ALL IN 4AHERO
Now I Know
A message from Army Chaplain Matthew Owen Williams ( Ret )
Before I was an Army chaplain , I was an Army chaplain ’ s assistant . Stationed in Germany with The Big Red One *, my office was at Larson Barracks , a place once operated by Nazis . One day two older gentleman came into my office . I greeted them and asked if there was anything I could do for them . One thing led to another , and they told me a story I will never forget . Both gentlemen had been soldiers in WW II and part of the group that had captured Larson Barracks from the Nazis . “ You see that window right there ?” one of them asked . I nodded . “ Well ,” he proceeded , “ I threw a grenade through that window .” Then they gave me the official tour showing how they cleared the building that day , room by room . I will never forget those two gentlemen .
Today , the start of 2021 ’ s Memorial Day Weekend , I spent some time thinking about them . I watched several episodes of “ Band of Brothers ” in their honor . The last time I watched “ Band of Brothers ” I was still Chaplain Assistant Williams in that office . In time , I became a full Army chaplain whose deployments involved working with men and women waging war in both Afghanistan and Iraq .
Now I know that war doesn ’ t always kill its victims on the Battlefield . Many return home and complete suicide . Now I know that the talk about the Ultimate Sacrifice is something that includes numbers like 22 a day , and words like divorce , and percentages like 80 . Now I know that therapy and that little ribbon I was awarded go hand in hand . Now I know that those white crosses and green fields also represent moms , dads , sisters , brothers , kids , friends and family members . Now I know how to reflect . Now I know .
So I don ’ t know what the rest of y ’ all are gonna do this weekend but I ’ ll be painting ( a piece commissioned by a friend ), reflecting , praying , eating some good food and relaxing with my wife . I ’ m planning on seeing some more friends with the rest of this weekend . I ’ m planning on playing some music . I ’ m planning on reflecting some more .
Forget the Castle , Build the Kingdom !
* The U . S . Army ’ s 1st Infantry Division is called “ Big Red One ” for the red numeral that has adorned its shoulder patch since 1918 . ~ from “ THE FIGHTING FIRST ” by COL Robert McCormick 1880-1955 , ( U . S . Army ). Online at fdmuseum . org / about-the-1st-infantry-division / history-of-the-first-division /
84 AHERO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021