Seven months after American troops had landed on Omaha & Utah beaches in Normandy, France, the men of Easy Company, of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, found themselves advancing on a small, yet strategic, crossroad town of Foy, Belgium. The town had to be cleared of a German panzer company and the men of Easy didn't want to have to face them, again, up the road in Noville. Therefore, it was vital that E company connect with I company, which was coming in from the east, to cut off the Germans' retreat. Problem was, Easy's commander, Lt. Dike froze up during the initial attack, making his men sitting ducks for German snipers.
It was in that critical moment that Major Dick Winters ordered a platoon leader from Dog Company, 1st Lt. Ronald Speirs, to take over for Dike and get E Company moving forward in their attack. Without hesitation, Speirs was off at a full run. Out of breath, he found Dike behind a haystack and, giving no explanation, bluntly asserted, "I'm taking over!" After barking out a couple orders for 2nd & 3rd platoons, it was "Let's go!" and, without looking back to see if his men were following, the lieutenant was, once again, charging toward town.
HBO's drama, "Band of Brothers", portrays quite accurately what happened next:
Easy Company had a man of action. A man they could follow. And they did - - capturing more than 100 Germans and securing Foy for the Allies.
Jesus left the safety of heaven and, at the most critical moment, plunged into our battle some 2000 years ago. Knowing it would cost Him His life, He rushed to our aid. He died for our sins. And, astoundingly, He came back.
Jesus was, and is, a man of action. He didn't come just to save you, but to enlist you, inspire you, and lead you to a great victory that will save many. Even as you read this blog, Jesus shouts "Let's go!" and, once again, He's on the move.
Will you follow Him?
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fi.
Doug
