To Volunteer

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Bill Towey was a medic with the 11th Casualty Clearing Station, whose unit treated casualties throughout the campaign in Belgium and during the long retreat toward Dunkirk. Early on May 31, his commander announced that the time had come to pull back to the beaches. However, five volunteers were needed to stay behind with the wounded. The command was given, “Volunteers, one step forward, march!” More than half the unit responded. The process was repeated until, on the third try, Bill Towey found himself standing with four other men. They remained to care for the wounded until the end. Their thoughts are not recorded as they watched their comrades depart for the beaches and safety.

Every modern recruit hears the age-old barracks advice, “Don’t volunteer for anything!” I have heard great Marines and selfless leaders repeat this advice. In military service, you face inevitable risks. Why expose yourself to ones you can avoid? Everyone understands this logic and even pays lip service to it. However, in times of need, I have seen many unlikely men step forward in response to the call. God has given each of us gifts, and He expects us to put them to good use. However, He seldom commands. He waits patiently for us to volunteer. We each have to carefully discern our own call to action and take our own “step forward.”