I grew up believing that all war was wrong (sin) and thus would not participate in any war. While I opposed the Vietnam war, and demonstrated by not participating in it and choosing alternate service, my sense of the reality of the war kept me from taking part in any anti-war demonstrations.
I graduated from college in 1966 and had classmate friends who were going with the military to Vietnam. I felt that for me to make a significant contribution, I too, should go abroad for a term of service. So, I volunteered to go to Congo (DRC, an unstable country then as today) through the Mennonite Central Committee. I did not have to go. The Selective Service Board secretary assured me that because of my draft lottery number and age(?) I would not be drafted. But I had committed myself to do the service. My term was for twenty-seven months. The first year, while still learning French, I did construction and maintenance work. During the second year I taught in a secondary school. I would like to share my African experiences, but not in this forum.
One of my college classmates who served in Vietnam was a very good friend, Larry Houck. Larry (more often called ‘Houck’) enlisted in the Marines hoping to fly jets in Vietnam, but he ended up flying helicopters. I have an eleven-page hand written letter from Larry, written in 1967, while he was in flight school in Florida and while I was in Congo. He wrote at length of his experiences and of all the various aircraft he had flown. That was in part because he knew I had an interest in flying as well. He wrote of the remarkable beauty of the earth, sky, sunrises, and sunsets from the air. He loved to fly solo, and regretted having to share the cockpit in helicopters.
I can’t help but feel that what you are doing is more beneficial to mankind than what I am doing
Larry wrote of his faith. He and his wife Elaine believed God had called him to be where he was. He wrote of his spiritual life, sharing his faith, and telling of times with fellow nearby Christians. He felt that flying helicopters was good because that would give him greater possibilities after he completed his service time.
But in one paragraph, Larry spoke to me. It provided both comfort and challenge and it still raises questions. I had suggested, despite my beliefs, I might have benefitted with the flight training provided by the military. He wrote, “. . . It’s true that we get about $9-10,000 of free training. . .. but I don’t agree that you should have joined the Marines . . . I’m grateful for all the training I’ve received. However, I can’t help but feel that what you are doing is more beneficial to mankind than what I am doing (emphasis added). I know that the Lord led me into the service and I believe that He’ll be able to use my flying capability for His purposes . . .”
Larry never got to do what he thought the Lord was calling him to do. Very near the completion of his tour in Vietnam in 1969, Larry was killed in a crash of two American helicopters. His remains are in a shared grave at Arlington. At Elaine’s request, I spoke at Larry’s memorial service in Palmyra.
(Post note: Elaine remarried, had four children and passed away in 2008 at age 63)
Herb High
herbhigh@hotmail.com