D-Day Thots

"On this day in 1944, American and Allied troops came ashore in France at Normandy as part of Operation Overlord. More than 9,000 troops were killed or wounded." --- Longview News-Journal Headlines today
...And there were stories of honors given today in France, a picture of the President with white rose in hand along with survivors, and quotes honoring the great heroics of that day. It would be 7 months yet before I made entrance into the world in an old red brick hospital in Corsicana, TX but I do have a very special memory of my own, of D-Day!
It's been close to 25 years now that my phone rang about 2 in the morning. The dear lady calling said, "Pastor I hate to bother you, but Steve needs you I think." I hurriedly threw some clothes on and made my way to the simple clap-board house where they lived. She was waiting in the doorway for me and allowed me in with a hug.
There was Steve sitting in the middle of the floor in only his boxers and undershirt. He appeared to be in another world as he sat cross legged stroking the air about 8 inches above the carpet. I sat down beside him, cross legged as well. As I noted his demeanor and eyes that appeared to be seeing things I couldn't see, I softly asked, "Hey Steve, what do you have there?"
He looked up and said, "Oh I was just petting this little dog...isn't he pretty?" Without breaking stride of the moment I reached my hand out with his and began to pet and stroke Steve's imaginary puppy and said, "Yeah Steve, that's a sweet puppy." We talked for a bit about the puppy that wasn't there, and a few other non-consequential things...
Eventually Steve reminded me that he was a WW2 veteran, and as we petted the puppy he began to tell me a story that had been buried in his soul for over 40 years...it was something his dear wife told me later that he had never shared with her any one else.
Steve related how as a kid soldier of 19 he was on a landing barge that fateful day with his platoon and they hit the beach in one of the early waves of the attack...mortar shells were screaming and landing all around him, wide-eyed he watched as fellow soldiers fell to the shells and shrapnel...finally, with several losses his platoon was in a wooded area where they "hunkered down," and waited. After a bit, the platoon leader made Steve the "point-man," to go down the trail near them and report back. Holding his rifle, bayonet in place, securely in firing position he carefully moved along the forested trail...suddenly to his surprise, he was confronted with a German soldier, rifle also in place only about 15 feet from him. His mind already spinning, adrenalin massive, and trying to comprehend the carnage he had already witnessed, he realized it was, "kill or be killed." Tears were now flowing like a fountain, as he moaned a dreadful and agonizing moment; he said, "Pastor, he was only a kid like me, maybe 15. I fired first and he fell. I killed him. I've begged God to forgive me for so many years, but I killed him...that's one of God's commandments, and I killed him. God can't forgive me of that."
I just got closer, reached over and held Steve in my arms and wept with him. As our weeping began to ebb, I shared with Steve the unlimited grace of God, the understanding of God, and that God had forgiven him long ago, but that he was tormented by his own ghosts of that horrible day long ago in a forest at Normandy. We just sat there and prayed together, then Steve looked up at me and smiled!! The torment of 40 years rushed out of him like a zephyr, and a total peace came into the dimly lit room, and rested in his soul. The puppy was gone, and God's love filled our hearts.
About a year after this Steve became ill, went to the VA hospital, and in a short time passed away. It was my privilege to officiate the funeral of not only a war hero, but of a man released of the terror and fright of the past with the awfulness of his deed.
Today I wish to remember Steve and all those other young men on that day, their terror, and what they may have later gone through in life...back then they called it, "Shell-shock," Today we refer to it as PTSD. Whatever it is, I know by my experience with Steve that night that it is not beyond the grace of God!!!!
Today I pause and salute Steve and all the many tens of thousands of true heroes!!!
STEVE, REST IN PEACE IN THE ARMS OF HE WHO LOVES YOU AND FORGAVE YOU!!!!