Drafted

Photo by Suzy Brooks (unsplash.com)

The smell of diesel fuel mingled with the scent of cheap aftershave from the guy sitting next to him was starting to give him a headache. The bouncing and jostling of the bus as it made its way along the highway didn’t help matters either. But it didn’t seem to phase him, neither did the fact that he didn’t get much sleep last night. The message in the letter he got a couple of weeks ago was burned in his brain…the letter he safely tucked in his suitcase underneath the bus. He didn’t know why he decided to bring it with him, it was just an impulse.

It was still dark when he had boarded a few hours earlier, along with twenty or so other young men around his age, who maybe decided to bring their letters too, or maybe he was the only one. He had read it over and over so many times, he had it memorized…

ORDER TO REPORT FOR INDUCTION

The President of the United States

To:   Benjamin Lloyd Osborne

Order No. 27612

GREETINGS:

Having submitted yourself to a Local Board composed of your neighbors for the purpose of determining your availability for training and service in the armed forces of the United States, you are hereby notified that you have now been selected for training and service in the Army.

You will, therefore, report to the Local Board named above at 8449 S. 10th St., Bldg. F, Santa Ana, CA at 6:30am, on the 25th day of July, 1942.

This Local Board will furnish transportation in an induction station of the service for which you have been selected. You will there be examined and if accepted for training and service, you will then be inducted into the stated branch of the service…

That was 5 days ago. He had passed, and now he was on a bus to basic training. He actually wanted to fight and had every intention of signing up, but the draft board beat him to it.

Something began to tighten in his chest. Now that it was actually happening, excitement, apprehension, eagerness, and other emotions he couldn’t name were stirring up in him.

He looked out his side window and realized they were almost to their destination. The Greyhound began to slow down and the other men on the bus started moving around, gathering up their things. He grabbed his satchel from the floor by his feet as the bus pulled into the parking lot. He raised his head and glanced at the guy sitting next to him and caught his eye. They had introduced themselves to each other when they boarded and had developed an immediate kinship.

“Well Jimmy, I guess this is it, isn’t it?” Benjamin said.

“You ready?” Jimmy asked.

“Better believe it! Let’s go.”

It was December, 1944 and Benjamin was knee deep in snow in the Ardennes Mountains in southern Belgium. They had come east through northern France and were just given the order to take a sharp left turn straight north, and head for Bastogne. He had been assigned to the Third Army. Patton’s army. And he was on the front lines, in the infantry. They had marched through France so fast at one point, he heard through the grapevine, that Eisenhower ordered Patton to slow down so the rest of the troops could catch up.

It had been a year and a half to remember…or forget. Being under Patton’s command was hard work. But he never doubted Patton’s military leadership. They always seemed to come out ahead…on top…pushing Hitler and his war machine back. Now they were on the attack again. That’s how Patton worked…always on the attack, never on the defense. He would always tell them, “When in doubt, attack”.

The winter was cold and harsh and the terrain made it harder to fight, but Benjamin followed the instructions of his commander as they made their way north. As night descended on the mountainside and it was his turn for food and sleep, Benjamin got his rations and found a spot to eat and settled down to rest. Another soldier came and asked if he could share the spot. Without glancing at who it was, he agreed knowing two bodies would be warmer than just one in a hole in the ground.

“Benjamin?”

Benjamin looked up.

“Jimmy? …Jimmy!” He could hardly believe it! He hadn’t seen him since they got off the bus at basic. They had been separated during training and had only glimpsed each other occasionally, then were assigned to different outfits.

“I didn’t know you were in the Third!” Benjamin said as he moved over to make room for him.

“Yep. Got transferred after Metz. I guess Patton needed more guys up front to sacrifice themselves,” he said with disdain.

Benjamin stopped eating and looked at him astounded. Jimmy saw the look and sheepishly looked down into his mess kit and began his meal.

“Wait a minute Jimmy. What was that. What do you mean?”

Jimmy paused, a little hesitant before answering. “Well, this isn’t exactly what I was expecting when I signed up. I mean…I wanted to fight for sure, but…I didn’t know I would truly have to fight. You know, actually fire my gun. I thought I’d ride in a tank, or do administrative stuff, or help with transportation. But I do like wearing the uniform though.”

Benjamin couldn’t believe it! A soldier that didn’t want to fight! Was this really happening? They were in the middle of a war! Fighting against an evil that was taking innocent lives every day.

“Jimmy, you gotta be kiddin’ me!” Benjamin exclaimed. “Not what you expected?? You are a soldier in the United States Army!” He had a hard time believing what he had heard. Was this the same guy he met on the bus that was so pumped about getting to basic training so he could get in on the fight?

Then he figured Jimmy was a little disillusioned…needed a little straightening out. “Let me just tell you what you signed up for!” He shifted his position so he could look him in the eyes. “You signed up to fight, not just to wear a uniform! And that uniform is not just for looks either. Your cartridge belt, haversack, grenade pouch, overcoat, your boots, your helmet…your rifle and bayonet. All of that is for a purpose! It’s for protection and for attack Jimmy. When you wear that uniform, you are representing the United States of America. And that patch on your arm represents the Third Army. Patton’s army. Old Blood and Guts. So, wear it like you mean it!

“We are in the middle of a war Jimmy! Do you not get that? Haven’t you heard what Hitler is doing? Lives are being taken and we have to do something about it! Yes, it’s cold. It’s the middle of December, what’d you expect? Yes, it’s hard. War is hard. Yes, you don’t like it. I don’t like it…and sometimes I hate it. But personally, I can’t wait to get out there…out on the front lines. Do you know why? Because I don’t see it as taking lives. I see it as saving lives. And if my life happens to get ‘sacrificed’ as you so glibly called it, then let it be so. Because I’d rather sacrifice myself fighting on the front lines for the lives of innocent people, then sitting back in the barracks, in a clean uniform never having experienced the thrill of being in the battle!

“So, if I were you, I’d get off my backside, quit whining about the work, and make your country proud!” Then he angrily turned back to his meal, jammed his spoon in his bowl and continued eating.

They both sat in silence.

After a few minutes of nothing but sounds of chewing, and scraping spoons on the sides of metal, Benjamin said in a softer tone, “sorry Jimmy. Sorry to unload on you like that. But you should have known when you enlisted that you’re here to do something. And it’s not to sit back and watch other people do the work.”

Call to action

We are to be a people of action, focused and alert, conforming to the image of God. A holy people who are called to represent God with reverence for Him and love for all mankind. We must be a people who arm ourselves for battle and long for front line action.

We are in the middle of a war and we fight against an enemy that is out to steal, kill and destroy. Lives are being taken and we must do something about it. Put on your uniform…your armor. It is not just for looks. It is for a purpose. Our role in this fallen world is to make the most of every opportunity…just as Jesus did. God put you where you are for a reason. No one has influence where you are like you do. God gave you gifts for you to use so you could glorify him and make much of His name. You are here to do something!

And it’s not to sit back and watch other people do the work.