A Bible lies open among debris at the base of a home in Moore, Okla, May 20, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Caroline Hayworth)

An article at the Air Force’s official Airman Magazine chronicles the stories of airmen from Tinker AFB during and after the trauma of the EF-5 tornado that tore through Moore, Oklahoma.

A recurring theme was their faith: 

The family had just made it into the bathroom five minutes before the tornado struck…[They] prayed aloud for the family’s safety, and 11-year-old Landon covered his ears as he repetitively recited “The Lord’s Prayer” in Psalms 23…

When the tornado passed the Crosby house, they thanked God for keeping them safe and for strength to prepare themselves for what they were going to see outside of the bathroom door…

“Fortunately, God’s hands were on that school, and there were some injuries, but no one was killed…

Stockstill saw signs she believes were evidence that her faith played a role in her family’s survival of the trauma that spring afternoon. A cross remained on the wall in a house almost completely destroyed. The Bible remained untouched at the top of the stairs, above the closet where her family huddled together…

It wasn’t combat, but it was certainly a foxhole in which many Airmen relied upon, and found, their faith.

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