Issue 1| 2023

STEPPING FORWARD
God,
Be with Me
BY GERALD B. HURST
WITH KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
I’VE SEEN GOD MOVE IN MIRACULOUS
ways in my many years. Like when I was
Above: This photo of the wreckage of his plane
is a constant reminder to Gerald of God’s grace.
flying combat in Vietnam in the late 1960s.
The air force assigned me to the F-105
Thunderchief aircraft and sent me to the
Right: Major Gerald Hurst in 1970 with his plane
at the Takhli RTAFB prior to the crash. Major
Hurst retired in 1982 as a full colonel.
Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. After
three days of orientation, I flew my first
combat mission.
I was more than anxious as I headed to-
another prayer, and pulled hard. Wham!
ward my assigned target, but I took the time
The ejection seat fired, and my head
to pray. “God, please be with me.” Praying
slapped down hard on my knee. My chin
to my heavenly Father brought peace and
strap went into my voice box; I couldn’t
comfort. I would repeat that short prayer
breathe. Disoriented, I fell from the air-
on all 91 of my subsequent missions.
craft. When I finally got my bearings, I
On my 38th mission, my aircraft suf-
realized my chute hadn’t automatically
fered enemy fire and lost all oil pressure.
deployed. I quickly grabbed the D-ring and
Ejection was imminent, and that didn’t ex-
manually opened the chute. I breathed a
cite me. At that time, ejections were only
80 percent successful. So I prayed.
Generally, with no oil, a jet engine will
continue to run no more than a minute.
I’ve even heard the time be as short as 15
seconds. Miraculously, my engine ran for
over six minutes, allowing me to get away
from enemy territory.
I told the electronic warfare officer in the
back of our F-105G to prepare for ejection
sigh of relief and then focused on where I
was going to land.
The chute was drifting toward obstacles,
I tried to steer clear, but I went down hard
and broke my ankle. Twelve minutes later,
a rescue chopper was right above me.
I’d never been happier! The other officer
survived as well. After rehab, I, like many
others who served, went back to fly 53
more missions. I took more gunfire, and
Those moments are disappointing, and
they can shake our faith if we aren’t careful.
I’ve said my share of “unanswered”
prayers too. But I don’t give up on God
or doubt His ability to hear and answer
prayer. Instead, I trust His love for me and
keep asking, seeking, and knocking on the
heart of God (Matthew 7:7).
It helps when I think back on the times
I’ve witnessed God at work. Those mo-
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HURST FAMILY
and headed for the closest airbase.
you can believe, the words, “God, please be
ments serve as powerful reminders of
As I started my descent, the aircraft
with me,” were always forth coming. I had
God’s power and grace and give me hope
accelerated to over 450 knots (518 mph).
no better protection than the Lord’s help.
that if He did it then, He can do it now.
I retarded the throttle and expended the
I believe God hears all our prayers. He
Whatever you are facing today, I encour-
speed brakes—and the engine seized.
knows our hearts. He hears us when all
age you to pray about it (Philippians 4:6–8).
My wingman came over the intercom.
we can say is “help,” and He welcomes our
When you give your situation to God, He
“You’re on fire! You need to get out.”
longer prayers too, when we pour out our
will give you His peace and enable you to
I pulled up the nose to slow the airplane
hearts to Him.
face the difficult thing before you.
and ordered the officer with me to eject.
Two orders and some not-so-religious
words from me later, he finally obeyed.
Smoke filled the cockpit. It was my turn
to eject. I grabbed the ejection lever, said
Of course, God doesn’t always answer
our prayers the way we think He should.
Sometimes, for reasons we’ll never know,
He chooses not to perform a life-saving
miracle on this side of heaven.
GERALD B. HURST served in the US Air Force for
26 years and has also served as a representative in
the NC Legislature. Colonel Hurst has been married
to his sweetheart, Amelia, for 65 years and still
enjoys flying. He has flown over 5,300 hours.
8 Issue 01 / 2023 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM