12 - The unseen hand of God at work!
Drafted! On induction day, there seemed to be three major components to being inducted into the service: a medical checkup to determine fitness, testing to determine qualifications and aptitude, and soliciting your duty preference. Duty preference was associated with both the type of duty you would like to be associated with while in the service (your MOS or Military Occupation Specialty) and where you would like to be stationed.
At that time, duty preference was further defined in that you could “volunteer” for duty in Viet Nam, a category that would shunt you directly into a combat MOS with duty in Viet Nam. I requested a duty preference of Viet Nam and in Infantry but said “no” to volunteering for Viet Nam. This choice left the door open for other duties in Viet Nam for which I may be
qualified or have an aptitude for; as determined by the Army. As I was familiar with and good with both pistols and rifles, I had requested an MOS in the Army infantry.
As it turned out, during boot camp there were two days devoted to the rifle range and testing. The first day of testing, I found myself assigned to the mess hall for KP (Kitchen Police) duty. On asking the Sargent if he would change the duty roster so I could participate at the rifle range, the Sargent said “Arnold, you’ll get another chance”. Well, there was still the second day, so I wasn’t too concerned. The second day came along and true to his word, the Sargent had me report to the firing range along with some other trainees.
After being provided with our rifles and ammunition and assigned our positions, we were given clearance to begin firing at our assigned targets. As I said, I was familiar with both pistols and rifles and fully expected to max out the rifle range. The first two or three shots were bullseyes as I expected but then everything went to pieces and I couldn’t seem to hit what I was aiming at. I yelled out at the Sargent that something was wrong with my rifle but he says “Arnold, just keep shooting”. Of all the shots I fired that day, I only hit the target a few times and I was really frustrated. On completing the exercise, I returned the rifle to the armorer and said “there is something wrong with this rifle because I can’t hit the target with it”. The armorer picks it up and examines it and says “Yes there sure is. The flash suppressor is loose.”
Well I did find myself in Viet Nam, but not in an infantry combat role; rather I found myself assigned to the 516th Personnel Services Company located in Cam Rahn Bay processing payrolls. The only time I had a rifle in my hands was when assigned to guard duty from time-to-time; an event I now recognize was a blessing in disguise.
Not long after that another significant event occurred; I overcame the problem of the fear. Can’t believe how easy it was; however the reality of the event is that I had help. Check out the experience described in the next page: “13 – The Spirit of God!”.
Notes
What do I make of the experience I had with respect to the firing range?
The Bible is clear that God is aware of and oversees the events that occur in our world, both small and great, and intervenes if and when He wants to. In considering whether God intervened with respect to my failure on the rifle range, consider the sequence of events. First of all, I had only one opportunity to qualify on the rifle range rather than the two given to most people. Second, consider the Sargent’s response when I informed him that something was wrong with the rifle; he refused to inspect the rifle. Third, consider the fact that as a consequence of this problem with the flash suppressor, I failed miserably in terms of qualifying on the rifle range. Forth, consider the end result: rather than being shunted to the infantry, my desired duty preference upon being drafted, I was shunted into personnel services as a payroll clerk. In hindsight, I see God’s hand all over this event.
Another example, even more obvious, reflecting God’s handiwork behind the scenes is found in the story “17 – Everything is in good hands!” But for more examples of God’s handiwork behind the scenes, one need to look no further than the Biblical story of the selection of Rebecca as Isaac’s wife, of the story of Moses being found by Pharaoh’s daughter floating in a basket in the river, of the story of Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt, or the story of Ester and Haman,
Scriptural references
Matthew 10:29 & 30 (KJV) “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Genesis 24: 1-50 (KJV) The story of the selection of Rebecca as Isaac’s wife.
Exodus 2: 1-10 (KJV) The story of Moses being found by Pharaoh’s daughter.
Genesis: Chapters 37, 39, 40, and 41 The story of Joseph
Esther: Chapters 2-7 The story of Esther and Haman