The Baptist Press recounted the stories of two US Army chaplains from the Vietnam War as it recalled the 40th anniversary of the end of that conflict.

Chaplain Charlie Clanton talks about a tragic realization that his “ministry was worthwhile.”  Chaplain Clanton — a non-combatant — would eventually be awarded a Silver Star

for his term in Vietnam for leading troops through hostile territory and back to base camp after an injury to a commanding officer.

Chaplain Steve Gantt recalls performing services in the field — with a special escort from the commander:

For Gantt’s safety, his commanding officer would send a vehicle with a 50-caliber machine gun with the chaplain when he left the base.

“I’ll occasionally open up a book and see a place where we held services. If you look carefully you’ll see a guy manning a post-mounted 50-caliber machine gun to keep the enemy off of us as we were taking time out of the middle of the day worshiping…”

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