What follows is a small excerpt from Edward F. Lundwall's forthcoming book on his experiences as a combat Chaplain in Vietnam.
Chaplain (Ret) Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.
Chapel #13
Although I don’t believe that numbers in life have much more than curious significance, they do have that. While in the United States Army as a Chaplain, I was assigned to Chapel #13. As a humorous observation of popular cultural anecdotal thinking, the number 13 is usually considered the number of bad luck. Some buildings don't even have a floor numbered thirteen. When strangers and compatriots frequently mentioned this, I would quip, “Well, in a chapel with a number like that we will just have to rely on the grace of God!”
However, the general belief prevailed that there was a definite reason for numbering that chapel thirteen. It was located in that part of the Personnel Center where draftees got off public transportation to be inducted into the Army. Furthermore, it was war time…Vietnam… and coming into the United States Army could mean a death sentence in jungle combat.
Praise the Lord! General belief does not hold, but the grace of God is undeniable and always reliable. My ministry there was blessed with 313 professions of faith and commitments to Christ as Savior!
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