I attended services at New River Baptist Church in Jacksonville, NC, from September 1996 to December 1999 while I was stationed there on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. How this came about is a neat story that was all orchestrated by God.

In September, 1996, I transferred from my MOS School in Quantico, VA to my new post, Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, NC. I arrived over the weekend and was given temporary quarters with another young Marine named Lee Freeman. We would both report for duty on Monday morning and then be assigned permanent quarters with Marines from our respective units. He was going to the Military Police Department and I was heading to the Communication Platoon of Marine Wing Support Squadron 272. Actually, I remember there being some confusion regarding where I was supposed to report. My orders only showed the Air Station, not the specific unit. It was quite a mess and I didn’t get an official word until late Monday morning. I remember having to run in my Class A Service Uniform to get to where I needed to be and was quite late getting there. Not a good way for a young Private First Class to report to his first duty station, but I digress...

Lee and I quickly became friends that weekend and remained friends for the next few years despite our professional paths rarely crossing. A few weeks after checking in, and having gone our separate ways, Lee was driving around town and noticed some church members putting the steeple back on their Sanctuary. The damage was from a hurricane earlier that summer. In true Marine Corps fashion, he stopped and lent a hand. Naturally he was invited to attend the service that Sunday and not wanting to go alone, he tracked me down and asked me to tag along. I happily accepted because the service at the Base Chapel left a lot to be desired.

We were a little out of our element at New River Baptist Church. We were the only guys our age and there wasn’t a single female under the age of 50! But, we stuck it out. The lack of females was an epidemic from which the entire town suffered. With 70,000 Marines in the area, we outnumbered the civilian females 200-to-1. All of them were either married, daughters of Marines (not advisable), too old, too young, or were living an incompatible life-style. In fact, the one date I went on while in the Corps was with a friend from Houston that I flew out for the Marine Birthday Ball (THE social event of the year for all Marines). But, I’ve digressed again…

After a few weeks at NRBC, Lee and I were asked to sing in the choir as they prepared for a big Christmas Pageant. I don’t remember now exactly how that came about, but being a musician it was a no-brainer for me. I don’t think Lee was, but he agreed anyway. I’m glad he did because I wasn’t able to retrieve my truck from Houston until after Christmas and was completely dependent on him for a ride.

Now, at that time, I’d played the Trombone for 10 years and was a competent brass musician. But, I’d never sung with a choir. So, when the director asked me to do a solo I flat-out refused. It took her several weeks to wear me down to begrudgingly accepting the part. You can judge for yourself whether I should sing or keep playing my horn.

The pageant went quite well and I was happy to be a part of it. Being around other Christians was encouraging and, frankly, there was nothing else to do.

My most fond memory of that first pageant was a performance we did in the local mall. The director wanted us there in our choir robes (you can see them in the video). They aren’t exactly the normal attire young Marines wear. Since there is strength in numbers, Lee and I walked out of the barracks together in our robes. I don’t remember anyone making a comment, but I’m sure it happened. We looked pretty silly. When we got to the mall, we didn’t know where to meet. So, as we wandered around looking for the choir, it occurred to me that in those robes and with are shaved heads, we probably looked like Hare Krishnas!! Fortunately we didn’t run in to anyone we knew. When we finally found the choir we felt even more foolish. They all wore regular clothes and simply put the robe on over. I clearly remember the look on Lee’s face and it wasn’t good. Oh well… live and learn…

The rest of my time at NRBC was fun and rewarding. I even spent some time helping the Youth Minister. Much chaos and hilarity ensued that summer! Lee stopped coming after a while, preferring to find a group more his age. But, we stayed in touch and even got deployed together in 1999 to El Salvador. I continued with the music program at NRBC, sometimes singing, but usually playing my horn to accompany the piano and organ. I very much enjoyed the fellowship while there. I was far from home and NRBC gave me several sets of surrogate grandparents.

My final Sunday was early in December, 1999, just before I moved back to Houston. Pastor Fowler asked me what I’d like to play that day and I chose “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” one of my favorite hymns. I played along on my Kanstul Baritone Bugle with the piano and choir. I wish I had a recording; it went very well and was a great way to end a neat chapter of my life.

New River Baptist Church

Christmas 1996

My solo/duet is around the 12:00 minute mark. Listen at your own peril.

I'm playing the part of Joseph... and I'm NOT a Tenor. I'm a Baritone.