This Veteran’s Day I share the story of a Navy veteran I came to know along with his family when I worked for a company he founded. He passed away earlier this year and his heroic life is worth knowing about.
Captain Eugene “Red” McDaniel grew up in Kinston, NC, a town not too far from where we currently live, the son of a poor tobacco farmer. He made his way to college, excelling in athletics, meeting his future wife, and graduating to join the Navy, where he became a top gun pilot.
The Viet Nam War came and he flew combat missions until he was shot down. For three years, his fate was unknown until the North Vietnamese confirmed he was their prisoner of war. He endured brutal and relentless torture for six years until his release on March 4, 1973. On his return, Red was awarded the Navy Cross and many other distinguished military awards. He continued in the Navy and then started American Defense Institute, a foundation supporting military awareness, and a business providing at-home elder care, where I met his family.
Capt. McDaniel was a soft spoken, humble man. You would not guess the hardship he endured nor the success he achieved in spending time with him. He credited his faith with giving him courage over fear in his long torturous years of captivity, and the Lord for blessing him with his family, Naval career, and other successes. Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao issued this statement at his passing: “We can learn a great deal from these heroes. They endured unimaginable torture for years. When they returned, they continued to serve with grit both in the military and industry. We call it “post traumatic growth”: a positive psychological change after a major traumatic event. See you in Heaven, my brother in Christ.”
Interesting, “post traumatic growth.” I dare not diminish PTSD; nor the horrid effects of being shot down, enemy capture, and torture; nor any trauma one might experience and need to recover from. But there is victory through faith in Jesus our Savior, who also knew much suffering, and through God’s abundant grace, a grace that was so evident in Red McDaniel the moment you met him and his family. In Isaiah 43 v 19 God says He does a new thing; He creates streams in your* desert experience and a pathway through your wilderness season.
*Italics are my personalization and application
I dedicate this post to all who serve 
or served in our Nation’s military, especially our son-in-law, also a Naval aviator and man of faith.
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