Weekly Devotions - Sowing Seeds of Faith

Article about Sowing Seeds of Faith and Internet Ministry

Would you like to become a Sowing Seeds Ministry partner? Click here for more information.

“Missing in Action: Another Time... Another Place"

Recently, I received an email from Jan Reger, a church member: “Larry! Your email prayer ministry mentioned someone from this area listed as Missing in Action in Iraq. Having a brother who is still MIA from Viet Nam, I can relate to what that family is going through. Can I offer them moral support?”

“What a generous idea? I did not know you lost your brother that way. What happened?” I replied.

“On May 13, 1970, my brother, Captain Alan R. Trent, USAF, was shot down over Cambodia. He was the lead pilot in a Phantom jet hit while going in to blow up a bridge. The plane went down and exploded on impact. A scout plane did not see any parachutes but reported the two crewmen may have ejected without the chutes opening since they were close to the ground. They went down in enemy territory so US forces weren't able to get to the crash site for four days. By then, the enemy had cleared away any evidence the pilots were in the plane. There were no human remains so we were hopeful they either got away or captured. But after the war in 1973 when POW's returned and he was not among them, nor was he on any lists returned POW's provided, his status was changed to Killed in Action. But they never determined what happened to him. “

“In 1996 I received a letter from the Air Force saying Red Cross investigation teams entered Cambodia and found the crash site. They had to dig down three levels of forest but located several parts of the plane, a BIC pen, and a left military boot among other things. They found a portion of one ejection seat, so they felt at least one pilot went down with the plane. Then in 2000, the Air Force investigated another crash site nearby and discovered more pieces of Alan's plane. They determined his plane hit a knoll, bounced off and exploded in another area. There were pieces spread all over but still no indication as to what happened to either pilot. The Air Force sent a notebook (I have never shown this to my mom) which contains pictures of pieces of zippers, flight uniforms, straps, rubber life rafts, pieces of the plane, etc., found at the crash sites but found no evidence of bones or burial sites.”

"Live the Light!

Five Weeks to a Life that Shines!"

Click Here

“So that's where we stand... we know nothing more about him today than on May 13, 1970. My dad died in 1982 accepting Alan’s death but to this day, mom feels the reason she lived so long is to be here when Alan comes home. I know in her heart, she knows he's not alive but without any material proof of his death, it is so hard to accept even now. I cannot imagine such grief and I admire her for being able to get on with her life. Alan’s name is on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. My mother saw it once but will not go back. I don’t really blame her.”

“I became involved with the Families of American POWs/MIAs and served for several years. I attended conventions with other families, most of whom still don't know what's happened to their loved ones. There are still over 1900 men unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. As I watch the war in Iraq, I feel that we could be starting all over again. On this chapter in my life, I will always look back with pain.”

“My heart hurts for the families of soldiers killed and particularly those who are MIA in Iraq. I was so grateful to hear they rescued the 19-year old woman and later the seven others known to be held prisoner. It gives other families hope. Please let them all know that each family is in my prayers.”

“Thanks for asking about Alan and letting me talk about this wonderful young man again. He was single, twenty-nine, and a graduate of the Air Force Academy. He planned to go into the ministry before joining the Air Force. His plans were to come back from Vietnam and enter seminary to hopefully become one of the first "flying chaplains" in the USAF. His faith in God was so strong.”

“I don't get to talk about my brother much anymore. It's so hard to keep his memory alive. Vietnam has always been such an awful time in our country's history and people don't want to talk about or deal with the "leftovers" of such a war. I pray the war in Iraq doesn’t end the same way.”

At this writing there are approximately 149 coalition force casualties and less than a handful are listed as missing in action. The seven known prisoners of war have been rescued. Casualties on the Iraq side are not known but believed to be in the thousands. We pray for all of them and their families.

Thanks Jan for helping us all understand the trauma families of war endure, especially the families of those “Missing in Action”. Please send Jan Reger an email of encouragement. You can reach her at: mailto:Jan.Reger@centrahealth.com

Would you like to become a Sowing Seeds Ministry partner? Click here for more information.

Do you want to join us in prayer for others? Do you need prayer? Click Here.

Last modified April 15, 2003.

Would you like to receive your own weekly devotions? Be involved in our prayer chain?