Two significant events occurred in my life while at Leyte. Apolinario Colasito, "Poly," a Filipino guerilla lieutenant and electrical engineer, came out of the mountains and joined our platoon. Through him, I met his family who were also well educated; however, not a single member of his family--including a former mayor who was principal of a high school, and a vice mayor--had ever read or owned a Bible. In fact, not one Filipino I met had ever read the Word of God. My eyes were opened to the spiritual need, and my heart was burdened.
Secondly, I looked up Ralph Legant, my good Christian friend from Bradley Tech who was in the 96th Division but in another regiment (382nd Regiment). I wanted to see if he had survived the battles on Leyte. With the help of a temporary pass, I searched through a driving rainstorm and muddy mess caused by a typhoon until I located Ralph's regiment, and then Ralph himself. What a relief it was to both of us to find each other and eagerly renew our Christian fellowship. We recounted God's goodness, rejoiced, worshiped, and committed one another to God's keeping. I returned to my outfit, and soon afterwards we shipped out.
CAH
