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The War Hero

Album: 20: A Journey of Choices

Episode: 270

Lesson/Theme: Heroism

Bible Verse: Romans 12:1

Characters: Connie

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Mark Drury

Original Air Date: May 28, 1994

Last Air Date: July 3, 2009

Description:
Dale Jacobs is writing a special series of articles for the Odyssey Times about Odyssey's war heroes. Naturally, he's including Whit, but he's also found out about several other heroes that fought in World War II, including Connie's Uncle Joe Finneman. According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association, Joe Finneman received both the Purple Heart and the Medal of Bravery. He single-handedly fought off a Japanese attack and led a group of children to safety during the Battle for New Guinea. Connie is impressed. She and Dale try to convince Joe to tell the story. But Joe not only refuses, he insists there is no story. Despite Connie and Dale's encouragement, Joe refuses to talk about his experience. Then Dale receives word that someone else is looking for Joe, Terence Bougainville, one of the children that Joe rescued! Dale arranges for Terence and Joe to meet. Joe still refuses to acknowledge not only the story, but also Terence. Finally, Connie, Dale, and Terence coax the story out of Joe. Joe doesn't think of himself as a hero, he believes he is a coward. He saved the children while he was running away, deserting. Joe can never forgive himself for it. But no one else sees it that way, especially Terence. He and all of the other children from that night always have thought and always will think of Joe as a hero. That's what Dale Jacobs writes in the paper the next day, and Connie tells Uncle Joe that she will always see him that way as well. She excuses herself to go watch the Memorial Day parade. Uncle Joe stops her . . . and asks if there is room for him, too.

Questions:
Why did Uncle Joe think he was a coward? Was he right? Explain. What does it mean to be a hero? Do you have a father or grandfather who fought in a war? Have you ever talked to them about their experiences?