Matthew

February 19, 2024

February 19, 1944 – A teenage WWII hero ships out to Anzio

On February 19, 1944, Phil received his orders to report to the 30th Infantry Regiment on the Anzio Beachhead. Late that afternoon, he hopped aboard a truck […]
February 18, 2024

February 18, 1944 – A teenage WWII hero rides a master dressage stallion — Magellan

Phil returned the next day and began instruction with the master and one of his apprentices, Antonio, who was bilingual. “He wants you to mount one […]
February 17, 2024

February 17, 1944 – A teenage WWII hero meets a dressage master

After arriving on the docks at Naples, the ever-present Army 6×6 trucks were waiting to take Phil and the other second lieutenants to the Replacement Depot, […]
February 16, 2024

February 16, 1944 – A teenage WWII hero’s future units pinned down on Anzio

On February 16, 1944, the Germans had completely surrounded the Allies that were pinned down on the Anzio Beachhead — which the men quickly named ‘The […]
February 15, 2024

February 15, 1944 – A teenage WWII hero ships out to Naples

In Oran, Phil was among 200 infantry lieutenants who boarded the Highland Queen, a small British steamer bound for Naples, Italy. He was part of a […]
February 13, 2024

February 13, 1944 – A teenage WWII hero rides a train to the war

Orders were issued for 1,000 men, including Phil, to board narrow-gauge railroad cars for a three-day train ride across Morocco and Algeria to Oran, a major […]
February 12, 2024

February 12, 1944 – A teenage WWII hero rides a famous Berber war horse in Morocco

Phil had written his mother about letting “a cute girl that I met near camp teach me French.” He also learned from her about a Moroccan […]
February 11, 2024

February 11, 1944 – A teenage WWII hero writes home from French Morocco

While Phil  and the thousands of replacements in camp with him waited in French Morocco for their assignments, the war waged in Europe without them. Phil […]
January 6, 2020

Magi from the east came

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the one […]
January 6, 2020

The Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream

When (the Magi) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and […]
January 7, 2020

Joseph went to Israel

So (Joseph) got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea […]
January 9, 2020

The Old Heart – 2

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of […]
January 10, 2020

The New Heart – 3

A heart at peace gives life to the body … Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning.
January 11, 2020

The Old Heart – 4

Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, […]