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Devotional Thoughts

 Devotional Thoughts
 The Spiritual Side of Our Website

This part of the site features monthly devotional thoughts by the Association's Chaplain, with the goal of encouraging Signal Corps OCS Graduates to be exceptional in their lives and to live life at a higher level. Our current Chaplain is of the Christian faith, so naturally, his devotionals are fashioned around his Christian beliefs. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and can be offered directly to the Chaplain by eMail at: MaxHolt@ArmySignalOCS.com


by LTC (R) Max Holt, Class 02-67

October 2015

A DAY AT THE BEACH

It was a little rainy that day but it sure was HOT!

LTC (R) Max Holt - TodayLTC (R) Max Holt

September 1 – 12, 2015, Sandy and I took a trip to England and France. It was an early celebration of our 50th Anniversary…October 21, 1965. Other than almost getting killed, driving on the LEFT while sitting on the RIGHT side of the car, it was our most memorable trip overseas.

On September 5th we took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth, England, to the port near Caen, France, arriving on Sunday the 6th. We took the bus to Caen. We had booked a Hertz Rental Car…BUT, the rental office was not open on Sunday! So, we took the train to Bayeux, where we were booked into a nice Bead & Breakfast. We had intended to tour the area on our own, including the Normandy beaches. Without a car, that didn’t work out so we booked a guided tour the next morning, of Omaha Beach, Pointe Du Hoc (where the Rangers scaled vertical cliffs) and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer.

At Point Du Hoc I was in awe of those young Rangers who scaled those cliffs and took their objective in just a couple of hours. At the cemetery I was humbled to stand among the reminders of so many who had given so much. But, it was at Omaha Beach that I was most impacted. Tourist Season was over and we were almost the only ones on the beach. I went down on the seawall and stood looking out toward England. The water was still at a somewhat lower tide, much like the day those 100,000+ allies landed on all five beaches. Our day was nice and sunny. On June 6, 1944, it was windy and rainy; a miserable day for much of anything on a beach. As I stood there, the wind was from the sea, making my eyes a little watery.J I was amazed at the expanse of beach those soldiers had to cross, under German fire. As a helicopter pilot in Vietnam I have seen a few green tracers coming at me. But we had a Mini-Gun and a 50 Cal to shoot back. In 1944 those young allied soldiers came ashore with M1s, no protection and had to cross almost a quarter-mile of open beach, filled with mines and obstacles, under constant fire to reach the seawall. Then they had to climb almost vertical embankments to reach and destroy the German bunkers. My admiration for those young guys and their leaders almost overwhelmed me. I raised my right hand and saluted their courage and their legacy. Finally, I went down to the base of the seawall and collected a large container of sand, possibly the same sand that was there That Day.

I came away wondering how different the USA would be if every American was required to visit those beaches. The vast majority, including politicians, have no clue what our freedom has cost over the years of our existence. It seems that our entitlement-minded society has lost the appreciation for how special the USA really is. So few people seem willing to fight passionately against the decay of the values and principles that have carved out this experiment in freedom. Many of you will remember the saying that came out of Vietnam; “You’ve never lived until you’ve almost died. Freedom has a flavor the protected will never taste.” That day, on the beach with the wind in my face…the taste was obvious. If you have never been to the BEACH, move it to the top of your Bucket List. 

Because of them I am blessed more than I deserve,
Max Holt, Class 02-67, Association Chaplain

 



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Palms Of Victory -- The Bishops; Length: 2:59


Prior Month Devotionals
May '11 Jun '11 Jul '11 Aug '11 Sep '11 Oct '11 Nov '11 Dec '11 Jan '12 Feb '12 Mar '12 Apr '12
May '12 Jun '12 Jul '12 Aug '12 Sep '12 Oct '12 Nov '12 Dec '12 Jan '13 Feb '13 Mar '13 Apr '13
May '13 Jun '13 Jul '13 Aug '13 Sep '13 Oct '13 Nov '13 Dec '13 Jan '14 Feb '14 Mar '14 Apr '14
May '14 Jun '14 Jul '14 Aug '14 Sep '14 Oct '14 Nov '14 Dec '14 Jan '15 Feb '15 Mar '15 Apr '15
May '15 Jun '15 Jul '15 Aug '15 Sep '15 Oct '15 Nov 15 Dec 15 Jan 16 Feb 16 May 16 Apr 16

Click the picture below to listen to The Lord's Jukebox... a compilation of all of the devotional music posted since May 2011:

The Lord's Jukebox


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