The Power of Testimony

RAY AND BETTY WHIPPS
more specific, turning to what each of us would do to fight
back against the German army.
“US Army, all the way. Gimme a gun, and I’d mow
them down in a heartbeat.”
“Nah. I’d sign up for the Navy. I’d take out those
U- boats and leave them to drown.”
But neither of these got my vote. “I wouldn’t be
anything other than a pilot,” I insisted. “You’d never catch
me on the ground or trapped in a boat. Never.”
✪
Back in Forrest’s Chevy, I thought about how much had
changed since those conversations in the school cafeteria.
The war in Europe had escalated, and I’d already seen families
say goodbye to their sons who had chosen to go over
and fight. Something had changed in me as I’d watched
them go. In some ways this sobering turn of events had
woken me from my stupor. Based on the way the war was
going, I figured I would have to enlist or get drafted at
some point, and I didn’t want to go through something
like that without my faith fully intact. Lately I’d stopped
smoking and visiting bars. I’d also started going back to
church, and I was reading my Bible again. It felt good to
have my life back on track.
America was still technically enjoying peacetime, but that
peace felt tenuous at best. It was no secret that each branch
of the military was significantly increasing its troops and
equipment. During this time of general unease, I found that
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