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Both the religious and lay segments of this community lost a great contributor when the longtime VA chaplain, Lawrence E. Cousins, died recently.Most of his religious life had been as a chaplain, first during the bloody fighting of World War II (he landed with invasion forces at Normandy) then through more than a quarter century at theVA Hospital here.One who was easy to meet and to get acquainted with, Cousins quickly became known as “Chappie” to his friends.Over the many years since his graduation from college and his first assignment in a little church in Baltimore, Md., Chappie had written a lot of sermons and articles on religion. One of much significance deserves repeating at this point.None got wider circulation than his 1963 offering when the Associated Press asked the VA to check with its chaplains to ascertain the author of the World War II phrase, “There are no atheists in foxholes.”Chappie responded that he did not know the author of the statement but he knew it to be true. On the basis of his wartime record and decorations, Cousins was selected to write an article which went out on the major AP network.His opening lines speak of the landing at Utah Beach, and how the 314th Infantry of the 79th Division earned its right to be known as one of the nation’s great fighting outfits. It was a right tempered with the knowledge that many good men had lost their lives in gaining it, he noted.“These were the days when the lives of chaplains and fighting men were closely entwined.“We shared days of death and glory which willbe forever a part of a chaplain’s life. Skilledphysicians, nurses and aid men brought comfortto those who needed it, and honor to themselvesand their profession. Thev earned the undvine gratitude of all.“Armed only with painted helmets, armbands and determination, aid men criss-crossed the battlefield to care for the wounded. At aid stations, often under fire, doctors workedBlue Mountain RamblingsVance Orchardskillfully to save lives. There, too, worked the burial details.“I cannot speak dispassionately of such men and such times. Some of them I had joined in matrimony; I had baptized the childdren of others . . . they were men I lived with, prayed with, suffered with and with whom I had shared intimacies that only come to men in great travail.“They were men who proved their loyalty and worth in action and had some small share in winning a war that changed the destiny of nations.“Under scorching summer sun or driving rain, they carried on. In the cold and snow of winter they lived like animals, but kept alive the values which proved they were men.“To the statement, ‘There were no atheists in foxholes,’ I must give unqualified endorsement. The majority had not been active churchmen, but they were religiously orientated. Yes, some were anti-clerical. But, having had experiences myself with bigoted, fanatical churchmen, I was not surprised.“Bragging and gambling were popular pastimes. Conversation was often too rough for sensitive ears. And, they may have violated our changing social code at times. But, withal, they were usually in close harmony with life’s eternal values.“Every soldier I knew intimately was at heart truly religious. A thinking man sees evidence everywhere of an intelligence and creativenessSreater than his own. This was true during those ays, too. And, the soldiers did not think of this impersonally. Their definitions often differed from mine, but their awareness of a presence and their desire to be in harmony and receive strengthwas always in evidence.“They were soldiers in the finest sense, endowed with courage, adaptability, and conviction. They fought to keep alive. They hated to die, not because they feared death, but because they loved life.“It was not a time for doctrine or creed. It was a time for presenting a religion that would meet a person at the point of his greatest need. Men who had not been in church for years, joined in prayer groups with their chaplain. Most of them carried Bibles or prayer books.“None felt embarassment to say, ‘Chaplain, say a prayer for me.’“In the few rest areas, larger groups could be assembled for religious services. Men were far from home and loved ones. Loneliness, danger and death were constant companions. ‘Bull sessions’ began with bragging about hometowns and girls, but soon conversation turned toward philosophy and God.“With the men, the chaplains shared dangers, fellowship and faith, and we trust we gave them comfort and consolation and strengthened their courage.“In ancient days, when an enemy army threatened Jerusalem, and the culture of its people, Judas Maccabeus called the young men together. He pointed out the cunning power and ruthlessness of their enemy, but reminded them that God always gave strength and eventual victory to those who struggled for the right. Then he armed them, not with swords and spears alone, but with dreams worthy of believing.“America armed her soldiers with the finest of material equipment, but victory came because they were also armed with dreams worthy of believing.“Supplying and maintaining the armor of faith was a vital part of the chaplain’s work. We, today, who are recipients of the victory, purchased with ‘sweat, blood and tears,’ must always be sc armed.”NAME DROPPER — Run a list of names and you run the risk of omitting somebody. That’s a good adage for the news media if it hasn’t been coined yet. We managed to do it with the story of the Elks annual straw hat parade. Omitted was the name of George Shamp, lodge organist, from the listing of Elks officers for this year. Sorry, about that, George. A member of the lodge since 1950, Shamp has been the highly capable organist for Lodge 287 since transferring here in 1975 from Pendleton.
Newspaper Details
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla, Washington, US
Sun, Jan 04, 1981
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WA, USA 26 Jan 2021
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