There are two bottlenecks in the Red Sea. Everyone knows about the Suez Canal, but at its southern end the Red Sea narrows into the straits of Bab-al-Mandeb before emptying, though the Gulf of Aden, into the north Arabian Sea. This is a dangerous transit because, in addition to being one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, it requires ships to come uncomfortably close to Yemen, the northern bank of the straits, which has been locked in a civil war for nearly a decade. The war has spilled over into neighboring Saudi Arabia, and sometimes into the waters offshore. It is the most recent place a US warship has had to defend itself. The transit through these straits is currently our Sailors first close brush with active war while deployed, and it can be unnerving. It so happens that on one trip we made the transit with France’s nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the only nuclear carrier in the world not operated by the US Navy. This gave me the inspiration for the following story. As for the prayer, this was one of the occasions I simply prayed a psalm. Not only does this allow me to pray sincerely without specifically Christian references, it allows those members of the crew who have never been to church, or otherwise know them, to be exposed to the prayers that sustained me through similar circumstances when I was their age. I can’t believe people think they’re better off without these kinds of things. Judging by what I’ve seen regarding which Sailors are most emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually resilient, they aren’t.
Well, they were our first ally.
This was it. He was finally going to get the chance to prove that his ideas were correct. Scanning the intersection ahead, he could see a portion of the 200 enemy tanks he had ordered his brigade to attack, and knew that it would be a deadly struggle. When his 90 vehicles left their positions a little before dawn, they would have to cover ground that had been littered with anti-tank mines, and do it without air support to drive off the enemy’s tank-busting aircraft. But the enemy was here, in his homeland, and he was determined to strike and drive them out.
He lost 23 tanks in the initial assault, but halted the German advance until he could strengthen his force the next day. On the third day he ignored his superiors’ orders to withdraw and attacked again, driving the German army into full retreat, backwards 50 miles to Caumont. The reprieve would alas, be temporary. His was one of only a few successes along the French defensive line, and he was forced to give back the ground that he’d gained.
Promoted to Brigadier General because of his success at Montcornet, he’d proved—as had the German blitzkrieg—that mechanized mobile warfare was the way that wars must now be fought to be won. Unfortunately, the lesson came too late to save France. The new General opposed his government’s capitulation and armistice with Germany, so, prepared to continue the fight, he left for London and became the leader of the Free French movement until his return to Paris after its liberation from German occupation in August 1944.
From that point on Charles de Gaulle would be instrumental in shaping the government of France for decades to come, and in the process become a hero to his country akin to George Washington in ours. It is little wonder that the French named their first, and currently only, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier after him. Though we like to tease the French, it doesn’t mean that they have no heroes in their history. It is good to know that the spirit of one of those heroes is aboard a ship accompanying us through these treacherous waters tonight. You can never have too many heroes on your side—even if they’re French.
LET US PRAY
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
AMEN
An Orthodox Priest Abroad 