AS DEEP AS THE HEART

[Music] [Music] this is the story of a soldier and his town his adopted Town that's putting it broadly actually it goes deeper than that as deep as well the human heart yes the human heart as deep as that take a look around this town houses with Lawns and flowers and family life almost like some of the towns you see in Indiana or Illinois or Oklahoma naturally an Army Post is different but it has a lot of the character of the town for instance the streets names you can find in any other town and there's the church or rather the chapel built to accommodate religious Services of any denomination the hospital they say 325 babies were delivered here last year all the ingredients of a town Hospital accidents pneumonia appendicitis the good with the bad and the post headquarters it's a sort of of City Hall rules and laws and regulations come from here what town doesn't have a shopping center no fancy draped windows but folks can buy most anything stepping out the movies in this town opens at 6 singles doubles Family Trade the athletic field they're talking about Joe Devin's batting these days May Major League Joe borrowed for a spell by Major League Uncle Sam the town school if you ought a hankering to learn and get places school for the less [Music] Advanced protect us by thy might great God our King every American youngster has sung those words many have sung them without knowing what they meant you know sometimes it takes a person a long while to get acquainted with his town to feel it to understand it sometimes he doesn't care if he ever knows it Corporal Bud Benson was like that he didn't care to know this or any other town why where are you going where are you going [Music] Peter I don't know about that you know my grandfather used to tell me that Faith was the most important thing in life faith in God faith a man has in himself faith in his work well that's all life is Faith that's okay but but it's what you do and how good you do it that really counts that's where you're wrong I put Faith first now look chick if a Tomas phone to see me well he'll be here in a few minutes as I was saying you know as well as I do that a lot of fellas go around saying I got faith but saying isn't doing and it's doing that counts that's where you're wrong faith comes first puts you in direct contact with God and then you just naturally do what's right now see here chick the Bible says and I'm quoting the Bible I show thee my faith by my works you mean to tell me that's in the Bible sure I don't remember where exactly but it's in the Bible all right St James chapter 2 that's right chapter 2 but that isn't all St James said in addition he said for as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also you must be Corporal Benson yes sir acquainted with St James aren't you just a good memory I picked it up when I was a kid come into my office you taught Sunday school for a while too how did you know that your pastor Mr Williamson Pastor Williamson yes he wrote me a letter sit down goo I've seen you over at headquarters they tell me you're pretty handy with a typewriter oh I don't know about that sir I I can type all right I guess I'm a hunting Peck artist myself not too bad though now corporal this is the letter from your pastor he's been trying to locate you for a long time that is your mother has through him sorry sir but if that's why you sent for me I'd rather go back to the office you don't want to talk about it do you no sir I don't nothing about my home interest me anymore sir even so parents have a way of wanting to know where their sons are what they're doing what I'm doing that's great may I go now sir all right Corporal take this with you one of these days you may want to read some of the nice things your pastor has written about you thanks for coming over goodbye sir [Music] where you [Music] going where you [Music] going where was he going what difference did it make once he knew where he was going but that was a long time ago when things meant something when he had something he could believe in [Music] corpal Benson yes sir corpal have a special job for you over at the chapel just for a few weeks chaplain Thomas assistant was taken to the hospital yesterday and the chaplain needs some help sir I well I like it here sir can't somebody else go well the chaplain says he wants a good typist so I guess you're it report to the chapel tomorrow morning 8:00 yes sir easy but easy what difference does it make a typewriter here or a typewriter in the chaplain's office a typewriter is a typewriter is a typewriter why can't people leave you alone look here bud you've got to understand so uh that's why I'm in the Army see to do research I'm going to write a book my two years in the Army by Jerry Abrams and I'll sell it to pictures make a lot of dough and then I'll join the Navy that's for my second book my two years in the Navy okay okay I'll tell him Bud Benson's first day as a Chap's assistant answer the phone help around the chapel type let was his job and he didn't like it he didn't like it because he was convinced the chaplain would soon be prying into his personal life or maybe trying to sell him [Music] religion is The Chopping around no listen I've got to see him well I can't help that he's not in he's over at the hospital visiting someone won't be back for an hour maybe two but I tell you I just got to see him right away do you understand it's important my father's had a bad accident I've just got to see the chaplain hospital this is corporal Benson over at the chapel I'd like to get in touch with chaplain Thomas right away thanks chaplain thanks a lot I don't know what I would have done that's all right fellow come and see me when you get back yes sir thanks through the Red Cross the chaplain had found a way to help the soldier it was the first time bud had seen a chaplain in action here's that list I was looking for make three copies will you yes sir say I uh I have a dedication over at Memorial Drive this afternoon I'd like you to come along what about the mail pick it up on your way back we're honoring another soldier who was killed in action in World War II [Music] almighty God May these trees which are planted here be living memorials to those who died for their country and as men pass along this Memorial Drive may it be a constant reminder of what they died for freedom and liberty and the right to worship Thee the Living God according to the dictates of our hearts help us oh God that we as individuals and as a nation may be worthy of these blessings amen White ginition Ready Aim Squad fire Ready Aim H Ready Aim H did you know him chaplain I mean Doyle no but I knew many like him and prayed with them you know we learn a lot of things when we're young and prayer is usually one of them sometimes we seem to forget them or we don't understand the meaning of them until well during the war the saying was that God was in every Foxhole and it was true I know I was there he was on Battle wagons and Flatt tops and with the pilots and bombardiers over their targets he was on the lips of men in the last minutes before Invasion Father in Heaven be thy name th kingom thy will [Music] be yeah yes we all prayed chaplain where was God when T5 Doyle was killed in France God was right there with him dying isn't the end you know remember these words Bud my country is of the sweet land of liberty get that bud sweet land of liberty and the words at the end of the song protect us by thy might great God our King thy might that means means you bud men like you are God's might men like Doyle were God's might but this might continue to be sweet land of liberty well that still leaves Doyle where he is sure but look where we [Music] are part of the assistance job was getting the chapel ready for services chaplain Ryan's assistant prepared The Altar for Mass here was a soldier serious about his job and serious about what he believed in that is his religion Faith actually meant a lot to him but Faith didn't seem to touch bud this Brotherhood of Man fatherhood of God well the Lone Wolf can't see that but there was something Bud could see the number of soldiers who attended Services he'd been under the impression that most soldiers left religion behind when they came into the army left it behind with the old jalopy the corner drugstore home and family kid stuff the stuff you call having Roots actually nothing spiritual or moral had changed for them it was like moving from one town and settling in another the church or the chapel building might be different but the religion of one's birth or choice that was always the [Music] same at amen as soon as chaplain Ryan got through with mass bud got the chapel ready for the Protestant service at First with a little assistance from chaplain Thomas like Catholic like Protestant here too nothing had really changed those who believed still believed in fact they not only believed but learned to work together [Music] let us all unite together in prayer oh god of the Nations hear our prayer in behalf of those peoples who are at War help us all to realize that the greatest power in the world is love and not hate increase our faith in the right as thou givest us the power to see the right and so direct the eyes of our faith unto thee that we may didn't take part in the services of Praise what's more the chaplain hadn't asked him and there had been no prying into his personal life either this was his second week as a chaplain's assistant and the chaplain hadn't even mentioned the letter that his Pastor back home had sent his Pastor back home the Reverend Mr Williamson watching the chaplain reminded him of his pastor and home he remembered how as a child he attended church like millions of other kids and there was his brother his mother and father [Music] he grew up believing in then one day at home well it's about time butd found out I'm only a stepfather he's not my flesh and blood and he's not my responsibility not now anymore Alfred please it's John that I want in the shop John our real son yours and mine it was for him that I built that business John not Bud Alfred I I don't know how to tell bud I can't tell him my mind's made up Alice bud has just got to go out and shift for [Music] himself Bud's mind was made up too in a matter of seconds losing the job at his stepfather's shop hurt plenty but what really hurt was well you grow up believing and suddenly there's nothing to believe at least that's the way it looks at the time even your father isn't your real father anymore something dies inside of you the roots die yes that's it the roots of home and family they all die as far as you're concerned and because the roots are dead the poison of resentment begins to spread and it seems like the sun's gone out of your life so you shut yourself up in cave likee walls of bitter memory and so the days passed as a chaplain's assistant Bud felt he could stick it out okay as long as the chaplain didn't pry into his personal life and the chaplain didn't unless holding the mirror of life up to Bud could be considered cying for just by watching the chaplain at work bud got a real bird ey view of the people on this Army Post this town as the chaplain like to call it people and their problems for in a town any town there are always problems little worries big worries Little worries that look big and big worries that really are big where a heling hand was needed there he'd see one of the chaplain he watched them practice what they pre preached and he saw that the Bible wasn't just something to quote but to interpret in terms of people and a way of life one day Bud noticed the chaplain looked kind of worried like he was up against a toughy this [Music] time when you need help where do you go chaplain I go upstairs bud in fact that's where I'm going now by upstairs the chaplain meant shutting himself up in his room for meditation and prayer it gave Bud something more to think about [Music] here let me help you carpo thank you [Music] sir thank you [Music] I didn't get a bullettin here I'll get another [Music] one may I have another one please oh sure thank [Music] you thank you sir quite all right Caro glad to help out church or Chapel it's a place where people are bound to meet and form lasting friendships this is what happened to Bud and Mary Grant Mary lived and worked on the post GL [Music] and [Music] shall what had happened that is Bud's meeting Mary Grant could have happened anywhere in some church in Illinois or Oklahoma people get together and well they meet suddenly Mary had become the most important thing in Bud's life this is the way it was in real towns all over the country lasting friendships human heartfelt that's the way it [Music] goes bivwak and [Music] Maneuvers Gods might in action so that this can continue continue to be sweet land of [Music] liberty Bud drove the chaplain and the chaplain tried hard to drive religion home to the [Music] men No Ceilings this is the way I like it this is civilized living suppose it rains I like rain I like ceilings yeah me too ah you're both uncivilized maybe if the right star comes along I'll hitch my wagon to it give me a nice shiny red convertible I'll fix it up with my congressman right away it breaks my heart to see what a tough time some of you guys are having in the Army frankly if you asked me you've got a better roses here the lilacs are my favorite Sergeant very funny look s and every generation thinks it's got it the toughest that's a fact human nature sure you don't hurt nobody by bragging and if you want to know I've got troubles that even Wall Street can't help me with all I know is my feet AE Mighty loud if you're talking about a job in a bank I don't know nothing about that but about the Army I know plenty hi chapl Edy man well how's it going okay here's the chaplain he'll tell you what I'm saying is right what is it you're saying Sergeant how things are in the Army this is the wallor aoria compared with what what we used to have right chaplain well that depends on where you're standing if you're on the outside looking in then you've got it tough but if you're on the inside looking out then you'll find that you're not so bad off hey how about that you know you've got something there chaplain I sit here and look at you guys oh brother am I lucky I'm such a handsome brute my kid brother's got AO he can't even walk and here I am kicking about my feet aching from walking I guess that's what you mean about being on the inside looking out huh chaplain you get the idea well I'll be on my way inside looking out that makes sense my wife left me for another guy hey that's rough what do you mean rough I feel sorry for the guy she's going to marry I want to see the gal I've got now take a look at this say that isn't your kid is it no of course not we're not marry good no it's her boy her husband died overseas you ought to see that kid looks just like her sure but but being the father of a kid that isn't yours well so what but he's hers well he's mine too I mean he will be mine calls me daddy already yeah really get one of your own then you won't treat this one the same you'll be an outsider he'll toss him out on his ear you wait a minute don't go telling me what I'll do I'm thinking of the boy not you well that's Mighty considerate of you I hope when I kick him out you give him a nice home yeah well I know what it's like to be tossed out see I was the other kid the stepson and who do you think suffered The Stepfather the mother not by a long shot I'm the one that suffered well okay so you suffered but don't go around using your experience as a yard stick for everybody I was a stepchild too you that's right I me my stepfather was a great guy he didn't treat me like an intruder we were Pals what the other kids got I got so why should I treat my stepson different I I guess I was a little off the beam about you now you're off the beam period got all the answers haven't you I'm doing all right like the chaplain said inside looking out try it sometime Mister you sound like you need [Music] it suddenly Bud's Book of Rules the rules rul he lived by had got sort of mixed up the way man-made rules sometimes [Music] do now when you come to the last stanza I want you to increase in voice until you reach a full Crescendo at the end you get that sure Mary he's here oh wonderful I'll be right with you excuse me please don't be gone too long Mary we still have the anthem to do okay say who's giving the orders here tonight me or him and here's one from a mother's club in Springfield also asking for about the same type of lecture the soldier and his religion in today's Army they're pretty anxious to know I don't blame them they have a right to know my feeling exactly I've outlined something for them emphasis and our need as a nation to be strong also the moral and spiritual welfare of the soldier being the concern of every officer sounds fine to me will oh hello Mary Bud something I can do for you we can come back later chaplain no no come on in looks like your problem can't wait I'll do the first lecture if you do the second it's a deal I'll clear both of them with the pi good now then uh well chaplain well Mary and I had kind of Well we'd like to talk to you sir about well the way I've seen other couples do when they well when they uh what bud wants to say chaplain is we're thinking about getting married yeah I see so you want a little premarital counseling yes sir the big moment in Bud's life had come suddenly you're ready just like that or maybe it isn't just like that sometimes you only think you're ready now about your parents Mary do they know of your plans oh yes and yours Bud I'd rather leave them out of this chaplain I wish you'd talk this over with the chaplain bud there's nothing to talk over bud this is a big event in parents' lives it's my life that's important not not theirs Our Lives Bud well sure Mary that's what I meant look I don't want either my mother or my stepfather to have anything to do with this wedding I'm starting on a clean slate are you well sure sure all right Bud start a clean slate but let it be really clean do you feel there's any room on on a really clean slate for resentment against one who loves you remember the Lord's Prayer Bud forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us so AR aren't my feelings to be considered don't I count I tell you this isn't their show I never want to see my parents again never whether you see them again or not bud they'll always be with you with us and they'll always have you tied up in angry little knots but they haven't got me tied up in any knots think it over son I have thought it over chaplain and that's the way it's going to be come in oh I'm sorry that's all right Sergeant what is it Mary we're ready for you now all right I'm coming no bud wasn't ready for that big moment not quite and in the days that followed he still wasn't ready a difficult struggle was going on inside of him a struggle for adjustment to the most challenging of all the Commandments the laws of Human Relationships I don't want you to think that well because I feel the way I do about my parent par that I well chaplain I I just can't help the way I feel I understand so does Mary but as Mary put it we don't want you to be tied up in angry little knots think that over bud there's nothing to think over chaplain what I said was Final only God can say final and really mean it how do you like that atalis my mom sent it what do you use it for it's a prayer sh you wear it in the synagogue like this there you are mom's subtle way of saying Jerry just because you're a soldier doesn't mean you shouldn't Worship the Lord God bless her as subtle as a ton of bricks you know I haven't really forgotten La Soo not bad huh I recited that at 13 when I was confirmed I was considered a man then oh brother what a man I couldn't even look a gal in the eye without blood what's this on the prayer book that's the tablets of law the Torah it has the Ten Commandments you know Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steal honor thy father and mother it's all there how about honor thy children is that there here we go again say Bud give what the news huh when's it coming I'm going to be his best man hey what do you mean forget it you and Mary are getting hitched aren't you ah keep quiet Jerry carpal Benson are yeah right here telegram for you over the telegraph office telegram for me yeah you can take it in the a room if you want to yeah thanks probably from the White House asking him for advice on National Defense everything all right Bud everything is not all right what gives fella she's sick Mary my mother that telegram was from my stepfather gee kid that's tough she she wants to see me that's only natural I remember once when yeah well I'm not going let her turn to my stepfather she doesn't need me didn't you say your stepfather sent that wire yeah well that must mean she's very sick otherwise she would have sent the wire instead of your stepfather I hate to say it but it looks urgent okay okay so it's urgent after what happened you expect me to crawl back the way I look at it she's doing the crawling she's too sick to crawl so now you've turned against me but I'm just making a statement your mother's very sick everyone's got something to say around here but me Mary says I'm tied up and angry little nuts and the chaplain says only God can can say final well well ah it would have been better if I'd never seen the chapel no what do you mean by that you'd be better off if there wasn't a God I didn't say that I oh excuse me my mistake look bud what did you expect your mother to do leave your stepfather break up a home it's not so easy to break up a home and who would have given her something better you on what she was torn apart can't you see torn apart and you help do it I I help you'd better get yourself a pass well I'm not going I was torn apart too I was torn apart h Bud chaplain I I never realized how important an emergency pass could be thanks thanks a lot glad I could help oh chaplain oh would you tell Mary that I'm going home well certainly thank you sir [Music] if you're on the outside looking in then you've got it tough but if you're on the inside looking out you'll find you're not so bad off thy might that means you bud men like you are God's [Music] might for as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead [Music] also and he saw at last what faith meant how Faith made towns and cities how Faith was pride in America and its Traditions how Faith made people live together in love and friendship how Faith was a way of life a way of life on Earth as it is in heaven Glory hallelu glor Glory [Music] hallelu his is might oh