Dan Arnold, U.S. Army

Although my military service did not involve combat, I am amazed how God's hand was upon me.

In January, 1968, in the midst of the Vietnam War, I graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and intended to get an MBA.

The Draft Lottery system was in place but my draft board told me I was "clear" and would be able to continue my education. So, I enrolled at North Texas University in Denton, Texas, arranged for an apartment and loaded all I owned in a 1953 Chevrolet. However, the day I was to leave for Texas, my draft notice came in the mail.

A few days later, I was lined up with hundreds of young men in Kansas City, Missouri, passing single file through a door with a "big" sergeant barking out "Army", "Navy", "Air Force", "Marines", etc. and peeling guys off into various lines. Suddenly, this small town Missouri boy found he was "drafted" in to the Army and herded into another area for a physical exam ... which is another story in and of itself.

Soon, 60 or so of us were loaded on a school bus headed for Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon arriving, the first order of business was "grooming" ... that's a fancy term for watching all the long "hippie" hair styles get buzzed off in 20 seconds. Next was "shopping" for our "wardrobe" ... my uniform was about two sizes too big, but the boots fit, which I learned was the critical item of clothing for the hundreds of miles I was about to run. We were quickly assigned to a battalion, a company, a platoon, and a barracks where I met the infamous "drill sergeant" who would "own" me for the next few weeks.

Basic Training meant being up about 4 - 5 am each day, then a fun 2 mile run, calisthenics, the breakfast cuisine for the day and various training exercises in 100 degree heat. Those weeks of training were physically demanding and mentally challenging. We were forced to get in shape; made to realize your weapon was to be your best friend; learn hand to hand combat techniques, first aid and a variety of survival skills. We learned to work through pain and discomfort without complaint; perform your duties day or night; realize the important of combat strategy; function without sleep; and, of course, how to march as "one". Day after day, week after week we were molded from a bunch of independent personalities into a "unit", depending and dependent upon each other. I learned to both "lead" and to "follow", without questioning, and quickly realized that to survive in combat it was critical that others must be able depend on me and I must be able depend on others. The weak were made strong, the haughty were humbled and the simple were encouraged. Background didn't matter, education didn't matter, color didn't matter, and personalities didn't matter. What mattered was to work together for the good of all. That reality, in and of itself, was a life changing lesson that etched itself into my personal life as I learned the importance of discipline, "structure" and that I must willingly "submit" to those in authority over me and trust that those under my authority would willing "submit", if required. As I look back, that simple principal was, and continues to be, a key element in my spiritual growth.

After Basic Training, every man in my company (except one) was given permanent duty assignments and sent to either Fort Orr, California for Infantry training or Fort Polk, Louisiana for Armor training. The reality of the Vietnam War was in my face. Men were headed out to be trained for battle and yet, for some reason, God stepped in to keep me out of harm’s way. Of all things, I was assigned to clerk school at Ft. Leonard Wood! As I grabbed my gear I remember saying to myself "give me a typewriter and I'll make that thing "smoke". Although I was willing and fully expecting to go into combat in Vietnam, I was absolutely dumbfounded that apparently I was not going.

A few weeks later, after falling out into formation, our company commanding officer asked for 13 "volunteers"., something I quickly learned not to do in the Army. However, the "volunteers" they needed were to interview to serve as Chaplains Assistants. My decision to volunteer was not spiritual. My first thought was "those chapels are heated in the winter and air conditioned in the summer". So, I volunteered and ultimately was selected. Little did I realize that God was again at work.

At that time, Ft. Leonard Wood had 50,000 people on Post with 13 chapels serving both Catholic and Protestants congregations. But, rather than being assigned to a specific chapel, I was assigned to the Director of Religious Education (a GS 15 ranked civilian) who was responsible for coordinating the Sunday School classes and Bible Studies for the entire Post. God put that man in my life as a spiritual mentor and he remains a close friend some 35 years later. The real story, however, was that of the 13 men selected as Chaplains Assistants, 12 of them went to Vietnam .... and only 1 returned. Guess who did not go? Only me! Years later, as I looked back, I again can see how God's hand was protecting me and guiding me.

So many of the men I knew that went to Vietnam never came back. I vividly remember lying in my bed in the barracks the night of July 4, 1969. In the middle of a pitch black night, someone set off a package of firecrackers outside. Suddenly, I heard guys yelling and crashing as men were literally diving from the top bunks onto the floor. They were just back from Vietnam and thought it was enemy fire. I remember crying through most of that night as I realized that my freedom wasn't "free". It had, and was continuing to be paid for by the lives of many brave soldiers. And, although I was performing my duty according to God's providence, I felt so humbled to be in the same room with those brave men.

So, when a flag comes by, or I sing the national anthem, or hear the songs for the various branches of the armed forces, or say our Pledge of Allegiance or hear "Taps" played, it still straightens my back, fixes my tear filled eyes and brings a stirring fire into my heart. The price of freedom should never be viewed casually.

My prayer is that that those who read this will come to truly understand the words of the recent popular song, "I'm Proud to be an American"

"I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I'll gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the U.S.A. "


Daniel M. Arnold
US 56431376
Specialist 5th Class
Company A, Special Troops
US Army Training Center Engineer
Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri
PMOS 71 M20
1968-1970