Edward Roy Hindman

West Point, 1949

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Susan Lee Hindman on February 29, 2012:

Dad gave me a beautiful and thoughtful gift of an inspiring 45 RPM record in about 1981 of the Christmas song called Sweet Little Jesus Boy that was sung by Mr. Merrill Womach the Christian lyric tenor who had years earlier survived a horrific fiery airplane crash receiving extremely severe and disfiguring burn scars over his entire face and body. This song (copyright 1934) has almost apologetic lyrics and was composed by Mr. Robert MacGimsey who was born of white parents in Pineville, Louisiana (1898-1979) in the style of a quasi-spiritual after walking home from a Christmas Eve Church service past raucous speakeasies in New York City in 1932. Mr. MacGimsey's childhood years were mostly spent in the company of former slaves who had worked for and with his father and who had lived with the family where Robert learned their unique and expressive musical style. SWEET LITTLE JESUS BOY Sweet little Jesus Boy, They made You be born in a manger. Sweet little Holy Child, Didn't know who You was. Didn't know You'd come to save us, Lord; To take our sins away. Our eyes was blind, we couldn't see, We didn't know who You was. Long time ago, You was born, Born in a manger low, Sweet little Jesus Boy. The world treat You mean, Lord, Treat me mean too, But that's how things is down here, We don't know who You is. You done told us how, we is a tryin'! Master, You done showed us how, even when You was dyin'. Just seem like we can't do right, Look how we treated You. But please, sir, forgive us, Lord, We didn't know 'twas You. Sweet little Jesus Boy, born long time ago. Sweet little Holy Child, And we didn't know who You was. Dad told me his true story toward the end of his earthly life of how a young black soldier named Sergeant Cornelius Charlton had served in his Engineering unit in the Korean War in 1951. Dad was the Commander of this unit and said that "we got into an argument" and that he then transferred SGT Charlton to an Infantry unit that was fighting the enemy, and that the Sergeant was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Dad said that he traveled up to the Bronx years later to visit SGT Charlton's mother, who was Clara, and apologized to her for what he had done. Dad said that Mrs. Charlton told him that "I am a Christian. I forgive you." Dad had felt very badly since SGT Charlton died from serious wounds he received on the same day of the battle where he valiantly fought on the front lines. This particular event was strongly retained on Dad's collective memory for many years and it served as one of many testimonies to finally bring him eternally home to the wonderful matchless saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who became his own personal Lord and Savior when Dad prayed the sinners prayer with me. This old man came rolling home to our precious Jesus Christ!!! Dad also informed me that SGT Charlton's name is memorialized on the walls of the Pentagon in the Korean War section of the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. I went to see SGT Charlton's name plate there since I work in the Pentagon and have attended several events that were held in this very special room. The New Testament Book of the Hebrews 11:32-34 says in the old King James Version, "And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." Romans 8:32-39 says, "He (God) that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Amen and Amen!!! With much love in our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Susan Lee Hindman Christian daughter and Administrative Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Office of the Secretary of Defense The Pentagon (703) 697-7448 direct telephone line

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