Another Old Marine Has Received His Orders: "Depart The Battle Field And Fly On Home"

Common Sense Commentary: This blog is dedicated to my Korean War Buddy, Jim (Leroy) Storey's brother-in-law, Earl Flat, Jim's sister, Darlene's husband. Earl was a WWII Marine, in which some of the most ferocious battles in the history of war were fought. Earl has earned his globe and anchor with lifetime scars to his body, mind and heart. He has thereby won his right to "Hero" status before the citizens of the United States and it's government. Neither Earl, nor I, nor you, nor any other soul has "earned" the right to redemption's salvation through Jesus Christ's willful and sacrificial death on the old rugged cross, for our sins. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."  Eph.2:8-9. And though it is impossible that neither Earl nor any other Christian can "earn" eternal salvation, by good works, he and every other person who sincerely repents and trusts Christ as Savior, is accepted by our Creator, God, into heaven. Earl has acknowledged his faith in Christ and did so again in his phone conversation with Bob, quoted below. These are hard days for Earl and Darlene. Please pray for them both. Here is my email exchange with Jim's brother Bob. RB


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From: Bob Storey  To: Rayburn Blair - Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2014 6:20 PM Subject: "Glorious Obsession:

I've just finished reading Fred Good's book on the life and times of you!  I hardly know how to respond except to say that when a person hears and obeys the Holy Spirit great things happen for God.  What a moving story.  God bless you and Bette.  The Storey family loves you both.  Bob

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On Sun, Apr 20, 2014 at 9:19 PM, Rayburn Blair wrote:

Thanks Bob. My experience with Jim, in Hell Fire Valley (Chosin), was a pivot point in my life. I can't believe I am so old. But God is good and the best is ahead.  Wish I could make one more round and visit all my old friends ... including you.
Psm.115:1, Rayburn
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From: Bob Storey  To: Rayburn Blair - Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 3:16 PM Subject: Re: "Glorious Obsession:

God has a lot of blogs for you to write yet!  You can't go.  Rob, our son, and I went to visit Darlene and Earl last Friday.  Earl is not doing well at all and the Hospice nurse told the family last night that he could go any time.  He is under heavy sedation and has frequent WWII battles Darlene told us.  Last week-end he was alert, eating well, and happy to see us.  To involve him (not knowing what to expect) I took Jim's dress blue jacket along with all his metals and ribbons to get Earl to show us how they should be placed.  Being the true Marine that he has always been, when I took the cover off Jim's blouse Earl got to his feet and gave a tearful salute.  It's a moment we shall always remember.  The chaplain for the Marine group came over, which was nice, and he and Earl showed just where each metal goes. Rob and I left Sunday evening for home, but before we said our goodbyes Earl said he wanted to have a prayer, and he offered the sweetest prayer asking God to protect Rob and me on our trip home.  I called him Monday night when I got home to tell him God heard his prayer as we had had no trouble getting home.  His response was,"good, and he also forgives".  Love you, Brother. Bob

Earl's orders

Hide Details

From

• Bob Storey
 

To

• Rayburn Blair
• 
  
• Dear Rayburn

Wanted to let you know that Earl got his orders at 9:05 PM tonight, and left at once to be with the Lord. A Marine and a patriot and most important by his own witness a born again Christian, faces no more pain and who will one day answer roll call in a new body around the throne of God. Bob

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No wounds, pain or suffering I have every experienced is anywhere near equal, in my heart,  to the eternal magnitude of Earl's profession of faith and Bob's sharing it with me. What an enormous blessing. RB
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Recapturing the spirit of 1945

Show caption

Event seeks to stoke sense of American unity at WWII’s end

REBEKAH ALLEN

Advocate staff writer

Aug. 17, 2011

COMMENTS

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Earl Flatt remembers that 66 years ago the assault on the small island of Iwo Jima was expected to last less than a week.

“We thought it would last four to five days,” Flatt said Tuesday.

The 36-day battle resulted in more than 23,000 U.S. casualties, including 6,503 killed, and is known as one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.

Having survived that battle, Flatt told an audience in the House Chambers of Louisiana’s Old State Capitol that he considers himself one of the luckiest people in the world.

“Folks, it wasn’t easy,” said Flatt, who served with the 26th Regiment, 5th Division. “We learned nothing is easy in war.”

Flatt said more than 60,000 Marines invaded the tiny volcanic island of about 8 square miles — “smaller than some of the subdivisions in Baton Rouge” — on Feb. 19, 1945.

Though outnumbered, the 22,000 Japanese soldiers, in deep bunkers in a complex network of underground tunnels, put up a fight that resulted in more Marine casualties than enemy soldiers occupying the island.

All but 262 of those Japanese soldiers either died in battle or by their own hands.

Flatt proudly recalled his experience at the second annual “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive” event, honoring the 66th anniversary of Japan’s surrender on Aug. 14, 1945, bringing an end to World War II.