusa-com
https://www.vanordenforcongress.com/about/

Van Orden is also a devout Christian, but he’s not completely down on atheists, going so far as to debunk the conventional wisdom that a foxhole is the last place you’ll find one.

“People say there are no atheists in foxholes, and that’s not true,” he remarked during an appearance on the Mighty Oaks Show. “There are plenty of atheists in foxholes, and they’re terrified, they’re absolutely terrified. Some of them to the point of paralysis and then many to the point, after they get out of the service, they’re incapable of dealing with the stressors that they went through, and that’s because they’re not grounded.”
https://lacrosseindependent.com/2020/06/24/lessons-in-manhood-with-derrick-van-orden/

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Ryan Zinke is the author of American Commander published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. He is a Christian Ex-Navy SEAL was President Trump's Interior Secretary. Zinke is a former member of the Navy SEAL's, and even led the US special forces in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, directing over 3,500 personnel. A fifth generation Montana, Zinke is a committed Christian and has devoted his post-military career to helping others through political means…Zinke is also noted on the 'Lutheran's In Congress' web page.
https://hellochristian.com/6590-christian-exnavy-seal-ryan-zinke-confirmed-as-trumps-interior-secretary

During the Republican primary, Zinke attracted attention for referring to Hillary Rodham Clinton as "the real enemy" and the "anti-Christ." Zinke touted his anti-abortion credentials and received the endorsement of the Montana Right to Life Association.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Zinke#Political_positions

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(One of the members of SEAL Team 6 killed in Afghanistan) Tom (Ratzlaff) shared that whenever he boarded a helicopter for a mission, he said the Lord’s Prayer silently, once he got seated, and then prayed for protection. “I don’t ask for protection myself because that’s in his hands. I ask him to look after my wife and kids. Then I ask him to protect all my buddies and forgive them of all their sins and me of my sins. Then I move straight into thinking about what I’m about to do-the target, the map study, making sure I know which way’s north so I can call out things correctly on the target.” (http://nation.time.com/2012/08/06/the-navy-seals-dying-words/) A book about him is Fearless. Also, see this video.

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Former Navy SEAL Benjamin Smith gave the crowd at the Restore America Rally at Drake Field in Peachtree City plenty to think about. Speaking on topics ranging from the current state of America and its potential future to the relevance of Christianity in American life, the North Carolina resident was one of a number of speakers at the Oct. 20 rally sponsored by the South Atlanta Tea Party. Smith told the crowd of approximately 250 people the U.S is engaged in a “cold civil war” … Smith spoke about the Judeo-Christian worldview he said was present at the founding of the country, and some of the reasons why those values are relevant… And on the Tea Party movement, Smith said he realized as a SEAL that he should learn more about his country’s history as those in the movement advocate. “People need to read the Bible and the Founding Fathers. Doing so helped me to understand more about my faith,” said Smith. (http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/10-24-2012/seal-us-involved-%E2%80%98cold-civil-war%E2%80%99?quicktabs_3=1) Smith is featured in the documentary “Dishonorable Disclosures”.

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Retired Navy SEAL Sr. Chief Mike Day’s life forever changed in April 2007. He was shot 27 times at close range. Body armor that wasn’t supposed to hold up, held up… As the shots pounded his body, he began to pray the first prayer he’d ever prayed. “God, get me home to my girls!” Day served 21 years in the Navy and 20 years as a Navy Seal…He remains as amazed as everyone else that he survived the battle that day, and he speculates that the reason he didn’t die is because he didn’t yet know Jesus. (http://cnmnewz.com/navy-seal-mike-days-unbelievable-survival-god-get-me-home-to-my-girls/)

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SEAL Team Three Michael Anthony Monsoor won earned a Silver Star, the third highest honor for combat bravery, in 2006. A few months later that year he died after throwing himself on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for that act of courage. His platoon commander said, “I truly thought he was the toughest member of my platoon.”
(http://www.debbieschlussel.com/3639/michael-monsoor-un-hyphenated-arab-american-hero-americans-who-dont-want-to-be-known-as-arabs-my-apology-to-mayor-allan-mansoor/) “Michael was a Christian man, raised in the Catholic Church and was often seen attending Mass before leaving the FOB (Forward Operating Base) on operations. His parents named him after the Archangel Michael-the great protector whose mission was to protect the world from the satanic forces of evil.” (http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/04/us-navy-seal-mi.html)

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On the 12-22-16 Sean Hannity Show during the 5:00 hour guest host Jonathan Gilliam said, “I am a Christian.”

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Pastor Gunnar Hanson served in the US Navy from July 5, 1993 to March 5, 2005. During his time in the Navy he served at SEAL Team 3 and Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California. The SEAL teams played a large role in shaping Gunnar early adulthood. His path of accomplishments isn’t free of bumpy patches that God used to lead Gunnar to Christ in 1996, ultimately transforming him into the man he is today. After becoming a Christian, Gunnar developed a deep desire to know what the Bible taught about what it meant to be a Christian and how this new life in Christ fit with his life as a US Navy SEAL. This desire led him to distance learning courses through Moody Bible Institute and ultimately to Southern California Seminary where he earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and a Masters of Divinity. He continued his education through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is all but dissertation with a Doctor of Ministry. Following his service in the Navy, Gunnar moved to Valley Center, California to restart Valley Baptist Church during the summer of 2007. Under his leadership the church has come back to life and is making an impact in their community. In addition to his pastoral duties, Gunnar is the head chaplain with the Escondido Police Department.
https://www.gunnarhanson.com/Biography.htm

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Jeff Bramstedt is a former US Navy SEAL who has dedicated his post military life to impacting the lives of men with the Word of God. His goal is to build foundations in men that won't crack under the pressures of life that every man faces. Training and teaching men to be "real men" is the core of his ministry, Life Of Valor Ministries.
https://www.outreach.com/events/christian-speakers/Jeff-Bramstedt.aspx

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Before Remi Adeleke was a famous actor, he was a Navy SEAL…God brought about an incredible transformation in the life of the “Transformers” star…“While I would walk through this wilderness, I really had time to reflect upon myself in the silence because it was completely silent out there,” he says. “I began to think about how I treated my mom, how I treated people I claimed I loved, and I would think about things that I did in the past. I still yearned for that paternal presence. I couldn’t really sleep and then I began having suicidal thoughts.“I was at the lowest point I had ever been in my entire life,” he says. “I didn’t know anything about the Bible. But by a simple act of faith, I literally began to cry out to Jesus; ‘Help me, Jesus. Help me.’”He started hanging out with Christians, ones “who didn’t just read the Bible but actually lived the Bible,” he says.Change was happening in his heart.“I started praying. All I wanted to do was be with Him and do for Him and forsake that life I used to live,” he says. “I just wanted to live my new life with Him.”Remi surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was born again.
http://godreports.com/2018/06/the-street-thug-who-became-a-navy-seal-then-a-hollywood-star/

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Howard Wasdin is a former Navy Seal Sniper… The Last Rescue (See Amazon.) is an unforgettable tale of brokenness and healing, going deep into the firing line of modern warfare, through the agony of broken marriages, and onto a path of redemption and love. With a clear-eyed view of the inevitability of heartache and the power of God’s faithfulness… Life is hard and it is important to have God in your life.
https://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/articles/how-faith-and-loved-saved-a-navy-seal-sniper

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For 25 years, Floyd McLendon honorably served in the greatest, naval military in the world. He enlisted into the United States Naval Reserve in the summer of 1992. Fourteen months later, he fully committed to Active Duty…Since retiring from Naval Service, Floyd has traveled the country speaking professionally and is a published author. He is steadfast in his Christian faith, a devoted husband to Melinda, and committed father to their four children.
https://www.mclendonforcongress.com/about-floyd/

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McLean Bible Church: Todd Peters Prince William Campus Pastor (2020)
Todd was born in Texas and raised in Missouri. It was in the Ozarks that Todd fell in love with the great outdoors. He met his wife Nancy, at Southwest Baptist University their freshman year. Although he felt called to full-time ministry, current events led him to join the United States Navy in 1987. Over the next 26 years, Todd served in the military and in his local churches. Todd’s passion continues to be centered on God’s Word, helping others and spending time in God’s creation.
https://archive.mcleanbible.org/staff-directory
"Most seasoned operators fall back on the fact that the basics make you strong," said Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Todd Peters, senior enlisted advisor for Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command - Detachment Kodiak. "You face that no matter where you are deployed to."
https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=28434
Interview: https://vimeo.com/67017875

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For Craig “Sawman” Sawyer (joined) the U.S. Marines (then switched to the) U.S. Navy in 1986 for one reason only, BUDS training. He committed himself to becoming a Navy SEAL graduating in BUDS Class 149 in 1988. As a SEAL, Sawyer climbed quickly and found himself shoulder to shoulder with his extreme-elite DEVGRU brothers (SEAL Team SIX). As an elite warfighter, he’s also humble and kind, a loving father, and a life-of-service Christian. Military service and Tactical Insider aside, Craig has also dedicated his life to the front-line fight against child sex-trafficking where, with three years of gritty work under the Sawman’s own Vets for Child Rescue.

https://hookandbarrel.com/shooting/iron-sharpens-iron-craig-sawman-sawyer/

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Erik Dean Prince (former U.S. Navy SEAL officer), is the founder of the private military company Blackwater USA. He graduated from Holland Christian High School. Prince was accepted into the United States Naval Academy and attended for three semesters before leaving, explaining that he loved the Navy but disliked the Academy. He went on to receive his B.A. in economics from Hillsdale College in 1992. He converted to Catholicism in 1992 and describes himself as a practicing member of the church. Prince has frequently donated to conservative Christian organizations, including the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty and the Prison Fellowship.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Prince#Personal_life

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Jason Perry became a member of the Navy SEALs, a special operations force that carries out some of the most important initiatives related to the security of the United States. For sixteen years, Perry served his country well…(after the military he) joined the Boston Police Department (and became) a member of the SWAT team.
https://quentinsuper.com/2021/05/20/jason-perry-ceo-of-trident-shield/
He writes: “As a former Atheist/Navy SEAL/Cop/Paramedic now turned Pastor, my long battle to Redemption took 40+ years…GOD gave me the vision for Patriot Crusader Mission…Our Mission is to Disciple and Forge Christian Warriors in Jesus Christ…by sharing the life, advice, and opinions of (Mine, as a Pastor, Christian, husband, father, conservative, former-Atheist, former Navy SEAL, and SWAT officer…we) bring much-needed training, experience, and clarity on how to be a Christian Warrior in today's dark world.”
https://www.audible.com/pd/Patriot-Crusader-Mission-Podcast/B08K54S11P

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In 2021 many Navy SEALS may have been Christians. Almost one fourth of active-duty SEALS refused to take the mandated COVID vaccine.

Their lawyer said, "My clients include several Navy SEALs who are a small part of a large group of SEALs and other military members who are being asked to choose between their faith and their ability to serve our nation."

An “evangelical pastor from Arizona who has been ministering to the special operators for several weeks as they navigated the decision, said between a quarter to a third of all active-duty SEALS are involved in the dispute with the Pentagon…’They are essentially being asked to make a decision between their commitments to the lordship of Christ and their careers as Navy SEALs.’”

https://justthenews.com/government/security/hundreds-navy-seals-face-being-blocked-deployment-refusing-covid-vaccine

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It is unknown if the following SEALs were/are Christians.

>The Pentagon on Thursday released the names of the 30 Americans who were killed last weekend when a rocket-propelled grenade fired by a Taliban insurgent downed their Chinook helicopter en route to a combat mission…Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minn., Naval Special Warfare unit; Top of his class. Quarterback. Team captain.Faas' football coach had encouraged the natural-born leader to consider applying to a service academy to become a military officer, but Faas had decided in middle school that he wanted to become a Navy SEAL… "This is where John felt he was called," said Ron Monson, the football coach at Minnehaha Academy, a private Christian school in Minneapolis where Faas graduated as the 1998 class valedictorian.

>Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Conn., Naval Special Warfare unit;Diane Warzoha, who had Bill as a student at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford, said it was no surprise that he fulfilled his goal of joining the SEALs.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44106253/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/t/pentagon-names-americans-killed-downed-afghan-chopper/#.XisoTmhKjIU

>(During) BUD/S one night…(Chris) Campbell and (?) Kelley had sung a Baptist hymn to keep their spirits up…
https://sofrep.com/news/heath-robinson/

>With no father figure growing up, (Ed) Hiner said he was a fighter and got into trouble. But playing baseball helped him survive. He became a star on his high school team and received a full baseball college scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth University. “Thank God for baseball. It saved me,” he said… Of the 150 in his 1992 training class, only 10 completed the vigorous training and became SEALS. Hiner was one of them… Hiner was sent on hundreds of combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, earning two Bronze Stars with “V” for valor and combat leadership. He attended graduate school at USD, rose to lieutenant commander and was selected to lead basic and advanced training for all SEALs nationwide.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/people/story/2020-03-20/someone-san-diego-should-know-ed-hiner

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From a Navy Seabee:

Later, even after we had the enemy beat after the 1968 Tet, I realized Walter Cronkite was poisoning the minds of the American people.

As a Seabee, I experienced rocket attacks, ambushes, mortar attacks, and, last but not least, the joy of being point man way too often. While Seabees were considered support troops as an Equipment Operator (EO). I spent every day outside the wire, either working on the road such as Rte. 9 out of Dong Ha, placing culverts, working on side ramps on bridges. We were hauling cargo over the Hai Van Pass to Phu Loc and hauling equipment to other work areas for construction. Keep in mind that with so few Seabees, we did not have the luxury of convoys.

(In) 1969, and while we did lose two men on my birthday, the unit lost six men KIA at Phu Loc. Phu Loc was an outpost with a rock crusher over the Hai Van Pass, where most of the 2nd platoon and a large portion of 3 platoons were sent at the outset of the deployment.

Tet was still causing issues, and our normal road work had been suspended for a couple of days. The Seabees on that road crew were expected to daily run the road to Camp Carroll and back to fix/add bridges, place culverts with diversion paths around ALL bridges, and widen the road.

Anyway, the explosions lasted about 10-12 hrs. We were setting in a two-man firing hole with our knees up to our chests.

Each hole had enough room for two men to sit shoulder to shoulder and thin pieces of plywood covering our heads. There was a single row of sandbags on top. During the heaviest, a piece of shrapnel came down, brushing my arm and buried in the ground. I grabbed a sandbag from overhead and placed it on whatever. It did not tear my shirt; it was one of those times you feel but not touch. This was what became the greatest day of my life, spiritually. I said I'm going for supplies. As I jumped out of the hole, the most terrible fear I had ever experienced grasped my mind, and I stood motionless for a few seconds.

The combinations of the fear and the realization in the dark should I run and step on something that would blow up or walk and see what there was in the next step. AND the fear BUT then what I later understood was the Holy Spirit in a small still voice said, "You Will Not Be Harmed." And his voice chased the fear from my mind and body. I calmly walked to the chow hall and gathered 2 cases of C-Rations. I returned and went from hole to hole and passed them out to our platoon. Later, when I was 41, the Holy Spirit came to me in a motel room in Elyria, Ohio, and introduced himself and brought me into the family of God.

I was awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal for Meritorious Service.

The Lord has always blessed me. You can see it in some of my services. For reasons only known by God, He has blessed my family and me. Nothing I have ever done warrants such favoritism. It starts back on the basis, why I chose the Seabees is in the 1st question. He gave me everything I wanted in life. NO, it was not money (we struggled at several times) or anything that most would think as their desire. He gave me character, loyalty, and common sense. It started with my parents, who were wonderful role models. I did not always understand what they gave me; however, in the last 30-40 years, I have come to learn what is best in life. One of the best parts of God is his allowing us to go through challenging times and hard struggles learning to hang on to his word.

https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/voices/2020/223/Betts_voices.html

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WILLIAM WESLEY "BILLY" HANSON, age 81, of Durham, NC passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday, July 20, 2021…Following graduation from Clendenin High School in 1957, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and received specialty training as a radio operator and code interceptor. He received multiple letters of accommodation and appreciation for his performance while serving in England as a code cryptographer during the height of the Cold War…At the time of his passing, Bill was a member of the Living Church of God…He will remain in our hearts until we see each other again in the presence and joy of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Charleston Gazette-Mail July 25, 2021, pg. 9B

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We all are part of "The Culture War." If you are a conservative, are you AWOL?

For you vets who are Christians—are you a warrior for Christ? The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has an article “God’s Call to Warriors.” Here are some excerpts.

Here’s what a warrior is. It’s not the guy who is armed with an AR15 and 30-round magazines. The warrior is someone who says: “This is what I love. This is what I hold dear. This is my family. This is my country. This is my faith. And this is what threatens it. This is the enemy. You will not hurt what I hold dear. You will not hurt what I love, without coming through me.” You know who the greatest warriors are in God’s Kingdom? Intercessors…Warriors stand between what they hold dear and what threatens it. The warrior fights for a transcendent cause, for something greater than himself.
…

If you’re stagnated, if you’re stale, if you’re trying to figure out what you’re going to do with the rest of your life, you must get back to being warriors. America needs you…First you’ve got to decide what you believe. What do you stand for? Who are you? What are you all about? If you can determine what you believe, that will tell you what you hold dear. It will tell you what you have to protect.

(https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/april-2014/gods-call-to-warriors/)

ALL vets and non-vets will be part of a major “battle” in the future. Here is what you will see:

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelations 19:11-16)

The rider undeniably is Jesus Christ. He is designated as the “Word” of God, whom the apostle elsewhere identifies as the Lord Jesus (cf. Jn. 1:1,14; 1 Jn. 1:1). Christ is the divine Word (logos) because he is the thought and voice of Heaven to humanity (cf. Jn. 1:18; 14:8f). The will of God for mankind cannot be ascertained apart from the revelatory mission of Jesus of Nazareth.

The apostle sets forth the mission of the heavenly warrior. In righteousness he judges and makes war!

When Jesus came to earth the first time, his purpose was to inaugurate a system of redemption for Adam’s fallen family. As he himself said: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (Jn. 3:17). Once that mission of mercy was implemented, no further plan was to be offered. Aside from Jesus, there is no other sacrifice for sins (cf. Heb. 10:26).

In this latter instance, however, the Lord has not come on a mission of mercy; rather, he has arrived for judgment and the destruction of the ungodly. It is important to note the connection between “judge” and “make war.” The two occur simultaneously. The war is the day of judgment! See 2 Corinthians 5:10 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.

So similarly, the Son of God shall destroy those who have resisted his grace (Mt. 10:28; 2 Thes. 1:7ff).

The conquering Christ is followed by heavenly armies who also are mounted on white steeds. Moreover, they are clothed in fine linen, pure and white. This celestial army consists of the redeemed, who, by their obedience, have washed their robes in the Lamb’s blood, making them white (Rev. 7:14). They share in the Lamb’s victory because they were willing to commit their very lives to the Master’s cause (cf. 12:10ff).

The weapon employed by the Faithful and True One is that of a sword, a sharp sword, that kept on proceeding from his mouth (v. 15). This is an obvious allusion to his powerful word (cf. Heb. 4:12).

And so, at the time of judgment, the Savior will wage no carnal conflict with his enemies; he will merely speak the word, and they will be banished to eternal punishment (cf. Isa. 11:4; 2 Thes. 2:8)

The Messianic-warrior will tread the winepress of “the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty” (cf. 16:19). The “wrath” of God should not be interpreted in terms of an emotional outburst, as with frail humans; rather, it is a measured response of divine justice to human arrogance and rebellion. Too, it must be viewed against the backdrop of the Creator’s amazing love – so hatefully rejected by the masses.

The most common impression of Jesus, entertained by devout Bible students, is that of a loving, tender, compassionate Savior. These qualities must never be minimized. But there is another side to that “coin” – the one portrayed in Revelation 19:11ff; that of the righteous warrior.

(https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/811-jesus-christ-the-righteous-warrior)

To be on the winning side (God’s side) of that battle you must GET SAVED!