Chaplain

The Back Pew - March 2021

Submitted: Ernie Isbell, VLOA Chaplin

“ The Chaplain’s Corner.”

We moved to my hometown of Paducah, TX last November in order to get away from the problems facing the Dallas/Fort Worth area in view of the Covid epidemic. Paducah is a small, rural, farming and ranching community of a little over 1100 population, positioned at the eastern edge of the Texas Panhandle, midway between Wichita Falls and Lubbock.

When I was born here in 1941 the population was around 3600 and it was a vibrant town, with lots of happenings, three grocery stores, at least six car dealerships, lots of churches, good schools, several doctors, two dentists, and a JC Penney store. In short it was a great place to grow up. My older brother Bob, and I, were allowed to hunt birds and rabbits with our shotguns and .22 caliber rifles by ourselves, without adult supervision, starting at age seven for me and nine for him. Both of us were expert marksmen and when I entered the Army I qualified expert with every weapon that I was trained with while in basic training.

As the expression says, we all get older and things change. Life, Covid, aging, children, Viet Nam, etc, etc. bring each of us to where we are today. My hometown has changed and I’m sure yours has changed as well. For good or bad, change is a constant in our lives.

We can have things as they are and wish they were better. Or we can count our blessings and MAKE things better in any way we can. Linda and I noticed that Paducah has more than its share of indigent citizens, old and not so old. We discussed this situation and decided that since we have been blessed with success in our live’s we could we make a difference in others lives. We approached the local grocery store owner and arranged for both Thanksgiving and Christmas that he and his staff provide complete grocery supplies for twenty families so that these families could have a nice holiday meal at no expense to the family. Afterwards, when I paid the bill, I asked the manager how this action was received. He and his staff stated that it was one of the better things they had participated in all year.

We wished to remain anonymous for this effort, but I’m sharing this information with each of you as an example of how any of us can help our fellow citizens. The needs of our fellow citizens are not restricted to the annual holiday season. Especially now, during this terrible pandemic, I urge each of you to look about and find a way to make a difference in someone’s life.

May God bless you and keep you safe.

Ernie Isbell,
Chaplain

What can the Chaplain do for me?

My primary job as Chaplain of the V. L. O. A. is to conduct the Sunday morning worship service at our reunions. In addition, should you have the need to talk with someone who has "been there, done that," I am available to listen.

Outlaws Devotional - February 2021

Pain Is Not Forever

2 Timothy 2:3

Accept your share of suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

About 11 years ago, I began having pain in my shoulders that grew progressively worse as the months past. Along with the shoulder pain, pain began building in my hips and soon matched the level of shoulder pain. Surely this was just the process of aging, and would soon subside and go away. Over the counter medication helped marginally, but wasn’t enough to divert my mental concentration on the pain. Finally, the pain progressed to the point that it limited my ability to function well, especially in getting dressed and caring for myself.

It became clear the pain was not going away by itself. Over the next four months, I was evaluated by two general practioners, a neurologist, and an orthopedic surgeon, none of which could identify the source of the pain even after an MRI, two CT scans, two sonograms, and numerous blood tests, but all had their own solution to mollifying the pain. Finally, my wife said that both of us had had enough of the pain, and found a rheumatologist who gave me an emergency appointment. He reviewed all the medical information, and diagnosed the problem as polymyalgia rheumatica. Prescribed medication relieved the cause of the pain in less than a month, but weaning me off the medication took another 11 months.

One night during the midst of my pain, I realized that my pain was insignificant compared to the pain and suffering Jesus Christ experienced during the 24 hours leading up to dying on the cross. We should never forget the earthly, physical pain Jesus felt in giving his life in atonement for our sins.

Submitted by Frank Estes

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American G.I. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Source Unknown

Standing Prayer Request:

While most Prayer Requests will remain on the page for 30 days, here is a request that will remain as long as we have uniformed men and women stationed abroad. Please repeat this short prayer often and ask you friends and family to include it in their daily prayers:

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless

acts they perform for us in our time of need.
I ask this in the name of Jesus,

our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Prayer Requests: (as of 05/13/2021)

LTC C. Douglas (Doug) Eady

June 13, 1935 - April 8, 2021 (age 85)

LTC C. Douglas (Doug) Eady, Ret. U.S. Army, passed away on Thursday, April 8th, 2021. He was

born in Chattanooga, OK in 1935 to Clarence Douglas Eady and Frances Idell (Dell) Eady.

Doug graduated from Midwestern University ('57) and began a career in the United States Army.

He served his country for 27 years which included one tour in Korea and two tours in Vietnam.

He was awarded many individual and group decorations including the Distinguished Flying

Cross, Soldiers Medal, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Doug retired from the military in 1983.

Doug earned a Master of Business Administration in Aviation from Embry-Riddle in 1983 and

began a second career at Martin Marietta (Lockheed Martin). He retired in 2003 after 20 years of

service.

Doug is predeceased by his wife Alice Miller Eady. He is survived by his wife Linda L. Eady; his

four children, Craig Douglas Eady (LouNell) of Greenville, SC; Jana Lynn Eady (Michael) of

Euless, TX; Kirk Gregory Eady of Hurst, TX; Kelli Waigand (Tommy) of Destin, FL; and four

grandchildren, Austin Eady, Hunter Eady, Erin Eady and Jude Waigand.

A private memorial service will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In

lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to be made to the Gary Sinise

Foundation or the Fisher House.

Words cannot express how much he will be missed. Always in our hearts.

Harold D. (Q.B.) Quattlebaum

ROCKY HEAD COMMUNITY… Mr. Harold D. Quattlebaum (CW4, United States Army, Retired), a resident of the Rocky Head Community, near Ariton, died late Saturday evening at his home. He was 86.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 15, 2021 in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend William “Bill” Hovey officiating. Graveside services, with military honors, will follow at 12:00 Noon in the Vernon Cemetery, Vernon, Florida. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to Mr. Quattlebaum’s favorite charity, Florida Baptist Children’s Home, One More Child, P.O. Box 8190 Lakeland, FL 33802. Please indicate they are in memory of Harold Quattlebaum.

Mr. Quattlebaum, son of the late Jefferson B. Quattlebaum and Thurba Elliott Quattlebaum, was born in Bonifay, Florida and moved to Central Florida while still a child. He attended Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. Mr. Quattlebaum graduated from Enterprise State Junior College in Enterprise, Alabama, Valencia College in Orlando, Florida and Florida Technological University in Orlando, Florida. After high school, Mr. Quattlebaum enlisted in the United States Air Force and later transferred to the United States Army, where he retired as a CW5 after serving for 32 years. Mr. Quattlebaum served two tours in Vietnam flying Huey helicopters and Chinooks. After returning from Viet Nam, Mr. Quattlebaum served in the office of Standardization at the home of Army Aviation in Fort Rucker, Alabama. During his military career, he received numerous medals, including the Bronze Star, Silver Star and Oak Leaf Cluster. After his retirement, Mr. Quattlebaum continued to live by his sworn oath as an officer to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. He was passionate about Freedom and loved the United States of America. Mr. Quattlebaum instilled the same values in each of his children. Mr. Quattlebaum was an excellent sharpshooter during his lifetime. He enjoyed fishing and was passionate about Alabama Football. Mr. Quattlebaum was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Hartley Quattlebaum one son, Mark David Quattlebaum; one granddaughter, Lauren Virginia Quattlebaum; two brothers, Paul David Sasser and Theron Donald Quattlebaum; one sister, Carolyn Virginia Quattlebaum, and two nephews, David Lawrence Sasser and Brian Jeffery Sasser.

Surviving relatives include his three daughters, Marcia Diane Quattlebaum, Marietta, Georgia, Maria Donna Rauch, Orlando, Florida, and Melinda Debra Quattlebaum, of Ariton; three sons, Michael Duane Quattlebaum, and Marshall Dean Quattlebaum, both of Orlando, Florida, and Martin Dale Quattlebaum (Cheryl), Ariton; one sister in law, Saran Sasser, Chipley Florida ; two nephews , George Randall Sasser (Linda), Chipley, Florida and Michael Ian Sasser (Minoza) Philippines ; six grandchildren, Cory Jiminez ( Samantha Jiminez),Heather Quattlebaum (Chris Holcomb), Christina Thomas, Audrey Quattlebaum, Peyton Rauch, and Josh Rauch; six great-grandchildren, Blake Jiminez, Aidan Freeman, Easton Freeman, Christopher Holcomb, Jr, Ryan Holcomb, and Mia Holcomb.