Look, God, I have never spoken to You--
But now--I want to say "How do You do,"
You see, God, they told me You didn't exist--
And like a fool--I believed all of this.
Last night from a shell hole I saw Your sky--
I figured right then they had told me a lie.
Had I taken time to see the things You made,
I'd known they weren't calling a spade a spade.
I wonder, God, if You'd shake my hand,
Somehow--I feel that You will understand.
Funny--I had to come to this hellish place,
Before I had the time to see Your face.
Well, I guess there isn't much more to say,
But, I'm sure glad, God, I met You today.
I guess the "zero hour" will soon be here,
But I'm not afraid since I know You're near.
The signal! Well, God, I'll have to go.
I like You lots--this I want You to know--
Look, now--this will be a horrible fight--
Who knows--I may come to Your house tonight--
Though I wasn't friendly with You before,
I wonder, God--if You'll wait at Your door--
Look--I'm crying! Me!--shedding tears!--
I wish I' known You these many years--
Well, I will have to go now, God--good-by,
Strange-since I met You--I'm not afraid to die.
-Frances Angermayer
A SOLDIER'S CONVERSION
This prayer meant a lot to Colonel Dean Irvin. "It always affected me because in war with your family gone you always should have someone to turn to and God was important," said Irvin about Conversion, a prayer reprinted from the newspaper which many soldiers carried.
Colonel Irvin, a non-native of New Mexico, said, "the war was awful, but the hardest thing was leaving my wife and little girl of 15 months and a baby on the way." He joined the army after he took ROTC classes in college. He enjoyed the ROTC. He was called to duty in August of 1940. He and his wife were married on Christmas Day the same year and moved into a little apartment near Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
When Colonel Irvin was sent overseas, he had to say good-bye to his wife and child. He said, "it was comforting to know there were other men that were doing the same."
In the war, Irvin served on the front line, but was never injured. A good friend of his was killed. Irvin is going back to Europe to retrace his war path. While he is there, he will speak at a celebration, and find the grave of his friend who was killed.
Irvin has many memories from the war. He especially remembers a time when some other soldiers and he went into a Presbyterian church. They met a very nice family with whom they became quick friends. His son was born while he was away. When he heard the news he hopped on his bicycle to their house and showed them the telegram. That night they celebrated the birth of his brand new son.
He also has unpleasant memories. He said that one of the worst things that happened was when they were in camp, all of a sudden a young man came driving crazily through the camp. There was a dead man next to him. A sniper had gotten him in the head and killed him instantly.
During the war, Irvin sent letters to his wife every day. Sometimes he wrote two or even three times a day. He sent her money and most of the money was put in savings or war bonds. What he wanted her to send him the most were lots and lots of pictures.
When the war ended, he applied for his first civilian job. With all his background and experience, he had five job offers over several months. Once he knew he would have a job, he and his wife decided to buy a home. With all the money she had saved, the bank was thrilled to loan them the money and they built their first house. Shortly after that, his job moved him to Minnesota and they had to sell it.
Mr. and Mrs. Irvin are still happily married with grandchildren. He said that his life wasn't too badly affected by the war.
-David Evans, Mart Goplerud, Christi Weaver