By Stephen Lee
In 1976, I was 18 years old, serving as a Paratrooper in the 1/509 Airborne SETAF. I was stationed in Vicenza, Italy with NATO. While on a training exercise, I drove a "mule" onto the bed of a semi-trailer for transportation several miles or kilometers away. A "mule" is a half ton, 4x4 U.S. Military utility platform truck (M274). The task took some skill and attention. However, due to improper loading, the "mule" was back heavy. While going up the ramp, gravity took over and the "mule" did a 180 degree back flip! I remember seeing my Lieutenant, who was in front me and was motioning and directing my vehicle to come forward, turn away his head in horror, covering his eyes not wanting to see the moment of impact. Suddenly, blue sky and clouds appeared in my vision, as I began to flip slowly backwards. I knew I was going over. In a matter of seconds, though it seemed much longer, and as if I was watching a slow motion film, everything went blank. It seemed as if a part of the movie clip I was watching was missing. That's the best way I can describe it. Miraculously, however, I landed on all fours like a cat. I had been thrown from the "mule," and was facing the opposite direction. The way I was thrown and had landed was a physical impossibility. I had done a miraculous mid-air manuver without having time to think. But the consequences of just what had happened were frighting. On impact. the contents of the vehicle were crushed. The steering column was jammed into the seat where I had just been sitting. The "mule" now looked like an upside down turtle, with wheels spinning and gasoline pouring out of the tank. Had I not been thrown from the vehicle, my chest would have taken the full force of the steering wheel as it was pressed into the seat. My back would probably have been broken from the force of the impact. A fully loaded "mule" weighs 1870 Ibs or 850 kilos. A "mule" has no overhead protection, no roof or row bar. The soldiers standing by never saw the accident as it happened so quickly and they were busily engaged in conversation. It seemed as if everyone started cursing and swearing at me for being so stupid. However, they quickly rallied together and were able to flip the vehicle back over. And yet, no one asked me if I was okay. But I survived because someone or something had saved me. I believe it was my Guardian Angel that pulled me out just in the nick of time. Even after 40 years, I can still clearly recall the tiny details of the events of that day. At that time, I had just committed my life to Christ. I knew I had been spared for a purpose. Upon leaving the military, I got involved in volunteer Christian work and have worked in missions in 19 different countries. Through God's help, I am still going strong and am thankful for His divine and angelic intervention.
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