During World War II, there was a B-17 bomber that was flying to an island in the Pacific and due to navigational errors, was completely lost. Upon running out of fuel, it finally ditched in the ocean. All aboard safely transferred into life rafts and adrift for weeks. Eventually, they ran completely out of food and their only source of water was what they captured from occasional showers.

One evening, after they had a devotional and each had said their prayers in hope of being rescued, each prepared to go to sleep. One man, a veteran of World War I, and along as an advisor, pulled his hat over his face and was preparing to go to sleep, when suddenly, something landed on his hat.

He was quick thinking, and even quicker to capture a sea gull that had landed on his hat. They quickly divided this bird and consumed it raw, all except the entrails which they then used for bait to catch fish. This one event allowed them to survive for three weeks, or so until they were finally found and rescued.

Years later, after the war was over, this veteran of two wars was retired and living on the coast of Florida. Each morning, he would buy a bucket of shrimp, go down to a local dock and slowly, throw shrimp up to the assembled gulls, all the while saying, “Thank you, Thank You!’!

This World War I hero, Medal of Honor recipient, and fighter ace was Eddie Rickenbacker. One does wonder if his gesture was thanking the messenger, and not the one who had answered their prayers and sent the message? Just Sayin…RJS