Here's my contribution to Veteran's Day: An excerpt from my dad's war memoir, this one titled, "God will take care of you." He had just finished his basic training  and the unit he trained with was about to be shipped out when, at the last minute, someone noticed he did not have regulation GI eyeglasses. He was held back for several weeks, lonely and disappointed. Then he heard about the men he was supposed to have shipped out with. Read the rest of the story, in his own words:

Providence

Taken from Don’t Give Up! A Life Remembered by Clarence M. Nation

Finally, the official 13-week period was complete. It seemed like all of a sudden it was ‘get ready to ship out’ time. 

First of all, medical inspection - or examinations. Inside the body, outside the body. I made it well until it got to my eyes.

I had passed the scrutiny of a number of medics. No one ever directed me to thave G. I. glasses. WHAT?!? My glasses were working fine, but the real ones were required. G. I. glasses were made with stainless steel frames and special lenses. Hence, real ones. I was told I would not be ready in time to ship out with the me with whom I had trained.

Being placed on hold, I felt not so good about it. There was not much to keep me busy for a few days. It would be another week before another outfit completed their 13th week and ready to ship out. In the meantime, Congress passed a law that the period of training would be increased to 17 weeks - another four weeks.

I had received my glasses and joined that unit and finished out the course. Most of the course was a repeat of what I had done before - everything went well, and we were prepared to be reassigned.

Some news was coming to us and we had to hear it. We learned that most of the men I trained with at “Croft" were either killed or badly wounded at Anzio Beach in Italy. Apparently most of them went to the same outfit as a group. This I feel is another time that God spared me. My son has called it “Providence.” Amen.

There was a hymn we sang in church, and I was nine or ten years old when I first really heard it. There is no question that the Lord planted it in my memory. Many times the words came to me subconsciously, and sometimes audibly. To me this is an example of God’s hand directing me and reminding me of my faith in Jesus Christ. I didn’t do a lot of preaching a t that time, but a lot of praying.

The hymn - God Will Take Care of You

Be not dismayed what ‘ere betide,

God will take care of you.

Beneath His wings of love abide,

God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,

God will take care of you.

When dangers fierce your path assail,

God will take care of you.

The words of this hymn would come to my mind very often, which helped me eliminate anxiety, doubts and fears!