Christian Living

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When A Soldier Says Goodbye
© 2008

by

Stephen A. Peterson


One of the inconsistencies in Army Captain Amanda Rossi’s otherwise devote Christian life was her disdain and fear of being separated from her husband and two children beyond 30 days. Because the Army needed combat engineers, Captain Rossi was ordered to active duty the initial days of the Iraq War.

Early in the afternoon of the second day of action, Captain Rossi’s engineers received the order to construct a pontoon bridge across the Tigris River. Speeding into action, her engineers constructed a bridge in half the time the unit was expected. Within minutes of completing her mission, a single shot rang out hitting the Captain about the temporal region of the head. The impact knocked her 5’ 2” frame to the ground. Stunned by the events, Captain Rossi’s engineers rallied to medivac her still body to an Army hospital where she immediately went into surgery. When the 6 ½ hours surgery was completed, all the medical team and engineers could do was to wait for her motionless person to awake.

Four hours following the surgery, Captain Rossi’s situation turned for the worst. She went into a coma. The doctors said unanimously that this was probably the end as she had lost so much blood and brain tissue. She came out of her coma, however, and her face was radiant.

“I saw Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah!!! I was back home again in a park in Oklahoma City next to Lake Overholser. A handsome man, who was actually satan, was there holding my hand. From a boat on the lake, Jesus could be heard from the boat to say, in a loud voice: Jesus could be heard from the boat to say in a loud voice: ‘Captain Rossi is my daughter, satan! You can’t have her! Leave her this moment!’ Satan covered his face then left. I was so happy.”

For roughly a day Captain Rossi seemed to get better, then her pain increased—the most excruciating pain she had ever felt before and following her surgery.

As members of her unit came by to look in on their leader, one of the young Lieutenants, a non-Christian, verbalized his feelings: “Why couldn’t Captain Rossi have died in a coma and be spared her pain. God is so cruel and evil! She talked about God. Why would God have her suffer this badly if He loves her? If that was me I’d cuss God out big time and tell Him where to go! I really don’t understand any of this at all.”

“Lieutenant,” Captain Rossi said. “I’m not going to get better, I know that. But remember this moment and what I am about to tell you. In spite of what you may think there is God. Just because I am in pain does not mean He does not love me. He is preparing me for eternal happiness and He is telling me to tell you that He wants to be your Lord if you will let Him. Although you can’t see Him, He is here looking at you and me with a smile. Remember this moment! Tell others what you have seen. Let them know I am so happy I cannot describe it! When tell others they will come to know the Lord as you will. Don’t be sad! Be joyful! Go with happiness! Go back to Oklahoma, Lieutenant and tell my husband and children how much I love them. Tell them I have gone to my Father—their Father. Here, give them this cross I made while I was here in Iraq. Thank you, Lieutenant!

The next morning as the sun rose to bring forth a new day of life and hope in Iraq, Captain Rossi entered the boat with the One of her vision to sail to her glory. The young non-believing officer began to understand why she had not been allowed to cross her mortal life to eternal life in a coma. Jesus’ concern had not been only for Captain Rossi’s pain but for the Lieutenant’s, all whom he will touch and you, the reader, as well. Had Captain Rossi died in her coma, the Lieutenant and many others would not have been reassured that she had seen and know the Lord was waiting for her and the Savior is real in a world dominated by doubt and unbelief. Nor would we know that she left this life with joy and much happiness!

Hopefully, you will be re-assured and your hearts and minds at peace!!

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