Tell us about Love in the Military

I met my husband flying from Los Angeles to Hawaii on vacation. He had visited his family in Birmingham Alabam, and was on his way back to the Main Island, as he called Oahu.

We got married while he was on active duty, at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii. My family came and we had a wonderful reception at the Polynesian Palace where Don Ho sang. From our balcony we had a lovely view of Diamond Head.

Tell us about Faith in the Military

When we met, I saw no way our marriage would work. After all, he was from Alabama, and I was from Michigan. It took a believing faith to think a marriage like ours would succeed. John 15:7 was my sustaining verse, “…if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you w ill be My disciples.” (NKJV)

After a year or so of letter writing and he spending his leaves with my family and I with his, some fifteen months later, we decided to get married on June, 1972. A thte time he had one year left in the service. I tel l about this faith-experience in depth in my published short story, and I shall explain more in depth in part 4 of these interviews. Through trials, tears, and our fifty years, God has been our Faithful Companion.

How do you think the military life affected your marriage?

It made us both aware of family more. And we cherished the time we spent together. We also became more conscience about current events and voting for Christian beliefs are a valuable commodity to American freedoms.

Thank you, Catherine! Stay tuned for part 3 of Catherine’s interview!