Chaplains Corner
Life is full of surprises and I’m no different than any of us. As I left the last meeting of this organization I told Bob Sharp that I would be unable to continue
the Chaplains Corner as I would be very busy with my daughter Cheryl’s care while trying to regain her ability to earn a living.
Good news!!! She has regained the use of her left leg and we are hoping she will regain her ability to walk and support herself. We are very pleased with the
support and prayers that many people have provided. Cheryl will continue to move ahead and we are hoping that the results will afford
her the opportunity to restart her career while helping those who need her help. Her specialty is helping resolve assets for those going through a divorce.
But, I have even more good news! As you may recall my wife Linda Minyard, of 60 plus years, passed away on Christmas day 2023.Since then we have received
great support from our church as they have visited our home and provided any help that we needed. One of the people providing help is now my wife, Sue Henderson Isbell. We were married by our pastor a little over a month ago and Sue is a wonderful person as we now both provide support for Cheryl with the needed home care, food preparation, and transportation.mSue is very good in all the things that need attending too, including ME.
Best wishes to everyone. You are all invited to stop by our home at 4201 Inverness Way, Denton, TX 76210. Tele- 214-529-3778.
Ernest Isbell, VLOA Chaplain. God Bless you all!
Standing Prayer
Gracious and Almighty God,
We gather in gratitude for the brave men and women who served in Vietnam. Their sacrifices, courage, and resilience shaped history, and today, we honor their service.
Bless those who returned home, carrying memories both heavy and triumphant. May they find peace, healing, and the recognition they deserve.
Comfort the families of those who never returned. May their loved ones’ legacies be cherished, and may their hearts find solace in remembrance.
For those still searching for meaning, for those who bear unseen wounds, grant them strength and hope. May they know they are never forgotten.
Let us, as a nation, uphold our promise to honor and support our veterans—not just in words, but in action.
May we always remember that freedom comes at great cost, and may we strive to be worthy of the sacrifices made.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST (As of 30 Nov 2025)
Michael G. Madigan
March 28, 1938 – November 11, 2025
Michael G. Madigan, CWO4, USA, Retired, passed away on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2025, at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi, at the age of 87. Born on March 28, 1938, in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, to George and Verna (Bennett) Madigan, Mike was an outstanding pupil and enthusiastic school ice hockey player at Sault Ste. Marie High School. After graduating in June 1956, he worked as a deckhand aboard the iron ore carrier Philip R. Clarke.
Growing up in “The Soo,” Mike worked at his father’s Standard Oil gas station and garage, where he learned to repair automobiles, a skill he passed on to his children. He met the love of his life, Joan Petrilli, in high school, and they enjoyed 55 years of marriage until her passing on November 12, 2013. Joan is interred at Biloxi National Cemetery, where Mike will soon join her.
Mike served 25 years in the United States Army, starting as an enlisted engine repair technician in Frankfurt, Germany, and later becoming a helicopter pilot. He served two tours in Vietnam, flying UH-1 Iroquois helicopters and CH-47 Chinooks. Mike retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4.
A committal ceremony with military honors will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery 1 2 3.