A DIRECTOR OF INFLUENCE

On the long bus ride from Kansas City, MO to Ft. Leonard Wood, I had several hours to contemplate what would lie ahead for me in the United States Army. After receiving uniforms, equipment, an orientation, and a fancy haircut it was Sunday and so I thought it would be the right thing to go to chapel. I was surprised to find a chapel full of young men and a chaplain who preached a great sermon. I went back that night and became acquainted with Chaplain (Major) John H. Brown. His name was as common as mine.

Chaplain Brown was an officer of great influence. A chaplain really has no power, but he can have great influence. In the reception station at Ft. Wood, Chaplain Brown was greatly respected throughout the unit. The cadre loved him because he was often in the company areas not only meeting them, but also the recruits. Sgt. Martin was Catholic, but he loved Chaplain Brown and often made his Sunday announcement like this: "Protestant worship services begin in ten minutes. All men who want to go to church fall out to my right and I will pick my details from those left!" Of course, nearly everyone got in line to go to church.

Services at the chapel where Chaplain Brown preached were always filled to capacity not only because of announcements like those of Sgt. Martin, but because he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was one of the best pulpiteers I have heard. We would often go on field trips and have services in the field for the men.

Chaplain Brown served our country in Korea. Some of the stories he shared with me were both inspirational and sobbering. One day he and his assistant were in a jeep pulling a trailer up a hill and they kept hearing what he called a "Chinese Burp Gun." Some Americans came running down the hill and told them to turn around because the Chinese were coming by the thousands. Chaplain Brown told his assistant to turn the jeep around and unhook the trailer and get out of there. His assistant said he could turn the jeep around but for him to get out and start running. With bullets hitting all around him, Chaplain Brown crossed a river and climbed a ledge to safety. Later he asked about his assistant and found him. Brown was told that it was a good thing that he left because there were bullet holes through the windshield in front of where he had been riding.

At Ft Wood, Chaplain Brown was moved from the reception station to the 5th Training Regiment because of the jealousy of the Post Chaplain. In that unit, the crowds became so large that they had to move their services from the chapel to one of the movie theaters. After that, a new post chaplain wanted him to move to the fort's housing area and try to build up Sunday School. I left Baylor that summer and helped him organize a new Sunday School. My job was to get it all on paper. His job was to get people to fill the various positions. In June there was a regular attendance of 150. The first Sunday of September was the first Sunday for the new Sunday School and there were over 800 in attendance. People followed him, not because of any power he had, but because of his great influence.

I would like to be that kind of person - a real director of influence.