When the Roll Is Called

JAKE DESHAZER was laid to rest in March 2008. The World War II Doolittle Raider and Christian evangelist received full military honors. Hundreds of people honored the man who had suffered three years as a prisoner of war in Japan and then returned after the war to start twenty-three churches and bring many thousands of Japanese citizens to Jesus Christ. One of his children said, “He wouldn’t want this service to be about his accomplishments. He’d want Jesus to get all of the credit.”

During the funeral, there was a rifle salute, and a lone bugler blew taps. A B-1 bomber flew over from the modern equivalent of Jake’s old squadron, the 34th. The casket flag was folded and presented to his wife. The sergeant in charge of the honor guard said, “Jake’s a hero. This is why we do military honors, to honor people like Jake. He’s history.” The service itself was simple. The pastor said a few words and prayed. Then everyone sang a hymn that was Jake’s favorite, and one dear to the heart of many airmen, “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder”:

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,

And the morning breaks, eternal, bright, and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,

And the glory of His resurrection share;

When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,

Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;

Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.