The Lord Didn't Know
by Tom Hill
It was in July 1963, during Basic Cadet Training. I was an AOC in "K Squadron", the unit a basic cadet had to process through if he was either lacking the aptitude to handle the program for whatever reason, or if he just wanted to resign and get out of Dodge as quickly as possible. (Funny, but I don't remember anyone in our summer squadron just resigning. I'm sure there were some, but I just don't remember any.) Anyway, our goal was to try to salvage anyone who was worth saving so that the position he took from some other deserving young man would not go to waste.
I reviewed the folder of a young man, Basic Cadet Brown, who was described as being from the hills of Kentucky and very religious. He had told the cadre upper class men and officers in his basic cadet squadron that during high school, he had received a revelation from the Lord that he was destined to be an air force officer. The Lord had told him to leave the hills of Kentucky and come to the mountains of Colorado to pursue that goal.
However, after four weeks, Mr. Brown said he had now received another message from the Lord, telling him he should leave the Academy.
Mr. Brown arrived at my office, saluted, and said he was reporting as ordered. I had him sit down and tried to get him to relax as best as I could. He was very tense and nervous. I told him I had reviewed his record and noted his statements about "divine messages". I explained that both my grandfather and brother-in-law were Methodist ministers, so I knew a little about theology. I said I was confused as to how the Lord could first tell him he should pursue a commission in the Air Force, but now was telling him he should leave.
Mr. Brown sat up a little straighter, looked me directly in the eye, and said, "Sir, the Lord didn't know how tough basic cadet training was!"
Mr. Brown went back to Kentucky.
[ My History ] [ Home ] [ Table Of Contents ]