Evening star., 1944-03-12
By JACOB SIMPSON PAXTON

For the General Commission on Army and
Navy Chaplains, 1887 woodward Building.
Chaplain William E. Cooley's con-
gregations remind him of New Eng
land pilgrims at Worship -~u "a
Some of the men stack their rifles
outside the, ,, chapel, but others, sit
through the entire service with guns
ready for immediate use" he writes
from the South Pacific. He firmly
believes modern American young
sters are protecting homes and fam
lilies Just as truly as did the early
New Englanders who also relied upon
both the gun and the gospel. He
says that the boys "who have lived
in foxholes during the week, often
times under a severe nervous and
mental strain, seem to, find IN the
worship of God renewal OF their
inner spiritual resources"
In describing an amphibious land
ing, Chaplain Cooley describes how
in the evening preceding the assault
the men assembled on the transport
for a religious service. I'VE prayed
together" he says, "for strength to
face whatever might come to us and
submitted ourselves to the care OF
God" AS they separated they were
serious and silent in contemplation
of the morrow.
In the early morning light to the
farewell, "Over the side, soldier, and
God go with you," they clambered
down the cargo nets into the land
ing barges drawn alongside. Chap
lain Cooley writes: During our dash
to the shore we heard the shelling OF
the big naval guns, and the explo-
sion of the falling bombs Of our air
corps. It is difficult to describe your
feelings as you crouch low in the
landing boat, and see the green wall
of the jungle loom suddenly before
you. What awaits you on the beach?
Will you encounter machine-gun
positions and snipers? Will you be
able to cross the beach and get under
cover? Finally the dramatic moment
comes-the craft hits the beach with
a terrific impact. down comes the
landing ramp and In a single file on
a dead run you leap onto the beach. !"
Chaplain Cooley is a member of
the Virginia Conference of the
Methodist Church.
Major OvercOmes Fear.
1t may read like religious tract,
but it isn't 1t is as current as
V-mail letter, as personal as ma
rine's memory of graphing with a
Jap on EniWetok, and as authentic
as the testimony of two reputable
witnesses can possibly make an ex-
perience. 1t relates to major from
Chicago who is engaged in plotting
a Flying Fortress on missions over
enemy targets in Europe. This officer
has brought back his flak-riddled
bomber to it's base enough times to
convince the ground crew and men,
bers of his squadron that he possesses
no coward's heart. While he was mas
tered by no fear that detracted from
his daring, yet there was one of
which he writes as follows: ut
wasn't the fear of dying that terri
fed me. 1t was the fear of the
unknown"
Here is a story of how the major
was enabled to surmount that fear.
He did not keep the haunting secret
to himself, but rather shared it
with Chaplain William o. Mayer
The chaplain assured the major that
there is an unfailing relief for any
one who entertains fears of the un-
known. He read from the Book
which has as its theme. Fear not.
While he prayed, the pilot dismissed
his doubts, believed the best, and
there came to him a strange new
OF this spiritual Transformation
the major writes: From that mo-
ment on I have had peace. I knew
that l was a child of God and had |
been born again. Nothing could |
destroy me- Chaplain Mayer was |
out on the runway with the pilot
when he took off on his next mis-
sion and, with the ground crew, he
'sweated OUT, the planes return.
He was greeted by the pilot upon