There are no Atheists in Foxholes

In honor of Veteran's Day November 11th a story recorded by my father  Lieutenant  Robert Dixon Atwood in his World War II journal.  In his own words...

   When Dick's request to me to recite, or rather his question asking me if I knew the 23rd Psalm came, it was something of a surprise.  He had been, at least according to his own account, one of the wildest on those rare "three day passes" to London.  I think this was our 13th mission to Hamburg, always heavily defended, and we could see ahead of us on the "bomb run" that the flack (the fragments of exploding 88 millimeter shells) was thick enough to walk on!  
    The old saying "There are no atheists in foxholes" applies just as well to combat in the air. 
    Dick called me on the interphone saying, "Lieutenant Atwood, do you know the 23rd Psalm?"
      At first I thought he was kidding, but then I thought,    maybe he's serious.  I answered, "I think I do, do you want me to try it?"   
    With the microphone button pressed down, and all of our crew able to listen, I began to speak, the greatest Psalm of David...  
    
     "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still water.   
     He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  

    Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth 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."
    

The feeling of peace and security, and that no harm would come to us, in the middle of that air battle, remains with me as one of the greatest moments of my life.  The dear kind Lord did answer our prayer.  That bomb run was unlike anything I had experienced before.  The bomb shells were still bursting, the deadly flak still covered us, but all around was a great feeling of calm.  I knew at that moment that nothing on this earth could harm us.  I knew that I was safe in the arms of the Lord.  I felt He didn't want any harm to come to us and simply wouldn't permit it. 





My father flew 30 missions over occupied France and Germany between August 1944 and March 1945.  He was lead bombardier and was the recipient of the Distinguish Flying Cross.

                                                                                              Robert D. Atwood Sr.
                                                                                               Born June 30, 1918

                                                                                                Died July 19, 1987