A Hero

Good Morning!

Keeping with the theme from Veterans Day, I would like to share the following:

*SAULS, ROBERT NED
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert Ned Sauls (W-2217750), Chief Warrant Officer (W-2), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 8th Battalion, 26th Artillery, 254th Field Artillery Detachment, I Field Force. Chief Warrant Officer Sauls distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 23 February to 10 March 1969 as commander of his radar detachment at Fire Support Base Twelve, near Ben Het, during a siege of the base by North Vietnamese forces equipped with mortars, cannons, automatic weapons and small arms. Exposing himself to the barrage, Mister Sauls located many enemy firing emplacements both visually and by using radar. On six occasions he braved the intense fire to assist in evacuating casualties and frequently directed gun ships against the communists' locations. When the bombardment began on 23 February, he went to the area under heaviest attack where he manned a mortar and machine gun position, and when the need arose drove his jeep through the hail of fire to obtain ammunition. On 27 February and 1 March he received fragment wounds from incoming mortar rounds. Seeing a bunker take a direct hit on 6 March, he repeatedly entered the burning structure to remove casualties, weapons and ammunition. While monitoring the Special Forces' communication network on 10 March, Mister Sauls heard that a friendly element had received heavy casualties. He unhesitatingly drove to the site and found a seriously wounded soldier lying in the road. Braving enemy rounds which were impacting within twenty yards, he helped move the man to the safety of a trench and treated his wounds. He then went to a severely injured Vietnamese officer and was administering first aid when a hostile round struck nearby, fatally wounding him. Chief Warrant Officer Sauls' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1556 (May 2, 1969)
Home Town: Atlanta, Georgia

Heroes are ordinary people who act with extraordinary valor in times of crisis. Such a hero was Ned Sauls. I never met the man but I know of him because he would be my counterpart as grandfather to three of my grandchildren had he lived. His only son – Robert – was three months old when his dad gave his life in service to our country. Ned never got a chance to play ball with his son – to watch his son grow into manhood and become a father. Ned was a hero who gave his all. The citation above is for the Distinguished Service Cross – the second highest award given to a soldier.

Jesus Christ gave His all for us, too. Paul writes:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (English Standard Version)
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus surrendered His place in Heaven to come to earth to die in our place. We, who deserve all the punishment, receive the fullness of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. And Jesus did this because He loves us. He offers each one of us LIFE in Him. Trust Him today.


Agape’


Mr. Jim