A Paratrooper's Cry

by Hayim Hefer, Israel Defense Force, Paratrooper, 1967

This wall has heard many prayers

This wall has seen the fall of many other walls

This wall has felt the touch of mourning women

This wall has felt petitions lodged between its stones

This wall saw Rabbi Yehuda Halevi trampled before it

This wall has seen Caesars rise and fall

But this wall had never seen paratroopers cry. This wall saw them tired and wrung out

This wall saw them wounded and mutilated

Running to it with excitement, cries and silence,

And creeping as torn creatures in the Alleys of the Old City. And they are covered with dust and their lips are parched And they whisper "If I forget thee, if I forget thee Jerusalem"

They are swift as eagles and strong as lions

And their tanks - the fiery chariot of Elijah ...

They pass by like thunder

They pass by with anger

They remember the 2,000 awful years

In which we had not even a wall to place our tears before. And they stand before it and breathe in dust

Here they look at it with sweet pain And tears run down and they look at one another perplexed

How does it happen that paratroopers cry?

How does it happen that they touch this wall with great emotion? How does it happen that their weeping changed to song?

Perhaps because these boys of 19, born at the same time as the state, Perhaps because these boys of 19 - carry on their shoulder 2,000 years.

Israeli POW Prayer

He who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David and Solomon, may He bless, preserve and protect the captive and missing soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces including:

Yekutiel Yehuda Nachman ben Sarah (Katz)

Zecharia Shlomo ben Miriam (Baumel)

Zvi ben Penina (Feldman)

Ron ben Batya (Arad)

May He Rescue them from captivity and speedily restore them in peace, in the merit of the prayers of this holy assemblage who pray for them.

May the Holy One, Blessed be He, show them mercy, increase their strength, remove their pain and send them a recovery of body and recovery of spirit, may He return them to the bosom of their families, (On Sabbath: The Sabbath prohibits us from crying out, may salvation come speedily,) swiftly and soon. Now let us respond: Amen.

11th Airborne

Soldiers Prayer

O Loving God, Creator and Sustainer of Life, I am grateful that you have permitted me to live in the autumn of life, I remember when I was one of the young, the strong and the brave. Even then you were the winds beneath our wings. You were the medicine for our fears.

Do for me now, O God, what I cannot do for myself. When sickness and pain come as an unwelcome guest to me, or someone I love; or the skies turn gray because I can't do everything I once did; or sorrow knocks at my door; or taps are sounded for a loved one; or an old trooper friend; or when I grow impatient and discouraged with myself, and the world, then O God...

Save me from the inertia or futility. Remind me how you answered my prayers in combat, when I was alone and afraid. Grant that my trust may not walk on weak knees. Give me the Power of your spirit that I may be strong again. Put a friendly guard detail around my loneliness, reminding me that there are loyal friends and Airborne buddies, near and far, who still remember and care. Give me the Faith to love one day at a time.

Create in an unfaltering faith in you as an unfailing God.And Grant me the Divine Light to see beyond the present, no matter how dark it may be, and into the Great Forever.

For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory. And I am Yours. In Your Holy Name. AMEN Written for the 1991 reunion.

What He wants for us.

"The story is told of Chaplain Francis L. Sampson who jumped with his unit as the invasion of Normandy began. After landing in a stream he dove into the icy water at least six times desperately searching for his chaplain's kit. As the enemy advanced chaplain Sampson volunteered to stay behind with 14 wounded soldiers. He changed bandages, made hot chocolate and said prayers as the enemy arrived. He was nearly killed attempting to surrender and was so scared that instead of the act of contrition (which in this case was the final penitence for a man believing he is about to die) he said the "Table Grace".

He was allowed to stay with the wounded as a prisoner and was freed a short time later; but the point is made which we can all learn from. Namely, as people of God we are called to be people of prayer no matter the circumstances and no matter the words of our prayers. The Gospel writer St. Matthew said it best, "For He knows what we need even before we ask". (Matthew 6:32).

Chaplain Chuck Dean. Chuck is the National Chaplain for the legendary 173rd Airborne Brigade. He is a prolific writer and active in 173rd Airborne and other veterans organizations like Point Man International.

The following are used with permission and are protected by copyright.

What is So Amazing About Grace?

BY: Chuck Dean, National Chaplain, 173rd Airborne Brigade

Invocation at 2000 Reunion.

What is So Amazing about God's grace?

Grace is God's kindness that we cannot earn. Grace is God cutting us some slack when we don't deserve it. It is God not condemning us for the wrongs we have done, but accepting us as we are and welcoming us home as if no wrong had been done. There is no such thing as being "good enough" to get His grace...He just gives it to us no matter what we have done, and there is nothing we can do about it.

We don't have to work to get this favor from our Father in heaven...if we did then all of the sacrifices of Jesus were in vain. No amount of charitable deeds or good works can increase the grace that God gives to each one of us. If that was the case then when we use our talents and skills, our good reputations, or our earthly wealth we could expect God to show favoritism to those who possessed all of those things. But God is not a God of favoritism...His grace is amply spread out for each and every one of us. The rich, the poor, the able and the disabled, all reveived their personal portions of God's amazing grace.

God is a God who loves you and I so much that no matter what we have done, or what we will do, He still cuts us that slack and makes a way for us to receive mercy and love that we do not always deserve.

That is what is so amazing about Grace.

Let us pray:

"Heavenly Father, we thank You for your unwavering grace. We thank You that you have kept us all these years. Now, Lord, we aks You to bless, our time together this evening, bless all the speakers and give us ears to hear and eyes to see. I ask that most of all, Lord, that You would reveal Yourself to each one of us in a special way before this weekend is over. In His name, AMEN."

PRAYER TO MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

THE PATRON SAINT OF THE AIRBORNE

Angelic Michael, hear my call

As through the sky I now will fall.

Satan you once cast from here.

Aid me now to conquer fear.

My static line have hooked to hold.

And then my chute It to make unfold.

Suspension lines untangled be

And opened up my canopy.

From other jumpers float me clear

As safely down I persevere.

On angel wings I hit the ground.

My father's favor I have found.

In thanks, Saint Michael, I do pray

For God has helped me-all the way.

AMEN

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel Patron Saint of Paratroopers

Saint Michael the Archangel, Patron Saint of Paratroopers, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O Prince of the heavenly hosts; by the divine power; thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

ORACIÓN A "SAN MIGUEL ARCÁNGEL",

PATRONO DE LOS PARACAIDISTAS.

42nd Brigada de Infanteria Paracadistas, Venezuela

Glorioso San Miguel Arcángel, Tú que libraste las más enconadas Batallas contra los mensajeros del al y del odio; tú que salistes victorioso de las asechanzas malignas del príncipe de las tinieblas, salvaguardando de sus garras a toda la humanidad, te suplico me brindes protección de todos aquéllos que me desean el mal y evites que las armas del demonio sean esgrimidas contra mí, cuídame de los enemigos silenciosos y ayúdame a ser justo para que, con mi actitud, a nadie ofenda, ni resienta y, por el contrario, viva en paz con los hombres, para llegar dignamente a Dios .Amén

Prayer For Help Against Spiritual Enemies

Glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, who stands always ready to give assistance to the people of God; who fought with the dragon, the old serpent, and cast him out of heaven, and now valiantly defends the Church of God that the gates of hell may never prevail against her, I earnestly entreat you to assist me also, in the painful and dangerous conflict which I sustain against the same formidable foe. Be with me, O mighty Prince! that I may courageously fight and vanquish that proud spirit, whom you, by the Divine Power, gloriously overthrew, and whom our powerful King, Jesus Christ, has, in our nature, completely overcome; so having triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, I may with you and the holy angels, praise the clemency of God who, having refused mercy to the rebellious angels after their fall, has granted repentance and forgiveness to fallen man. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

Glorious Saint Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, come to the assistance of His followers, against whom the powers of hell are unchained. Guard with special care our Holy Father, the Pope, and our bishops, priests, all our religious and lay people, and especially the children. Saint Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the demon, and assist us especially at the hour of death. Help us achieve the happiness of beholding God face to face for all eternity. Amen.

Saint Michael, intercede for me with God in all my necessities, especially {mention special petition}. Obtain for me a favorable outcome in the matter I recommend to you. Mighty prince of the heavenly host, and victor over rebellious spirits, remember me for I am weak and sinful and so prone to pride and ambition. Be for me, I pray, my powerful aid in temptation and difficulty, and above all do not forsake me in my last struggle with the powers of evil. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirit of wickedness in the high places. Come to the assistance of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. The Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into Heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us. Take hold of the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, bind him, and cast him into the bottomless pit so that he should no more seduce the nations. Amen.

Prayer to St Michael the Archangel

Excerpted from the Akathist to the Archangel

(orthodox)Nov. 8/21

O Holy and Great Archangel of God Michael,

who standest, as the first of the Angels, before the ineffable and super-substantial Trinity;

who art placed as a watcher and keeper over the human race,

who hast with thine armies crushed the head of the proud Lucifer in the heavens and brought forever to shame his wickedness and treachery on earth! To thee we have recourse in faith, and thee we entreat with love: be thou an indestructible shield and firm rampart for the holy Church and the Orthodox Christians, guarding them by the lightning power of thy sword from all enemies visible and invisible.

Be thou a guardian Angel, a wise counselor and companion of the Christian people, bringing them enlightenment, strength, joy, peace and consolation.

Be thou a leader and a companion in battle to those who strive for the Orthodox Faith, so that all who fight against us may know that God and His holy Angels are with us.

Forsake us not, O Archangel of God, with thy help and protection, who today glorify thy holy name: for behold, even if we are have sinned greatly, nevertheless we would not perish in our misdeeds, but rather turn to the Lord and be enlivened by Him unto good works.

Illumine our minds with the light of God, which ever shineth on thy lightning-like brow, that we may come to understand what the good and perfect will of God for us is, and know all that we must do, and all that we must despise and shun.

Strengthen, by the Lord's grace, our weak will and infirm intention, so that, confirmed in the law of the Lord, we may cease to be cast about by worldly thoughts and lusts of the flesh, or like thoughtless children to be drawn by the perishing glamour of this world, lest by corruptible and earthly things we foolishly forget the eternal and the heavenly.

And above all these things, ask for us from on high the spirit of true repentance, unfeigned sorrow before God, and contrition for our sins, so that we may spend the days that remain of this passing life, not in pleasing ourselves and serving our passions, but rather in effacing the evils we have committed, by the tears of faith and heartfelt contrition, by striving for purity and the holy works of mercy.

And when the time of our demise shall approach, and of our liberation from this body of clay, leave us not, O Archangel of God, without defense against the spirits of evil under heaven, who surround us to close off the ascent on high for human souls; so that, guarded by thee, without stumbling we may attain unto those glorious habitations of Paradise, where there is neither sadness nor sighing, but life without end, and may be granted to see the light-filled Face of our all-good Lord and Master, falling with tears at His feet, crying out in joy and gladness:

Glory to Thee, our most dear Redeemer, Who for Thy great love toward us unworthy ones hast seen fit to send Thine Angel as a minister of our salvation.

Amen.

Translated from the "Full Collection of Prayers",compiled by Archpriest A. Stavrovskii, St. Petersburg 1914..

The Collect of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.

May the defence of the Most High be above and beneath, around and within us, in our going out and in our coming in, in our rising up and in our going down, through all our days and all our nights, until the dawn when the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings for the peoples of the world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN Source: Brian Rioran, webmaster Ex Red Devils

The Collect For Peace

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom: defend us Thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in Thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

British

The Airborne Millennium Prayer

O God, our Father, in whom a thousand years are but as yesterday; may we always be inspired by your love, so that, armed with the sword of the Spirit, we can conquer fear and dedicate ourselves to your glory through service to our Queen, our country and to all humanity. Protect, comfort and uphold us, at all times, in the air, on land and at sea, so that we may worthily carry out the tasks that are set before us, through him who is the sale yesterday, today and tomorrow, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

A Prayer for Overlord

June 6, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight ad true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the scheming of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil."

A Visit to Normandy

Beloved Presence of God,

hear my heartfelt prayer...

God bless these valiant souls

who willingly and with great trepidation

laid down their lives for the freedom of the world.

Note: Insert here your own words

(Example: I give my heartfelt thanks for these heroes

whose valor saved my life and my country,

and without whom my children would not exist.)

I give thanks as a representative of the free world

for which they gave up their lives.

I pray that their souls be blessed and elevated in the heavens.

I request that the burden of sorrow be lifted

from the families and loved ones they left behind.

And I ask that they all be reunited in Paradise.

May legions of angels escort any of these souls

who may be lost home to Thee.

I request this in the name of the Most Holy Christ.

Amen.

This prayer was inspired by a WWII veterans recent journey to Normandy to pray for his fallen brothers. I Never Cease To Be Amazed At God's Choreography. An excerpt from A Book of Prayers, by A. Carr, Copyright 1999.

Beloved Presence of God, hear my heartfelt prayer...

God bless these valiant souls who willingly and with great trepidation laid down their lives for the freedom of the world.

Note: Insert here your own words

(Example: I give my heartfelt thanks for these heroes

whose valor saved my life and my country,

and without whom my children would not exist.)

I give thanks as a representative of the free world

for which they gave up their lives.

I pray that their souls be blessed and elevated in the heavens.

I request that the burden of sorrow be lifted

from the families and loved ones they left behind.

And I ask that they all be reunited in Paradise.

May legions of angels escort any of these souls

who may be lost home to Thee.

I request this in the name of the Most Holy Christ.

Amen. An excerpt from A Book of Prayers, by A. Carr, Copyright 1999.

Patton's Weather Prayer

Written by Brigadier Gen. Msgr. James H. O'Neill

Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously harken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen.

A Father's Prayer

General Douglas Macarthur

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who knows Thee - and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in a storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. Build me a son whose heart is clear; whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, ne who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. And after all these things are his add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength. Then, I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not liven in vain." (MacArthur, His Rendezvous with History, Courtney Whitney, P 547, (1956).

Abbey Forgiveness Prayer,

Found on the body of a woman at Auschwitz

O Lord

Remember not only

The men and women of good will.

But also those of evil will.

And in remembering

The suffering they inflicted upon us,

Honor the fruits we have borne

Thanks to this suffering --- our comradeship, our humility

Our compassion, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart

That has grown out of all this;

And when they come to the judgment,

Let all the fruits

That we have borne.

Be their forgiveness......

The POW Rescue

by Dep. Tony Miano (LASD)

http://www.ipocministries.org/the_pow_rescue.htm

The paratrooper stood at the open door of the airplane. He held onto the sides of the door and leaned into the cool night air. The Jumpmaster yelled but one word. "Go!"

It was not a training or practice jump. The jump was sending the trooper into battle. The soldier was not jumping behind his own lines. He was jumping well behind the enemy's lines of defense. The paratrooper jumped from the plane. He obeyed the orders prescribed in the mission and answered the call to defend his country. The paratrooper put a lot of faith in his equipment and even more trust and faith in his Commander who planned the mission. The paratrooper answered the call to duty and service despite being told by many that the assignment was too dangerous.

"And Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him here.' And they called the blind man, saying to him, 'Take courage, arise! He is calling for you.' And casting aside his cloak, he jumped up, and came to Jesus." Mark10:49,50

Like the blind beggar and the person who answers Jesus' call to "Go", the paratrooper answered the call that was upon him and jumped. Would a miscalculation in wind and drag suck him into the side of the plane? Would his chute open? Would he land uninjured? He didn't know. The paratrooper's jump was not a blind leap of faith. Rather, it was a calculated act of faith based on the trust he had in his Commander, his own training and experience, a belief that his equipment would function properly, and an equally important belief in the mission itself.

One of the most important people to a paratrooper, is the person who packs his chute. This person receives little notoriety, doesn't necessarily serve on the front line of battle, and their work is usually unseen. But to the paratrooper, this person is one of the most important individuals in his life. Like the technician handling the preparation of the chute, the prayer warriors who lift up and cover the missionary in prayer are vital members of any missionary team. If a chute is not properly packed,

the paratrooper will probably drop like a rock to the world below. Likewise, a missionary whose spiritual and physical well-being is not properly packed in prayer runs the risk of falling prey to the enemy's attacks and failing on his mission.

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16

After descending several thousand feet, the paratrooper pulled on his cord and his chute opened properly. The sudden upward thrust from the massive volume of air rushing into the chute was not unlike the uplifting of one's spirit as they feel the effectual prayers of the saints during any given part of the mission. But the jump and the mission was far from over.

As the paratrooper dropped closer to the ground, his safety became all the more precarious. With every foot of descent, the paratrooper was one foot closer to being within range of the enemy's guns. In order to properly prepare for the mission, the paratrooper had to assume that the enemy knew he was coming. The paratrooper looked down and saw the blanket of green fields rushing up at him. He was just above the treetops when he was hit by a harsh, blinding beam of light. As expected, the enemy had spotted him.

"And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." II Cor. 11:14

The enemy opened fire. The paratrooper had jumped into darkness, but the white parachute made an inviting target for the enemy soldiers below. The enemy knew that the parachute was the paratrooper's lifeline. Likewise, Satan knows that the prayers of the saints are a similar lifeline for the missionary. But the enemy was unable to shoot the large parachute out of the sky. Nor are the flaming missiles of the evil one able to penetrate the shield of faith which, in part, is comprised of the prayers of the saints.

The enemy turned their gun sights toward the paratrooper's body. The soldier, now suspended seemingly unprotected in the night sky, listened as the bullets streaked by his drifting body. His trust in the work of the chute, technician, and his faith in his Commander was momentarily dimmed as he waited for one of the large caliber rounds to find its mark. He thought of his family and whether or not he would see them again. He questioned his judgment about his decision to make the jump in the first place. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the burning pain caused by the round that had just smashed into his right thigh.

The paratrooper hit the ground, wounded but alive. Realizing that he had survived another phase of his mission helped him to regain his composure, focus his attention on what lied ahead, and suppress the doubts he had before landing. He tended to his wound and moved on.

"And not only this, but we also exalt in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5

The paratrooper's mission was to go behind enemy lines and rescue a hostage. The POW, unaware that a rescue attempt was underway, sat quietly in his cell. The long captivity had broken his spirit to the point that life meant little beyond taking his next breath, and death was just another phase of life's natural progression.

The paratrooper made his way to the prison compound. Working his way past the lights, electrical fences, and alarms, he found himself at the door of the prisoner's cell. To the paratrooper's shock, the prisoner was not happy to see him. The prisoner had become content with his circumstances and resigned himself to believe that those circumstances were his lot in life. The paratrooper offered the prisoner freedom, but he would not take it.

"The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." Luke 10:16

As the paratrooper pleaded with the POW, an enemy soldier came around the corner. The enemy soldier was more shocked to see the paratrooper than the paratrooper was to see him. The enemy soldier raised his rifle and began to pull the trigger. The enemy soldier hesitated and slowly lowered his rifle. "Take me with you. Please!" The enemy soldier said.

"Kill him, you fool!" The POW shouted. The POW who had denied his chance at freedom, certainly didn't find his captor worthy of the same consideration. "Shoot him!" He shouted again.

"But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:44, 45a

The paratrooper stared at the enemy soldier for several moments. He then looked at the POW who was making a conscious choice to remain a prisoner. The paratrooper closed the door to the POWs cell. "Let's go." He said to the enemy soldier.

The two unlikely comrades made their way out of the compound, through the forest that was dense with trees and enemy guns, and to the pre-designated landing zone. Waiting for them was a hovering helicopter. The rifle rounds of the enemy's guns ricocheted off the chopper's armored exterior. The once enemy soldier, now ally, was the first to be hoisted into the hovering craft. To his obvious surprise, once on board he was greeted with smiles and slaps on the back, and not the glares of disdain he had expected.

The paratrooper prepared himself for his ascent to safety. He thought that his mission, albeit unusual, was a successful one. A sense of pride began to well up inside him. As he reached for the cable dangling from the chopper above, a series of shots rang out from the edge of the forest. The paratrooper crumbled to the ground. He could not lift himself up to reach the cable that would pull him to safety.

Seeing what had just happened below, one of the helicopter Crewman advised the Pilot of the situation. The Crewman yelled, "I'm going down there to get him!" The Pilot, who was the Crew Commander and Father figure of the team, replied with one word. "Go!"

The Crewman repelled down the cable with no regard for His own safety. Once on the earth below, He picked up the paratrooper, attached the cable to his harness, and motioned for the Pilot to move away from the landing zone. The Pilot knew what was about to happen to His Crewman. The Pilot knew He had to get the paratrooper and the enemy soldier to safety and leave the Crewman to face the enemy guns alone.

The Pilot lifted the helicopter out of its hover and flew away. As the Pilot looked back at the landing zone, He watched in horror as the Crewman was riddled with bullets from the enemy's guns. The paratrooper, badly wounded but conscious, witnessed the execution of the Crewman who had just rescued him and saved his life at the cost of His own.

"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8

As the helicopter flew to safety, the paratrooper realized that his mission was only successful because the Crewman fulfilled His mission.

The paratrooper looked at the Pilot and asked, "What was that Crewman's name?" The Pilot smiled and said, "He is My Son."

The St. Michael's Association Jump Commands:

1. Get Ready! I will always attempt to be spiritually fit before my Maker.

2. Stand Up! I will make a decision to maintain high moral standards in spite of what others say or do.

3. Hook Up! Through personal prayer, I will maintain a direct line of communication with my God.

4. Check Static Line! I will make a daily check of my attitudes and relationships with others.

5. Check Equipment! I will take a personal inventory of my weaknesses and faults and try to amend them.

6. Sound Off For Equipment Check! I will share my faith with others by word and example.

7. Stand In The Door! With my belief and trust in God, I will determine to face bravely whatever test life gives to me.

8. Go! Whether on land or in the air, I will be firm in my resolutions to serve God and country as both would expect me to do.

Paratrooper's Prayer

Kind Heavenly Father, our Great God who invites --- "Follows Me" May we with Stalwart hearts declare Thee Lord of all. We ask Thy Holy blessing to rest upon all paratroopers who are on the path to secure and sustain peace.

May we be ready at all times to boldly stand up for thy truth and ways and be steadfastly hooked up to Thy Law and Gospel.

May a primary part of our equipment be a confident faith in Thee as we stand in the door of all missions in life. May the canopy of Thy love shield and keep us now and forever.

We go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Source www.173rdairborne.com

Prayer Before Battle

By Major Alex Campbell

O.C. "A" Company, Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment

Killed in action: December 25, 1943 at the Moro River, Italy

When, 'neath the rumble of the guns,

I lead my men against the "Huns" -

It's then I feel so all alone, weak and scared,

And oft I've wondered how I dared

Accept the task of leading men.

I wonder, worry, fret, and then

I pray, O God, who promised oft

To humble men to list an ear,

Now in my troubled state of mind,

Draw near, O God draw near, draw near.

Make me more willing to obey,

Help me to merit my command,

And if this be my fatal day,

Reach out, O God, Thy helping hand

And help me down the deep dark vale.

These men of mine must never know

How much afraid I really am.

Help me, so that they will say,

"He was a man."

Last

Paratrooper Prayers

(c) Lew Poorman 2001 Veterans Prayer Project 20