A Drumstick or a Wing?
Navy chaplains were at the scene of every Pacific island campaign. They didn’t carry weapons, but in every other way were part of the Marine units they served. Their job was, of course, the most difficult of all: looking after the souls of young Marines. One chaplain described his routine: “In combat our main action was to go from place to place, unit to unit, and start out early in the morning and go till dark, just visiting one unit after the other and many times just have a very brief service. We had some very small hymn books… and some Testaments I could carry in my map case, and we would just gather a few men together in a bomb crater or defilade…”375
Another chaplain used a special type of ministration:
He had a canvas gas-mask carrier slung over each shoulder. In one carrier he had Scotch whiskey, in the other fried chicken. As he knelt by each young, frightened, wounded Marine, he was invariably asked, “Am I going to be OK?” “Sure you are!” was the cheerful answer. “While you are waiting to be evacuated, would you rather have a drumstick or a wing?” The young Marine would be so surprised he would forget about himself. Then, when the chaplain asked if he wanted to wash it down with a swig of Scotch, he couldn’t believe he was hearing correctly amidst all of the confusion, noise, and death all around him.376
Watching this chaplain in action, one doctor said, “That man probably saved more young lives from dying of shock than will ever be known.”377 These Navy chaplains worked on many levels, both spiritual and physical, as they tried to do God’s work under the most difficult conditions imaginable. These examples show how simple kindness and a familiar routine can be invaluable in the midst of chaos. We can try to bring the same calming comfort to others overcome by wounds or fear in the midst of a personal crisis. A casserole comes to mind. Drumsticks or wings? Or maybe a swig of Scotch.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
—Psalm 23:23