I grew up during the sixties and almost all of my uncles served in Vietnam in either the Marines or the Navy. I used to write letters requesting pictures (until the government banned sending them home) of what the war was like and I followed the war all throughout my childhood, believing that the war would still be going on when I got out of high school.
I was raised in a Catholic home by my mother (my father was an alcoholic/abusive man who did not believe in God). I began to use drugs and alcohol at a very early age and I hung around a very rough crowd a few years older than me. some of them were returning from the war and they were all angry to some degree. Even though I was too young to have gone to vietnam, I felt a connection with these veterans.
As soon as I turned seventeen I was in the recruiting office hoping that we would be able to go back to vietnam or at the very least bring our guys home that were still missing from the war. I began wearing a P.O.W. bracelet (I still do to this day) and I enlisted in the navy during a time when it was unpopular to do so. My drug and alcohol use increased during my time overseas and in the spring of 1979 my world came crashing down when my 4 month old son died of sudden infant death syndrome while I was getting ready to deploy for another Westpac. I was not saved when this happened and I got angry at God and though I knew who He was I did not have a personal relationship with him. I ran away from Him and chose to further self medicate to ease my pain and I became very reclusive and pretty much an outlaw.
My first marriage failed and so did my second. After realizing all the damage I had caused in my relationships and the pain I had inflicted on myself and countless others, I finally reached the point where I was tired and just wanted all the pain to stop. Being the sinful selfish person I am, I tried to take my own life, but by the grace of god I was unsuccessful.
I accepted the Lord as my Savior and even though I was going through one of the worst times in my life, I was filled with a peace that could only come from Him. The change that has taken place in my heart is amazing and the Lord continues to build my life according to His will.I have found my purpose and calling in Him and I have a burden for all veterans of all wars and eras and I thank God for putting me on the point!
Point Man International Ministries
since 7/31/98