The story that follows is based on the actual
experiences of James Wheeler, a sergeant in the Air Force. Mr. Wheeler served during the Vietnam
War from 1971-1973 in Thailand and the Philippines as a plane-refueler. His time in the service was filled with
cultural experiences that he learned from the people of these nations. Mr. Wheeler lived on Long Island when
he was drafted into the military.
He had the goal of becoming a police officer. However, this experience changed his life; and after coming
home and getting married, he decided to become a pastor. Mr. Wheeler then moved to Connecticut.
After going to Sacred Heart University he became the pastor of Collinsville
Congressional Church.
As
he sat there, in the corner of his cell, fourteen Thai men stared at him and
jabbered about this strange American.
Jim Wheeler knew they were talking about him. These men, speaking a language he couldn’t understand,
frightened him. This whole
situation frightened him. Outside
of jail, he was able to connect with these people. He learned about their culture, walked their streets, and
made a bond with them. Here, had
no connection with these men. Jim
understood why he was jail, but he couldn’t understand how. He had indulged in partying, drinking,
and smoking. There was no reason
to hide it, because everyone did it.
Well someone had cared about the drugs, and they had
been able to get a search warrant.
The Thai police entered his bungalow and, finding the drugs our in the
open, had arrested him. That was
all he could remember. Someone had
cared enough to put him jail. Now
he had fourteen Thai men, the dregs of society, talking about him, plotting
against him. The one American man
in this cell, he had no connection with his base, his friends, or the American
government, He wasn’t in a
military jail, either; he was in a Thai civilian jail with the crooks, the
thieves, the rapists, and the smugglers of this country. Fear and nightmares of
these men attacking him and murdering him plagued him throughout the day and
night. He did not belong here.
He
was a 22-year-old American boy who had gone down the wrong path. He had to get out of here. The war was ending, and he was going to
be left behind. The American
military was going to forget about him, and he would be left to the Thai
government. This thought kept
recurring in his mind. He was
really, truly in trouble.
He thought about his family, his home, and his
innocent childhood. He remembered
how his parents used to bring him to church; he remembered the stories that he
had been taught. He remembered
that you can talk to God, and have a conversation with him in prayer. So he gave it a try. He felt calmer praying and more at
peace. He had someone to confide
in.
Jim decided to accept Jesus into his life and become
dedicated to him. He knew God was
going to take of him and that nothing would happen. God listened to his prayers, and he was released into the
custody of a JAG military attorney.
He appeared the next Monday in Thai civilian court where he plead guilty
for procession of drugs. He was
let out on only 1,000 bout or $5.00 American. Then he had to report to military court where they could
have put him in jail again. Jim
was completely exonerated and was able to go home two months earlier than
scheduled on honorable discharge.
Jim Wheeler changed his life from being a troubled young man to getting
his life back together. This horrible
experience began a new chapter in his life.