We all have our battles in life, but are any of them like this one? Korean War, April 17, 1953, literally in the midst of the peace talks, this hill in the shape of a favorite family dinner entree’ took on a strange significance that few understood at the time. You may wonder how I know this. I do love history, but I’m not exactly brushed up on this pivotal conflict, all the ins and outs. It was just Memorial Day Weekend and, in addition to praying in thanks for the many who’ve sacrificed their lives in military service of our country, I, like others I assume, watched a war film or two.
What intrigued me most about this film, Pork Chop Hill, 1959, directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Gregory Peck, Harry Guardino, and Rip Torn, among many others, was actually the trailer that Gregory Peck walks you through, announcing this as towering “above every other war story ever told.” Yet, there was so much confusion about it, moments of horrible mismanagement, and grave doubt as to whether it was worth it or not.
Does this sound like your life sometimes?
I think we all face periods of trial and darkness that make us wonder how God could allow this. Why am I in this fight all of a sudden? What good could possibly come from it?
For me, it’s hardest to watch my family members suffer. I can get angry and wonder why, why must it continue, what good can come from it?
In the film, you get a bitter taste of war, with soldiers crying over lost buddies, cowering in fear, or experiencing delirium, moments that set the stage for films like Platoon and Saving Private Ryan in later years. In contrast, World War II seemed so clear cut and understandable. I had watched They Were Expendable, with Robert Montgomery and John Wayne, earlier in the weekend, and this was about PT boat Naval officers in the Pacific arena trying to serve and prove their new smaller, tactical boats could impact the war for good. It was trying and tragic, yes, but it wasn’t plagued with doubt like Pork Chop Hill.
Now, when you think of Gregory Peck, you certainly don’t expect a character who waffles in his convictions. Remember his turn as Atticus in To Kill A Mockingbird? Classic and near perfect. Steadfast, brave, and true.
I was curious to see how his character, Lt. Joseph G. Clemons, would hold up through the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. Soldiers are bewildered and clearly disappointed when they are called in the beginning to take back this hill that was on-again, off-again in US possession, but currently held by the Communist Chinese Army. The movie starts with an enemy spokesperson on a loudspeaker greeting the US Soldiers at the bottom with saccharin words, trying to demoralize them, to get them to give up the fight, and it sets the tone for the emotional undercurrent of the film perfectly.
Why do you have to take this seemingly unimportant, strategically obsolete hill just under three hundred meters high, riddled with barbed wire, trenches, and hidden bunkers containing machine-gun-firing and grenade-throwing enemy soldiers?
Yet, when the final order comes through, you see Gregory snap into firm leadership mode, ready to perform his duty to the very end. Will he hold up, though, especially as the enemy thwarts relief attempts, casualties start surpassing 50%, amid blunders with lights and friendly fire from his own side, and with the sheer difficulty of taking the higher ground when it’s so heavily fortified?
What helps you carry on?
As with other war films, it becomes less about the bigger, global picture, and more about the men fighting side by side, dying side by side. I think this can be a huge help in our daily battles, too.
We can’t see the end of all things, but we can see those people right before us, needing our help, our love.
I won’t give away the ending of the film, but this is one of the messages, along with an acknowledgment that millions of people live in freedom today because of the sacrifice of those soldiers on that obscure hill back in 1953.
We never know what greater purpose our suffering may serve on this very day and on whatever hill we find ourselves. But, if we trust that God will make good out of it, we can have a certain level of peace. And, if we trust like a child, we may even accomplish that wild abandon of joy only the Saints and the kids among us know.
Case in Point. Last night…
This happened. My precious oldest daughter has been feeding and caring for a little cat that lives in the storm drain in our neighborhood, having appeared last week out of nowhere. It was determined by wiser and more feminine eyes than mine that this little kitty was carrying kitties of her own— and before we knew it, she gave birth.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5858abcd-fde6-4b12-807a-7f4285df9a1b_4032x3024.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b5b361-b0b9-4760-b7d8-19853a98bd00_4032x3024.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5a9c3777-c124-447b-8615-7db943b47781_4032x3024.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9023079-416e-4d0e-9f19-daf5d50c9caa_4032x3024.jpeg)
There were pathetic meows from the other end of the drain, and sure enough, little kitties were lying down there, the smallest I’ve ever seen. It was inspiring to see how the neighbors rallied, although one was pretty cynical about the “colony of cats” doing their thing around here— but most of them were anxious to help.
After the firefighter-led extraction, some bottle-feeding and coaxing of young mama- cat to do her nursing thing, it looked like four out of the five would survive. Not so. Only two made it through the night. Yes, my daughter was sad, but me, as her dad? I was and am extremely proud of the way her kindness and care led to a rescue operation and coalition of love on our street last night.
I had been kind of the grumpy dad, wondering what would come of this whole outdoor-cat-care endeavor, worried that it would only lead to heartache. I was definitely put in my place. God knew the outcome. All it took was a bit of love.
This is our hope through whatever battles we’re in or that may be looming on the horizon. Nothing can defeat the heart which abides in love, for God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him (1 Jn 4:16). Like those men who gave the last, full measure of their devotion to our country, to freedom, and to future generations, we can, in gratitude and mirroring courage, know that great things come when we take back the hills in our lives…
Pork Chop or otherwise.
Michael
p.s. Thanks for reading, and if you really like reading, check out my latest novel!