My heritage in Christian Science since birth has been the foundation for my free choice to be an active Christian Scientist and to utilize its precepts as a guide for living my life. It was the support of my parents through their active practice of Christian Science and their steadfast examples in the home that made for my harmonious and enriching childhood.
After college, what might be termed an "ultimate challenge" came during the years of my military service in the United States Air Force. While I was on active duty in the western United States and serving as First Reader in the local branch church, orders came sending me to Vietnam. It was my wife who calmly helped me hold to what we had both learned in the Christian Science Sunday School: "Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself" (Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, p. 385). The branch church members were totally understanding of my resignation, and I have always cherished my brief association with them.
Later, after some months in Vietnam as a military engineer (which involved having to order men on battle-damage repair missions to a more hostile forward position on the demilitarized zone—DMZ), I realized that it was now my turn to go on a mission, and I made arrangements to do just that. At this point let me say that in a very real sense, The Mother Church— The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts—was in Vietnam with me. Prior to my departure for Southeast Asia, credentials were issued by The Mother Church which authorized me to act as a First Reader, conducting services as a Christian Science Representative in the Armed Services. A Marine Christian Science Representative served as Second Reader for these services. During the year that I was in the Da Nang area of Vietnam, I missed only two scheduled Christian Science Sunday services. I also was fortified by two Christian Science conferences that were sponsored by The Mother Church. A Christian Science teacher conducted the first conference, and a Christian Science practitioner the second. Both were round-table discussions for those in all branches of the service who were Christian Scientists.
