In 1965 ...

[oldsoldierfadingfast]

10. Oh! My Dear MLB

How I do wish you had been sitting beside me when I was home on leave an and attending my parents church with them wearing my uniform. There were several uniformed enlisted men attending with family and girlfriends also. In his sermon, the pastor preached on the VN war and called our military 'baby killers'.
As he stood at the door, shaking hands of worshipers as they left, 'Ole Loud Mouth, Don't Take Crap' here let him know that I, nor my fellow soldier attendees in uniform, had never killed anyone, much less a baby. I embarrassed my parents by not stopping there. (He was a personal friend of theirs!)
My last statement to him was that I would never darken his door again. Outside, my fellow soldiers and their families waited to thank me. That was the only thing that saved me from my parents.
Giving him credit, he did apologize at his Evening Service and again the following Sunday; but I never again went back to that church and did not ask him to conduct my Mother's funeral.
From reading your posts, I think you would have had my back covered and I thank you for that!