Religion: Through the Valley

The 19-year-old marine, veteran of Iwo Jima, lay aboard a U.S. hospital ship, dying of a malignant growth in his throat.

Last week New York Timesman Meyer Berger told the story: “The amputation cases lay silent . . . in the red glow of the battle light in the ward. Shipboard sounds seemed remote and subdued as the chaplain bent over the fever-flushed youngster. The chaplain said: ‘Do you want to pray with me, son?’

“The sick youth gave no sign that he had heard. His eyes were closed and he breathed with difficulty. The chaplain began the Lord’s Prayer: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven. . . .’ Behind him the amputees took up the prayer . . . but the dying boy seemed not to have heard. He still fought for breath.

“[The Chaplain] paused a moment. Then he pronounced the words of the Twenty-third Psalm: ‘The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. . . .’

“The sick boy stirred. His eyes opened briefly, then, heavy-lidded, fell shut again. It seemed he tried to speak. ‘He restoreth my soul,’ the chaplain continued slowly. ‘He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. . . .’

“The fevered lips parted and sounds came from them. They did not sound like words, but the young marine had caught the thread of prayer. Thickly he followed the passage: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me. . . .’

“His breath held to the prayer’s end. Then his blond head rolled sideways on the pillow in utter exhaustion. . . .”