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Show Of Courage; Almost Legend In Own Time Chaplain Newby has almost become a legend in his own time, said Elder Marion D. Hanks, Assistant to the Twelve, while speaking of Claude D. Newby. I have never known a braver, more conscientious man, Elder Hanks continued. Chaplain Newby, currently serving his second duty in war-tor- n Vietnam, would probably deny that he is brave. Just doing my job, he would say, but the men around him know different. Assigned to a 1st Air Cavalry Infantry unit, the chaplain doesnt tell his men that the Lord will walk with them through the shadows of death and then stay at home camp when the boys are patroling the muggy Vietnam jungles. Chaplain Newby goes patroling with them. There are no Sundays in Vietnam, explained the chaplain. We gather the men together for services when the work day is over. He related a typical LDS meeting in his area. It was Wednesday evening when I came into the camp. All the foxholes were dug and duties finished so I contacted an LDS boy and told him where wed have a meeting. He contacted the rest. We, the four of us, met in a bomb crater. Very low, almost in a whisper we sang I Stand All Amazed. One of the soldiers gave an inspiring prayer, then we opened a can of C ration crackers and broke them for bread. We used a canteen cup for the water and took the sacrament together, each of us reflecting on the blessings the Lord had given us. These small gatherings which the men call a meeting, mean a lot to the LDS fighting men, according to the chaplain. Everyone who participates feels the meetings are important. There are many spiritual men in Vietnam, the chaplain testified. The chaplain defines one who is spiritual, as a person who is more interested in the quality of his life than the quantity. Chaplain Newby, who was a Baptist until 10 yea.'s ago, can tell faith promoting stories about LDS soldiers for hours. Not all the faithful LDS soldiers live to return to their earthly home but the Lord is with them in life or death, the chaplain explained with firmness. He tells of a soldier named Snyder who had a great love for the Lord and the Church. Snyder and I had been trying to get together for days to have the sacrament and renew our covenants with the Lord. We went on a patrol together, seventeen of us. Snyder and I were the only LDS soldiers. The captain, in charge of the group, and I just passed Snyder, who jokingly told me to smile and look happy. Its not so bad, he said. A few steps further and the captain leaned over to me and whispered that he wanted to find out more about the church Snyder and I belonged to. Only a few short minutes later we were pinned to the ground by sniper fire and Snyder rushed up and provided cover. lie was killed by a snipers bullet But his example lives on. days later one of the men in the company came up to me and said, Chaplain Ive quit smoking. A few I asked why, stating that I had never asked him to quit. " I know, lie replied, but Snyder did. Chaplain Newby often hears of little incidents which show LDS soldiers are good examples. A soldier by the name of Banks told me he was going on a patrol when one of his fellow soldiers approached him and asked, Banks, if we fold our arms, mil you pray for us? Hearing these stories thrill the chaplain, since he himself was first exposed to the Church while serving as an enlisted man in the army many years ago. It wasnt until he was a correctional officer at Alcatraz Prison 10 years ago that wife Chaplain Newby and his German-bor-n joined the Church. I was reading the Bible in July 1959. I came to the conclusion that I didnt have the gift of the Holy Ghost. One night, while on duty in a quiet part of the prison, I knelt and prayed for the Holy Ghost. Two days later, two Catholic priests called at my home and my wife wouldnt let them in. In the evening two Mormon missionaries came to my door. I thought they were the priests, so I told them to leave. But before they left, according to the chaplain, these missionaries offered him a Book of Mormon for fifty cents. I decided, after buying the book and reading it, that I wanted to find a Mormon Church. Thank goodness the elders came back and taught us the Gospel. By Aug. 8 I had read the standard works and we were baptized. Elder Newby said only a few days after he bought the Book of Mormon, his mother-in-lasent his wife a copy in Germany. She wasnt interested but thought that we might be since we lived in America he said. w After the chaplain and his wife joined the Church they moved to Ogden where he worked as a police officer. -- I attended Welier College during the four years I worked there and graduated in history and a certificate to teach secondary education. After graduation, Chaplain Newby taught seminary for a half year. While teaching he heard about the need for LDS chaplains and made application. I hadnt been on a mission, but somehow I was accepted anyway. He tells of the first pay check he ceived after he was baptized. We figured out our just couldnt see how we pay our tithing. My wife because we promised the re- expenses and I could afford to said we had to Lord we would. We paid our tithing of $25 and then went to a grocery store to pay a $25 grocery bill. When I tried to pay the bill I found out someone else had paid it and didnt want me to know who it was. Several months later a fellow correctional officer died and the clerk told me he had paid my bill. I never found out why. He Claude Newby stationed near Saigon, Vietnam. wasnt a member of the Church and I hardly knew him. When asked why he spends mest of his time with the men when they are in such great danger, he replied, Thats when Im needed most. Plus, he continued, I believe if I'm out performing my mission, the Lord will protect me until he needs me or until my mission is completed. If Im in Saigon seeing the town, I dont feel I have his protection like I do when Im with the men in the field. Gift From Mexico A gift of valuable books and reference works has been presented to the Church Distribution and Translation Dept. The gift was given to John E. Carr, director of the department, by Ruben Garcia Jr., Mexican consul in Salt Lake City, and Antonio Arias, chancellor in the consulate. The books were turned over to Mi's. Lila Hurst, librarian for tire department, for indexing and placing on the shelves of the departments reference library. Antonio Arias, left, Mrs. Lila Hurst, Ruben Garcia Jr., and John E. Carr discuss gift of books from Mexico. Besides various reference works, a complete series of literature studies and essays by prominent Mexican writers and educators in the Spanish language. This is a gift of my government to your Church, Mr. Garcia told Mr. Carr. I was greatly impressed by the Church school system in Mexico and what it is doing for the Mexican people. Our great problem is to. raise the educational level of the Indian and Mexican people and the part the Mormon Church is playing in it is greatly appreciated, the consul said. Mr. Garcia recently was on vacation in his native country and while there was guest of the Church in a tour of the educational system there. This gift will be very valuable to us in our translation of printed supplies for the Spanish-speakin- g areas, Mr. Carr said. WEEK ENDING AUGUST 23, 1969 CHURCH- -5 |