Kathy Hillman: Stars & the Star of Hope

USS Independence on maneuvers in the North Atlantic. (Wikipedia Image)

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When they (the Magi) saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. (Matthew 2:10)

That special night, the brightest of all stars declared hope. Seventy years ago, stars again lit the night sky with hope.

kathy hillman130Kathy HillmanOn Dec. 16, 1944, Führer Adolph Hitler launched a major offensive in the Ardennes region of Belgium, France and Luxembourg, a 75-mile stretch of dense forest with few roads. English-speaking German soldiers disguised in American and British uniforms infiltrated behind Allied lines, causing confusion, spreading misinformation and in some cases disrupting supply lines. The Nazi army of some 30 divisions supported by about 1,000 tanks amazingly kept the operation a near-secret.

U.S. soldiers suffered heavy losses in the initial fighting. Royce Hillman, a 24-year-old sergeant in the Third Army commanded by Gen. George S. Patton, found himself among the American troops, many of them inexperienced replacements.

Bitter winter weather aided the German cause. Temperatures hovered near zero. Trenches, tents, light blankets and well-worn shoes provided little comfort. For more than a week, heavy cloud cover and fog prevented air support and supply drops. Rations were depleted, and the soldiers often were hungry. The demoralized men were bone-chilled, dog-tired and isolated.

sgt royce hillman130Sgt. Royce HillmanGen. Patton asked James H. O’Neill, head chaplain of the Third Army, to call his counterparts among the troops to focus on the importance of prayer. A training letter went to all 486 chaplains under O’Neill’s signature, urging them to intensify their “faith in prayer, not alone with ourselves, but with every believing man … in the ranks of the Third United States Army.” The chaplains not only prayed, they ministered under miserable and seemingly hopeless conditions.

Christmas Eve, the skies cleared, and stars of hope twinkled above. Hillman heard the Allied planes, some on bombing runs and others dropping supply packages. Although the Plainview native rarely talked about his war experiences, he described 1944 as his most memorable Christmas: “We saw the stars and knew the tide had turned.” Indeed, the Allied victory in the Battle of the Bulge turned the tide and ultimately brought about the end of World War II.

Nearly 30 years later, during the Vietnam War, a military chaplain arranged for sons and daughters and nieces and nephews of those World War II veterans to brighten the holidays for a group of sailors. In 1971, I joined Euell Porter’s Chapel Choir on Baylor University’s first overseas choir tour and what would be perhaps my most memorable Christmas.

independence plane425A fighter jet prepares for takeoff from the flight deck of the USS Independence in the Mediterranean Sea. (Wikipedia Image)The women packed two performance outfits. One was a no-wrinkle polyester navy skirt with white top, which we wore for every concert. Not until the last stop did we understand why we also carried beautiful long velvet dresses. As we prepared for the evening, Dr. Porter told the women to put on our formals and the men to don their tuxes. We would perform for sailors on board the USS Independence in the Mediterranean Sea.


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Maneuvering into and out of the ferrying boat in heels and an elegant dress was challenging but not as challenging as climbing the tiny ladder rungs up to the gigantic aircraft carrier. As we took our places on risers in a huge hangar, sang our Christmas concert and invited the sailors to join us for carols, I understood. Those men deserved our best. Afterward, the chaplain hosted us and the Texas servicemen on board for hot chocolate and cookies. He told us how much our presence meant to those who couldn’t be home for the holidays. We knew that meant him, too.

texas baptist voices right120This season, we pray for soldiers like Sgt. Hillman and the sailors on the USS Independence who sacrifice for our country and cannot be with loved ones for the holidays. We also remember more than 800 Texas Baptist endorsed chaplains and other chaplains across the globe spending their Christmases on call or away from family. Some serve in the military. Many work in health care, emergency services, corporations or in institutions such as prisons. Others travel to assist with disaster recovery and relief. All offer comfort, companionship, counseling and encouragement to those in need.

I pray the Heavenly Father will guide chaplains this Christmas and every day as they point the way to the Star of Hope.

Kathy Hillman is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She also is director of Baptist collections, library advancement and the Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society at Baylor University.


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