Page 103 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

ARMY
WWII

they had not sent out reinforcements to what was studies with Chinese college LUBBOCK
considered a “hopeless” situation. All three men students yielded a great victory
were taken to the medics for treatment, and each for God. Dad once told my brother that he didn’t
one “finished” the war in Europe. My dad never know if he would have had the courage to go on the
considered himself a hero, but a Bronze Star and a foreign mission field but for the fact that he had gone
Purple Heart told a different story. on the foreign battlefield and survived it.

When the war ended, Earl was offered a promotion or Earl Langley’s courage was forged on the battlefields
the first ship home; it was an easy choice for him. He of WWII to prepare him for the Lord’s army 30 years
had a little son who was almost four; the last time Earl later. He lived to be 90 years old. He was so thrilled
had seen baby Phil was when he was five days old. He when we secured for him a brick with his name, rank
had a darling wife of five years, with whom he had and dates of service on the Lubbock War Memorial.
spent less than half a year. Earl headed home – on the He never saw the WWII Memorial in Washington
first ship out! until I (his youngest) returned from a trip to D.C. with
many, many pictures. We sat together on the couch
Like so many of the Greatest Generation, Earl slipped - under the framed medals – and yes, he told me the
back into civilian life. He and Lois raised three story again.
children, but just as the first grandchildren began to
arrive, they received another “draft notice” – this one Editor’s Note: Southcrest Baptist Church is presently
from their true Commander in Chief. They headed off providing housing for Earl Langley’s missionary grandson
to Taiwan to spend their last 11 working years before and family.
retirement on the mission field, where nightly Bible

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