So I commended enjoyment…. —ECCLESIASTES 8:15 (NKJV)
I’ve always admired the ability of American GIs to find humor in the dark world of warfare. The TV series M*A*S*H illustrated this gift for handling pain with a well-phrased wisecrack or practical prank.
My Uncle John, who lives in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was a gunner in World War II, stationed in the Philippines and New Guinea, where he served with honor. In his diary Uncle John recounts some of the lighter moments, like the time his trench-buddy was snoring so loudly that he drew enemy fire.
At Breakneck Ridge Uncle John had gone without a bath for a month, crawling around in muddy trenches in the same clothes every day. His shoes were lost in the mud, and his socks had rotted off, along with some of his skin. He lived on cold Spam and struggled to keep his mind from drifting into madness.
One day the battle eased enough that he could crawl out of the trench and read his mail, which included a care package from his home church. Hoping for some candy or a good book, he tore open the package to find a beautiful necktie. “I had no shoes,” he said, “but I was the best-dressed man in the trench.”
Thank You, Lord, for the men and women who have served our country—and for the safety valve of humor, a wonderful gift.
