Roger Baker 
The Reverend and the Peacemaker 

Captain James R. Cole was the third generation of the Cole family to carry the same pistol into combat. James believed he knew the story of the old Long Colt-the ‘Peacemaker’-a 45 caliber revolver. The first of his family to carry the gun was his grandfather, who handed it down to James’ father. His father handed down the weapon to James along with the tales of his grandfather’s wartime experiences and stories of his own combat, and all involved the same unique revolver. James recalled his own experiences with the old weapon in the jungles of Vietnam. The ancient weapon seemed to possess an aura of protective power over the soldier who carried it in combat.


However, in the Vietnam War, the long Colt would protect only Captain Cole’s life, thus he was the only survivor when his small command was overpowered in a fierce battle. Badly wounded, and grief stricken from the loss of his men, he resigned his commission and dedicated the rest of his life to the care and welfare of others through gospel ministry.


Little did he know that national problems would hound him in his new life, or the role the old Peacemaker would play.


As he attempted to build a life for himself and his new family in the Old South, James would face ridicule as a veteran of the Vietnam War, racial unrest, and Islamic intervention. But with God’s grace, the love of his beautiful wife and children-and perhaps some ‘other worldly’ assistance from the old Colt, he pursued life in a sometimes dangerous, but fulfilling manner.