When young Walter Ehlers asked his parents for permission to enlist in the US Army, his dad eagerly assented but his mom held back. With tears in her eyes, she said she'd only allow it if he promised to be a Christian soldier.

Ehlers was tempted many times to go back on his promise, but the memory of his mother's tears kept him faithful while he served during World War II.

Ehlers fought from North Africa to Germany, losing a brother on D-Day, suffering numerous wounds, and seeing some of the war's toughest combat with the 1st Infantry Division (AKA the "Big Red One").

By the end of 1944, he'd earned a battlefield commission and was awarded the Medal of Honor, showing the whole world what a true Christian soldier looked like.

In this episode, Jimmy profiles the faith and character of one of America's most revered warfighters of the 20th century - Lt. Gen. Hal Moore. Moore is best known for leading his battalion in the first major battle of the Vietnam War in the Ia Drang Valley. This battle was famously portrayed in the film We Were Soldiers, in which Mel Gibson plays the part of Moore. Hal was a devout Catholic whose faith informed his enire worldview and shaped his decision-making processes on the battlefield. Moore wrote about his experiences in the critically-acclaimed book We Were Soldiers Once...And Young (1992), which was followed by We Are Soldiers Still (2008.) Fort Benning in Georgia was recently renamed Fort Moore in his honor, so don't miss this amazing saga of faith on the battlefield!

On this episode, Jimmy gives a quick update on how life has been since the last episode and then tells the story of Army chaplain Capt. Paschal "Pat" Fowlkes, who volunteered to serve during World War II even though he was exempt from the draft due to his status as a minister.

Fowlkes served from 1942-1945 and was an inspiration to all who served alongside him. He directly influnced Roger Youderian (one of the missionaries who died with Jim Elliott in Ecuador) who credited Fowlkes with his conversion.

Music: "Mansions of the Lord," We Were Soldiers Motion Picture Soundtrack.

In this episode, Jimmy talks all about GETTYSBURG - the battle, the memory of the battle, the speech Lincoln gave there, and even the movie with the bad fake beards. He also tells some personal stories of what both the place and the event have meant to him personally.

November 19th will mark the 160th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, so we talk a bit about the speech, it's Biblical themes, and some myths that arose in the years afterward. We then listen silver screen legend Gregory Peck recite the address.

All in all, it's an episode of Biblical proportions that you'll want to share with friends, family, and even complete strangers!

Music: "Ashokan Farewell," Ken Burns' The Civil War Soundtrack

On this episode Jimmy discusses a series of prophetic dreams he had pertaining to Israel.

He also tells the story of Spencer Boyd, an American Christian and WWII veteran who volunteered to fight for the IAF during the Israeli War of Independence.

MUSIC: "Hatikvah," National Anthem of the State of Israel.

In this fourth episode of "Faith on the Battlefield," Jimmy offers some brief thoughts on the war in Israel before delving into the amazing story of Rudy Hernandez, who came from humble origins to earn the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. Rudy accomplished his amazing feat by strengthening his "inner man" and relying on his faith to get him through decades of healing that was needed for the wounds he sustained in combat.

Music: "Manisons of the Lord," We Were Soldiers Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and "The Army Song" by the US Army Band.

In this episiode, Jimmy talks more about the Battle of New Market Heights and relates a remarkable account of one survivor of the battle who described the symptoms of PTSD perfectly a full century before it came into the medical lexicon.

We then turn our attention to SP4 Thomas James Kinsman, a devout Catholic who served with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam. In February of 1968, Kinsman jumped on a live hand grenade to save the lives of seven of his fellow soldiers and somehow lived to tell the tale!

MUSIC: "Fortunate Son" and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, written by John Fogerty.

This week we look at a little-known Civil War battle that resulted in 14 African American Union soldiers receiving the Medal of Honor. These forgotten heroes overcame nearly impossible odds to take a position just a few scant miles from the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va.

For more, see: https://www.amazon.com/Battle-New-Market-Heights-Freedom/dp/160949038X.

Opening music from Glory Motion Picture Soundtrack.