Greg Fulton: Little black book a testament to Marine's courage

In the top right hand drawer of my desk sits a small, worn, black book. At first glance it looks like a notebook or a daytimer from many years ago. On closer inspection, though, one can see that it is a pocket version of the New Testament. It may appear to many as one that a child would own, but it is a small missal that was standard issue to thousands of GIs during World War II.

It was my Cpl. Clyde Rainey’s missal and source of hope. My uncle was a 25-year-old Marine from New Castle when he carried it with him during the assault on Iwo Jima during WWII. By the time Cpl. Rainey reached Iwo Jima, he had already witnessed several hellacious events.

Such was his fate that he was on the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. The experience deepened his faith, as he survived the attack because he attended services on that Sunday morning. His bunkmate, who chose to sleep in, was not as lucky, and was killed when a bomb struck their quarters. My uncle spent the rest of that day, one that would “live in infamy,” carrying wounded Marines and sailors off the ship.

While he survived that horrendous attack, his misfortune continued: He was on the USS Helena when it was sunk in the Kula Gulf. He jumped from the ship and spent over a day in the water until he was rescued.

When Clyde arrived on Iwo Jima, he was an experienced soldier who had seen more pain and suffering than most of us will see in a lifetime. Iwo Jima, though, may have been the worst, as it was one of the bloodiest battles of WWII.

In the last letter that he sent to my mother, he noted that he was to “take point” the next day and lead the company out. He expressed fear because over the past few days all of the soldiers that had been in the lead had been seriously wounded or killed. But he was determined to do his job for his country.

It’s hard to imagine the courage it took for a man so young to do his duty on that day knowing the grave risks. Unfortunately, Cpl. Clyde Rainey died that day as he led other Marines into battle. His letter to my mother reached her a week after his death.

My uncle had this little “black book” with him when he died. I look at it frequently, especially in times of adversity. It helps me to appreciate that my challenges pale next to his and those of others who sacrificed all for our country.

Thankfully, many of us will never experience the horrors of war. That is due to those who have faithfully and courageously served in our military. Today is a day that I hope all of us will take a little time to reflect and give thanks for all of those that have given so much for our country.

Greg Fulton is a Western Pennsylvania native living in Denver, Colo.