Letters to the editor
Says soldiers do put scriptures on weapons
Regarding a column in a nearby non-weekly, "Taking Aim at Biblical Verses on Weapons" by Leonard Pitts Jr.:
I am a combat veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division. I served in two combat operations. I was an army sniper and for years knew that soldiers put Bible verses on their weapons, dating back to the American Revolutionary War. I had the Psalm 91 prayer card taped on my sniper rifle stock:
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and 10,000 at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
It was on both my m21 and m24 sniper rifle. Many infantry soldiers had prayer cards taped to their rifle stock. One Jewish brother, a sniper also, had the Star of David on his rifle stock. You see God and faith are all you have in combat -- and the trust of your fellow brothers. Yes, brothers because in combat they are your brothers, watching your back because the enemy is trying to kill you, so you must kill them first. Muslims who have complained that is "not Christian" don't know a thing about Christ. Can you document an incident where a Christian or Jew ever hijacked an aircraft and flew those aircraft into a building to murder thousands? Or put on a bomb vest and walked into a crowd and blew themselves to pieces just to mass murder people. Remember:
Matthew 10:34 (King James Version) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Yes I am a Christian soldier and proud of my Lord Jesus. My justice will be the reward of heaven.
Rick A. Bernardi Sr.