March 21, 1945
In March 1945, the Biblical Recorder published a heartfelt letter written by an American soldier originally from North Carolina. Sgt. James Hester who served in World War II wrote to his “folks back in North Carolina trying to cheer them up.” Hester was in a hospital bed in England due to wounds he suffered from his service in Europe.
However, this was not the worst news for this family, as both of Hester’s brothers had paid the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the invasion of Normandy. The sergeant was aware of his parents' devastation and tried to comfort them through writing. Hester explained to his parents, “People at home did not know how the war truly was.”[1] He wanted to share with his parents “how brave his brothers” were for saving countless souls across Europe. According to Hester, Germany lacked freedom of religion. He wrote the following:
The people over here don’t have that [freedom]. And if we boys had not come over here and fought, you at home, would not have that either. I have seen many homes with people in them blown to pieces. Charles and Robert would not allow such things to happen to you.[2]
Hester explained to his parents that it was time to rely on God. He shared that he had “learned to talk to God since he was in Europe.”[3] Trying to comfort his parents, he promised that “with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior,” peace would soon be present across the world. The sergeant finished his letter “asking his parents to cheer up” and pray to Jesus.[4] He remained confident his parents and himself would see his brothers in heaven. Jesus Christ was the sergeant's only source of hope, and he believed firmly in a brighter future centered on his Savior.
[1] Biblical Recorder, “Wounded Soldier Says Cheer Up to His Parents,” Biblical Recorder, March 21, 1945.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
