As the eleventh day of 1944 began, more than six hundred B-17s & B-24s of the Eighth Air Force took off from England for a bombing run deep into Nazi Germany. The lead element’s target was the Focke-Wulf Aircraft Plant in Oschersleben, about 90 miles southwest of Berlin, the birthplace of the German workhorse FW-190 fighter. Chosen to protect that lead element of bombers was a squadron of American P-51 Mustangs commanded by the son of a missionary eye doctor - - Lt. Colonel James H. Howard.
As the long-range mission progressed, the weather deteriorated. Many P-51s and their older brothers, the P-47s, were forced to turn back due to low fuel. Then, well into the mission, headquarters made the call to scrub the bombing raid completely, but the radio transmission didn’t make it to many of the bombers.
As Jimmy Howard’s squadron neared their rendezvous with the B17s, they spotted several German fighters and immediately broke off to intercept them. During this initial skirmish, Howard descended to eliminate a Nazi fighter, then climbed to find the American bombers being raked by 30 or more German fighters – and not a single other Allied fighter in sight!
Having flown the same course as many who had already turned back, and having absolutely no help from his fellow Mustangs, everyone would have understood if Howard had bugged out to regroup with others from his squadron. By all rights and appearances, Jimmy had good reason to leave the bombers to fend for themselves. But he didn’t.
Lt. Colonel James Howard pointed his Mustang at the Nazi fighters, plunged into their midst and, with a burst from his guns, sent an ME-110 to the ground. It was then that an ME-109 spotted Howard and dove. Jimmy gave chase, diving steeply to give the German a burst that brought a steady stream of smoke from the doomed fighter. The blur of rolls, dives, and climbs, highlighted by bursts from his guns kept Howard’s adrenaline flowing and Germans falling. Spotting another Nazi fighter, Howard dove and fired again, but by now gravity pressure had jammed the ammo feed to three of his four guns. Still, he stayed by the bombers, even though he was getting dangerously low on fuel and firepower. Finally, after watching the last German fighter pull off, Jimmy waggled his wings to signal his departure to the bombers, and headed for home.
For his courage & heroism, James H. Howard, became the only fighter pilot in the European Theatre of Operations to be awarded his country’s highest citation, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
When I heard Howard’s story, I was reminded of another man who was chosen to escort and protect the most vital mission in the cause of freedom for all of mankind. This man’s name was Joseph, and we read about him in the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, verses 18-25:
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
We learn a lot about Joseph, and a lot about being a Godly man in these nine verses. Take note:
1. Joseph was a Man of Purity – Though they were pledged to be married, he & Mary had not yet been sexually intimate. (v. 18)
2. Joseph was a Man of Integrity – He didn’t just go through the motions of following God. He was “faithful to the law” (v. 19a)
3. Joseph was a Man of Grace – By his rights, Joseph could have declared Mary to be unfaithful and promiscuous, sentencing her to a lifetime of shame, rejection, and exclusion. But he didn’t want to do that. (v. 19b)
4. Joseph was a Man of Strong Faith – He had heard the prophets foretell of a Messiah who would save his nation. He believed Mary when she told him of her encounter with the angel Gabriel. He believed what God said to him through the angel in his dream. And his actions reflected what he believed. That’s Faith – Belief that translates into Action. (v. 24)
5. Joseph was a Man of Self-Control – Read verse 25. Enough said.
God, may we display the courage & heroism to become real men - - like Joseph.
That’s the Challenge.
Semper Fi.
Doug
(Copyright by Doug Shope, December 27, 2010)
