Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: FEATHER (08/20/20)
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TITLE: Under His Wings On The Bataan Death March | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mariane Holbrook
08/24/20 -
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Instinctively, she felt a sense of dread,
Remembering another knock she'd heard the year before,
When she was told her soldier boy was dead.
She braced herself and slowly made her way toward the door
To face an Army captain in full dress.
"Does Charles Johnson live here?" asked the man who tipped his hat.
"My records show that this is his address."
She led him to the living room where Charles stood alone.
He'd heard the captain mentioning his name.
His brothers had been drafted at the start of World War Two
And Charles knew his fate would be the same.
"The Army needs you, Charles," said the captain quietly.
"But Captain," cried the mother, "Don't you see?
Four of my sons were drafted, but my oldest won't return,
He died there on the beach at Normandy."
The captain paused and wiped his eyes, and finally, he said,
"I wish that there was something I could do.
My orders are to serve your son these papers in my hand.
I'm sorry for the heartache you've been through."
Then Charles signed the papers and he kissed his mom goodbye.
She prayed he'd be protected by the Lord.
"He'll cover you with feathers, as you hide beneath His wings.
God's hand is greater than the sharpest sword."
When boot camp was completed, Charles joined a troop of men
Whose destination was the Philippines.
MacArthur welcomed forces who arrived by air and sea;
Trained men from Army, Navy, and Marines.
Japan attacked the Philippines with massive casualties
To natives and the Allied troops as well.
The unit Charles fought in was destroyed by Japanese
Whose planes reduced Manila to a shell.
Charles and two buddies, at the point of bayonets,
Were pushed into a deadly caravan.
Those wounded, weary soldiers, by the thousands they were forced
To take part in the "Death March at Bataan."
Back home, that mother prayed for God's protection of her boys.
She knew not where they were all through the war.
She found four feathers which she placed atop God's Holy Word
And laid it on a table by the door.
The "Death March" claimed the lives of thousands of the Allied troops
And Charles was mistreated, underfed.
He told his buddies God would shield them underneath His wings
And cover them with feathers, as He said.
He taught them all the lyrics to the hymn, "Under His Wings."
They sang it softly so no one could hear.
If guards would catch them singing songs or saying any words,
They might be killed or even disappear.
They finally reached the prison camps where thousands starved to death,
So Charles ate some roaches that crawled by.
But he kept singing quietly the hymn he learned at church
And led some men to Christ before they'd die.
The day the soldiers heard the news that we had won the war,
The soldiers stood and cheered; the sick ones tried.
When Charles walked inside his home, surprising his dear mom,
He saw the feathers, then broke down and cried.
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Based on a true story.
Hymn: "Under His Wings" lyrics by William Orcutt Cushing. Music by Ira Sankey.
Scripture verse: "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." (Psalm 91:4)
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