Military experience with a Guardian Angel

As per this column on January 2, 2025 a request was made by Ole Olson, Commander of the American Legion in Albert Lea, to submit a Military Experience you had with a Guardian Angel. You may do so by contacting him at the American Legion phone 1-507-373-7993 or me at 1-507-373-8655.

Following is my Military Experience with a Guardian Angel:

After graduating from New Richland High School in 1954, I wanted to go on to college, but the money wasn't available to go.

I learned from the local U.S. Navy Recruiter of a plan referred to as “The kiddy Plan.”

Under this plan if you enlisted in the U.S. Navy and you were on Active Duty before age 18 the U.S. Navy would discharge you no later than the month you turned 21 and the U.S. Government would pay for 4 years of schooling.

The “Kiddy plan” was an answer to my money dilemma.

After Naval Training and schooling, I was assigned to a small Naval Communication Station for the entire far east. The total U.S. Navy personnel was about 300 staying on the base.

The Naval base consisted of 2 barracks of 2 floors each for sleeping, showers, card playing etc. A sick bay small Building, a Chowhall, a Commissary for small personal products, a bar serving beer and liquor, plus a one armed bandit of one dollar tokens to play by paying one dollar for each token. A small Chapel with about 25 capacity next to a Chowhall.

The base had a baseball field used also for outdoor activities.

There were tall structures, like cell phone and radio station structures, used for the far East communications all over the base.

The work place was next to some of the tall towers. You walked into the workplace for your shift of 8 hours. Your 1st shift was 3 p.m. - 11 p.m. Off eight hours until your next shift of 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Then off 8 hours with your 3rd shift of 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. This was followed by 2½ days off and a repeat schedule.

The work place was a lot like the I 90 rest stop at Jackson, MN with the roof being covered with dirt and flowers. If you haven't been to this rest stop, you must to get an idea of how one felt like a mole as you came and left your workplace.

The base had an outdoor speaker system that could be heard all over the base.

On a day off I heard the speaker system. “All hands off duty, report to the chapel on the double.” I did and as I, one of the smaller personnel, was given a rope with instructions: “Run the rope over the top to a sailor on the ground.” He and a bigger sailor would pound a stake in the ground to tighten the rope. Run another rope back over the roof to a sailor doing the same thing, tying the chapel down.

As I'm running ropes over the roof of the chapel I found out, “The chapel is in the direct path of a typhoon.”

As we finish tying the chapel down, I hear the PA system: “Take cover either in the chapel or your Barracks. Now.” I took the barracks; some took the chapel.

After high winds but not typhoon velocity, the all clear came over the base P.A. System.

Later we found out the typhoon changed direction and went around our small naval base.

To this day, I have wondered about a Guardian Angel saving us.

 

— — —

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.