48 Years

48 years…

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…

A little over 50 years ago, September 9, 1971, on what turned out to be my last mission in Vietnam, my spotter and I rescued six American servicemen from a prison camp. Needless to say the Vietnamese were not real happy with us and they sent a troop looking for us. We radioed for a pickup at a designated site, but the North Vietnamese were waiting for us and shot down the Hueys, killing our rescue group and destroying our radio, so we had no other choice than to hike back. It was a three day trip back from North Vietnam to DaNang where our main camp was.

It was the end of the third day and we were closing in on the camp from the backside. Me and one of the rescued were brushing the trail while the rest of the group went on ahead. As we approached the camp, the serviceman accidentally tripped on a wire to a Claymore mine setting it off. I was caught with the outside edge of it.

It blew into the right side of my body tearing my right arm almost out of its socket and ripped into the right side of my scull. I was the lucky one, my rescued serviceman was killed.

Needless to say, the explosion raised alarms in the camp and several Marines appeared with rifles raised. They picked me up and packed me back to the camp where the medics attended to me. I had lost a lot of blood and they worked hard save me.

I am told they thought they lost the battle and I had passed. As they were covering my head my body shook and I came back to life. As I recall, I was basking in light, full of peace, with no pain looking into the eyes of the most beautiful man I have ever seen, then as fast as that I was back in camp in agonizing pain. Did I die and come back? I can’t really say, but I do know I have never experienced peace like that ever since.

They transported me to the Hospital ship Sanctuary where I was further patched up and sent to Germany and eventually home. I had suffered multible injuries to my right arm, shoulder and chest plus 360 stitches in my head where the beebees from the mine penitrated my scull. I was told they removed over 200 beebees from body I was sent home a broken mess.

God saved me for a purpose and I think that purpose is to share His Blessings and Grace with all I cross paths with, which is what I strive to do on a daily basis.

I can truly say I have been blessed over my life and that God has kept me centered. I thank Him daily for all the wonderful people He puts in my path and promised Him to live my life to His glory.

This is an abbreviated version of my life. As I said, September 9th, marked the 50th anniversary of the mine incident. I feel old at times, but know I am not finished with what He sent me here to do.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come, T’was Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will bring me home.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed