The Living Word: The soldiers’ psalm
By Leora Schmidt
thelivingword@mail.com
“During World War I, the 91st Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Expeditionary Army was preparing to enter combat in Europe. Most of the men were ‘green’ soldiers who had never seen combat. Its commander, a devout Christian, called an assembly of his men where he gave each a little card on which was printed the 91st Psalm. They agreed to recite the Soldiers’ Psalm daily. The 91st Brigade was engaged in three of the bloodiest battles of World War One...While other American units similarly engaged had up to 90% casualties, the 91st Brigade DID NOT SUFFER A SINGLE COMBAT RELATED CASUALTY!”
This abbreviated account of more recent warfare was written by Colonel Jack Mohr:
“Some who read this will be war veterans.. who will better understand the ‘gut-wrenching’ fear which comes when a man is under fire and cannot defend himself...I speak to you through personal experience gained in two wars (World War II and Korea). In both these wars I served as a front line infantryman, both in enlisted and officer grades. I have four Purple Hearts and numerous other decorations to show for this. In Korea, I was the first American wounded and the first to be decorated, winning a Silver Star during the opening hours of that ‘no win’ war. I do not say this to brag, but to let you know I have been there and know whereof I speak.
“When the war began in Korea on June 25, 1950 I was working as an Advisor with a South Korean Regiment...I was what you might call a ‘nominal Christian,’ or as I like to put it, an ‘Alka Seltzer Christian,’ one who goes to church and ‘fizzes’ for an hour on Sunday morning, when it is convenient, then lives for the devil most of the rest of the week....
“I had seen a miracle take place in 1948, eighteen months before the Korean war began...a Communist attempted military coup occurred against the South Korean Government....After I was mistreated and facing a Communist People’s Court, God miraculously saved me from a Red firing squad. (The full gripping account is titled COMMUNIST TERROR IN PEACEFUL HEAVEN https://israelect.com/reference/JackMohr/jm104.htm)
“Four times during that abortive war, I went through the terrifying experience of being millimeters from death or serious injury, and four times a miracle occurred. I had seen Korean soldiers falling like flies all around me, but It had not come nigh me, just as the Psalm states. I could not understand at that time, why YAHWEH GOD would spare an old reprobate like me, who had deliberately ‘spit in His face’ so many times. How can God take a man like this and turn Him into a ‘watchman on the wall of America?’ To me, this was also a miracle.
“One day, during the early days of the Korean War, as I casually looked through my Bible, which wasn’t too often, I’m afraid to confess, I came across the 91st Psalm. It was written especially for Jack Mohr. While I was not able to understand much of the symbolism of the book of Daniel or Revelation, here was something I could understand and apply to my life, for I was seeing it take place every day. Just the day before, I had stood in the school yard of a little town as the enemy shelled us with heavy mortar fire. I saw a mortar round drop less than ten yards away, the explosion knocking me to the ground and deafening me for a week. I did not get a scratch, yet several Korean soldiers, over 75 yards away, were killed or wounded. Why? Then when I read this Psalm, I understood why it was written for me, and for any other Christian who has been in, is, or will be in a position of danger. It is a promise from YAHWEH, the Almighty God, as well as eternal hope to those who love Him and seek to serve Him. I start every day by reading it.”
Col. Mohr closes his remarks with these questions and an appeal to accept Jesus as Saviour: “Dear reader: Do you know my Saviour? Do you have the peace that ‘passeth all human understanding?’ Do you have the spiritual strength which would stand any trial that could be thrown against you? Do you have the power to take a stand for God and righteousness, no matter what anyone says against you? Do you know where you are headed when you die?”