jshepherd5
6/14/2011 9:43:34 PM | Divine Protection
It’s easy to follow the road I took when I look back today.
There is no doubt that God was there to help me find my way.
I didn’t know Him as well then but I knew He was my friend.
He always led me to a starting point where He thought I should begin!
The drums of war were loud and clear, Uncle Sam said “I want you!”
My deathly fear of “trench warfare” led me to ask, “What else can I do?”
No Navy for me, I couldn’t swim, and my best friend died at “Pearl.”
Another friend was flying high in a P-38 in a war torn part of the world!
Parental permission was hard to get, Mom feared for me to fly.
I begged and begged ‘til she gave in, the tear stained form took time to dry.
Mental and physical tests were tough but I “aced” them both with flair,
In fact I finished the testing early and was sworn in “then and there!”
Uniforms and regimentation was something I liked a lot.
Learning to fly was easy for me and I was told that I was “hot.”
I got special training to fly the big ones, the queens of the bomber fleet.
It was true, to fly the B-17, you could never make it with “cold feet!”
I arrived with my crew in the European warzone in November forty-four.
I was assigned to fly a B-17 named “Bottle Baby” fully fitted for war.
The sky was active with enemy fighters and deadly bursts of flak.
For 25 missions over Germany we survived while many didn’t come back!
I often wondered why I was spared while others “bought the farm.”
I felt the on-board presence of the Spirit who kept us from deadly harm.
He’s never left me since those days and has filled my life with love.
I thank Jesus every day for directing me from above!
Jacob Nathaniel Shepherd
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