Personal Responsibility
During the naval battle of Savo Island, the USS Astoria was the first Allied cruiser to engage the Japanese fleet, suffering severe damage from accurate Japanese gunfire. At about 2:00 a.m. Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples was hurled overboard when an 8-inch gun turret exploded. In the water, he was able to stay afloat thanks to the life belt around his waist that he managed to inflate in the darkness.193
Four hours later, Staples was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria . The captain was trying to save the fatally wounded ship by grounding her on the beach. When this effort failed, Staples again found himself in the water. He was one of five hundred survivors rescued again later. Once safely aboard a transport ship, he examined the life belt that had saved his life. It had been made by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and had a serial number inscribed on the label.
Later in the war, Staples was able to return home to Ohio on leave. Since his mother worked for Firestone, he asked her about the number on his life belt. She told him that numbers were assigned to each inspector, so that one individual would be responsible for each piece of equipment sent to the war. Since everything about that life belt was indelibly imprinted on his mind, he told his mother the number. Astonished, she told him that that was her personal code affixed to every item that she was responsible for approving.194
Very few people in any walk of life have ever been so directly rewarded for faithfulness in doing their job.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
—Colossians 3:23 24