2021 Advent Devotions
Saturday, December 18 - Darrell Westby
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.”
I accepted God as my savior when I was a senior in high school. A few months after high school graduation, I had a close call with a farm truck loaded with grain. The farmer pulled out on the gravel road in front me and the only option I had at 45 miles per hour was to drive in the ditch, pass the truck and then pull back up on the road. I was so scared I did not even think about stopping and giving the farmer what for!
Vietnam, February 24, 1967. Twelve of our army men were ambushed by a large North Vietnamese army unit. That day we awoke to a heavy ground fog with about 200 to 300 feet of visibility in our compound. About 8:30 AM the army unit called in stating they were under attack and needed support. I was ordered to fly in their support. I had difficulty seeing the road to drive to the airfield. We could not see the runway upon arriving at the Airfield or any of the structures. As we drove down the hill to the ramp, we began to see the aircraft and structures. I looked towards the runway and could only see about 300 feet of a 1,500 foot runway. I began to wonder about flying.
Once on the runway and after performing the pre-take off check list, I looked behind me and the runway had disappeared. I looked forward and saw about 300 feet of runway before the runway entered the fog bank. I needed 900 feet of visible runway for a visual takeoff. I said a quick prayer asking God for help. Thankfully the mechanical compass worked correctly and I made a visual take off without seeing the runway. Twenty minutes later I broke out of the clouds to a clear blue sky to the East without a cloud around. The army ranger called me via radio stating he was at my 12 o’clock in a copse of trees. I began a descent to verify his location when the bottom third of the mountain on the North side of the road erupted with ground fire. Ten minutes later I lost contact with the ranger unit. Three hours and fifteen minutes into the mission, I was on my way back to the base when I saw our jeep being driven at a high rate of speed northwest away from the ambush. I rolled in to fire upon the jeep and realized that I had fired all of my rockets. I immediately made a sharp 90 degree left climbing turn when a 30 caliber bullet went thru the cockpit. The bullet missed me by about 8 to 12 inches but the bullet had cut my elevator trim cable and half of my elevator control cable. God only knows why the elevator control cable did not break when the bullet hit the cable. The aircraft is uncontrollable without the elevator control cable.
Verse 4 reads: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.’ I did not walk through the valley but I flew through many valleys and came close to meeting my maker several times.
God works in many mysterious ways and we thank him for delivering us from our endeavors.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your protection over these many years and for calming my nerves during trying situations. And thank you for helping me find those little things that I lose and find with your help. I ask that you be with all of us during this Advent season and help us understand your message and appreciate what you do for all of mankind. In your name we pray. Amen.
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.”
I accepted God as my savior when I was a senior in high school. A few months after high school graduation, I had a close call with a farm truck loaded with grain. The farmer pulled out on the gravel road in front me and the only option I had at 45 miles per hour was to drive in the ditch, pass the truck and then pull back up on the road. I was so scared I did not even think about stopping and giving the farmer what for!
Vietnam, February 24, 1967. Twelve of our army men were ambushed by a large North Vietnamese army unit. That day we awoke to a heavy ground fog with about 200 to 300 feet of visibility in our compound. About 8:30 AM the army unit called in stating they were under attack and needed support. I was ordered to fly in their support. I had difficulty seeing the road to drive to the airfield. We could not see the runway upon arriving at the Airfield or any of the structures. As we drove down the hill to the ramp, we began to see the aircraft and structures. I looked towards the runway and could only see about 300 feet of a 1,500 foot runway. I began to wonder about flying.
Once on the runway and after performing the pre-take off check list, I looked behind me and the runway had disappeared. I looked forward and saw about 300 feet of runway before the runway entered the fog bank. I needed 900 feet of visible runway for a visual takeoff. I said a quick prayer asking God for help. Thankfully the mechanical compass worked correctly and I made a visual take off without seeing the runway. Twenty minutes later I broke out of the clouds to a clear blue sky to the East without a cloud around. The army ranger called me via radio stating he was at my 12 o’clock in a copse of trees. I began a descent to verify his location when the bottom third of the mountain on the North side of the road erupted with ground fire. Ten minutes later I lost contact with the ranger unit. Three hours and fifteen minutes into the mission, I was on my way back to the base when I saw our jeep being driven at a high rate of speed northwest away from the ambush. I rolled in to fire upon the jeep and realized that I had fired all of my rockets. I immediately made a sharp 90 degree left climbing turn when a 30 caliber bullet went thru the cockpit. The bullet missed me by about 8 to 12 inches but the bullet had cut my elevator trim cable and half of my elevator control cable. God only knows why the elevator control cable did not break when the bullet hit the cable. The aircraft is uncontrollable without the elevator control cable.
Verse 4 reads: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.’ I did not walk through the valley but I flew through many valleys and came close to meeting my maker several times.
God works in many mysterious ways and we thank him for delivering us from our endeavors.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your protection over these many years and for calming my nerves during trying situations. And thank you for helping me find those little things that I lose and find with your help. I ask that you be with all of us during this Advent season and help us understand your message and appreciate what you do for all of mankind. In your name we pray. Amen.