Autor: James May

Chaplain (retired colonel) James E. May has written a memoir to declare how the Lord loaded into one life three unique careers—music, military, and ministry. What’s more humbling is how he opened doors to a level of success once thought impossible. The purpose of the memoirs is to acknowledge God’s guiding hand that led to these successful careers and to glorify him. Jim began playing the trumpet in third grade. In eleventh grade, the first in a series of increasing opportunities was given him. He was offered an invitation to attended Valley Forge Military Academy on a band scholarship. Following graduation, he auditioned for the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and, later, the United States Marine Band, the President’s Own, where he was assigned for eight years. Again, more unique opportunities came to him by the Lord’s hand. Notably, he was assigned as one of four fanfare trumpeters at the White House for Presidents Nixon and Ford. During the Vietnam era, he made frequent trips to Arlington National Cemetery where he played “Taps” for fallen marines hundreds of times. As he observed the Navy Chaplain from a vantage point behind the firing squad, Jim wondered what he might be saying to minister to grieving families. Being a Christian, he began formulating in his mind what he might say in that position, and he ultimately began to sense the call of God toward full-time ministry. In 1975, he left the Marine band and entered Baptist Bible College and Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. He was ordained in 1979 and served as pastor of the Northmoreland Baptist Church for four years, during which time he received his commission as a chaplain in the army reserves in 1981. In 1982, he returned to active duty as an army chaplain endorsed by the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. He served as an army chaplain for twenty-six years, including an assignment as the senior army chaplain at Arlington National Cemetery. In May 1998, he earned a doctor of ministry degree in pastoral counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary, and in May 2005, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of theology from Baptist Bible Seminary. Jim is also a graduate of the US Army War College, with a master’s degree in strategic studies. On September 11, 2001, while serving as the senior army chaplain at Arlington National Cemetery, Jim became very involved in ministry to family members of victims at the Pentagon. During the day, he officiated at funerals for some of the Pentagon victims. After the cemetery closed for the day, he participated in the notification of families whose loved ones had been discovered in the rubble of the Pentagon. Also in the memoir, he tells a story about his scheduled involvement with the Reagan funeral while serving as the senior army chaplain for the military district of Washington. Threaded throughout his marine career, Jim relates how he, together with his wife, Ellen, tore down an old church and built a house. They traveled one thousand miles every weekend in the final years of their marine corps assignment in order to make a suitable dwelling for the family during his seminary days. Now at the end of his thirty-four years in military service, he is a retired colonel, living in the house they built between 1971 to the present time. Since retiring, he has taken two mission trips to Africa to teach in Bible colleges and seminaries. He is also offering counseling ministry through Family Life and Foundations Counseling Center, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. To God be all the glory!