Years later, I saw a picture of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on television; there was Moe’s name. I had met his parents and brother when they came to visit him during basic training. It occurred to me that if I hadn’t helped him so much, he might have been discharged and sent home to his family. I had a great uncle who had been discharged during World War I for a similar reason. Lord Jesus, take care of Moe until I get there.

It was then that I understood why I could never be a conscientious objector again. If I had been with Moe, I would have fought, I would have hit, I would have stabbed, I would have shot, I would have killed to protect him. I would have protected him the way Bailey protected me from Shorty. It was no longer a question of whether I preferred to kill another human or not; the question was who was I willing to let get injured or killed when I could protect them? Would I just stand by and watch? When it was worded that way, the answer was clear. The best rationale for going off to war in other countries is to keep war away from our country where our families and loved ones are. That was how those soldiers could sacrifice their lives overseas. As Jesus said, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13, KJV). How much love do I have?