Sergeant Roy said, “I shot as many Germans as I had ammo for.  Then I threw a grenade.  I believe I got most of them.  Beck, we might be the only two left.”  Beck’s heart sank to the bottom of his stomach.  Then, as quickly as the shooting had stopped, Sergeant Roy’s breathing stopped and blood oozed out of his mouth.  He was gone.  Medic Beck lowered his head, prayed a quick prayer and with his own tears welling up he used his hand to close Sergeant Roy’s eyes.  Dazed, Beck wiped the tears from his blue blood-shot eyes.  He jerked off his helmet and threw it to the ground, brushing back his short dark wavy hair with his hands trying to gain composure as to what to do next.  He said out loud to himself, “Where are you God?  I am supposed to be saving lives, not watching them die.”  As he stood, his athletic 5 feet, 11 inch frame felt frail and broken by the ravage of war.  He began walking and out of the crisp misty air he heard another voice, this time it was German.  He knew a little German and was certain this voice was crying for help.  Medic Beck took an oath to protect and save, so he turned and cautiously began walking towards the German’s voice.  As the voice got louder, Beck’s heart pounded faster.  Could this be his last day on Earth too like his fellow soldiers?  Beck approached the German.  Part of his lower right arm was blown off and he appeared to be hit in the chest.  Medic Beck knelt down and began working to stop the bleeding.  He asked the German his name.  Beck was not fluent in German but he thought he said he was Sergeant Krause, age 25.

      Beck told him, “Hang on, I will take you to get help.”

      Sergeant Krause cried out in clear English, “No, they will save me then keep me prisoner. I don’t want to be taken prisoner, let me die in peace.  I just want a cigarette before I die.”

      Beck was shocked… a cigarette?  Here they were at war and this man was dying and all he could think about was a cigarette?  Beck understood though that he didn’t want to be taken prisoner.

      “Please,” the German soldier pleaded.  “Help me smoke my last cigarette before I die.”

      Medic Beck faced a dilemma.  He quickly bowed his head and asked God to tell him what to do and the words, “Grant him his dying wish” came to him.   So Beck reluctantly took out the supplies and rolled the German soldier a cigarette and helped him smoke it.  Out of the mist another American Medic approached quickly and asked if they were okay.  To Medic Beck’s surprise, they were.  Sergeant Krause was still alive. 

      The unknown Medic said, “Let’s go, we got word an armistice has been signed and the war is over.  I’ll help you get him help.”  Beck’s heart leaped with joy.  God answered his prayer.  Krause would live and not be taken prisoner.  Medic Beck’s listening to God saved the German’s life.  Had he moved the injured German instead of helping him smoke his cigarette, the other Medic might not have found them in time.  His dying wish became an opportunity for God’s saving work.

Image by National Library of Scotland via Flickr