New Hope Journal
Personal Essays and Public Opinions since 1979
_____________________________________________
by Larry L. Dill
(It would be hard to put into words the personal affection and professional admiration I had for E.F. Duderstadt who had been my summer camp supervisor at Indian Creek Boy Scout Camp near San Antonio from 1960 to 1964. Duder, as we called him, was a graduate of Texas A&M University and a Marine Corp veteran of World War II. The following series of letters explains the rest.)
March 18, 1968
Dear Duder,
I wish this were a personal visit instead of a letter. I hope that you and Mrs. Duderstadt are in good health.
I will get right to the point of my letter. I have decided after a great deal of deliberation over the past few months that I must claim exemption from military service on the grounds that I am conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form. Realizing all of the negative connotations which that phrase carries with it, I feel that I cannot participate in something as serious as killing human beings when I feel that it is wrong.
I have enclosed a copy of my draft board’s important questions regarding conscientious objection and my answers to those questions. I hope they will explain the depth of my conviction. If you believe that I am sincere in what I am claiming, I would appreciate your writing a letter to that effect and addressing it to my draft board (Number 7 in San Antonio) and mailing it to me at my Austin address. It is not necessary that you accept my views. The important thing is whether or not you believe I am sincere in my claim.
I you do not feel that you can write such a letter, I will understand. This is a very serious request. Avove all else we must be honest to ourselves. I look forward to seeing you again…I hope not too far distant.
Sincerely,
Larry L. Dill
709 West Lynn
Austin, Texas 78703
Ingram, Texas
March 27, 1968
Dear Larry,
Your letter has laid on my desk for more than a week while I try to make up my mind in what to do with it. I also wish this were a personal visit instead of a letter.
I will answer your request first and then try to say why. I cannot assist anyone as a conscientious objector, to the point of avoiding going to war.
I too am an objector of war and all that the word implies but I sincerely believe that there are times when we must stand up and kill or be killed, and that this will be ended when we learn to truly practice Christianity at all times. I believe that as Christians we must hear the cry of the oppressed and go to their relief with all we have, which in the present situation is war. If we do not, not only we but most of the people of the world will be consumed by the tyrants now loose in the world. This does not mean that Christianity will not work, but that until now we have not worked it, or in other words we have not practiced it and given it a chance to work. Therefore the evils that we are guilty of (selfishness, conceit, bigotry, etc.) must and will be paid for and I am afraid with the most dear things we have, our lives.
I believe that the practice of Christianity through true love can stop wars and certainly prevent World War IV. It is too late for World War III. We must pay for what we have already done, or perhaps for what we have already not done.
I sincerely believe that we have two choices. (1) Stop the war, get back home and let our enemy have their way. Result would be a blood bath for the world greater than four wars and complete oblivion of Christianity. (2) Assume the responsibilities of a great nation and defend the oppressed of the world, first in stepping up the war and finishing it fast, bringing it to an end with such authority that the weak nations of the world will know they can trust us and live their lives, all the time showing and practicing our love of all people’s everywhere.
Christianity is love of all mankind. Love of mankind is giving every person, strong or weak, dark or light, rich or poor, their chance to live. To live as Christians. Not American Christians but Indian Christians, African Christians, etc. This means for the strong to stand up and be counted to help them.
At one time in the history of Christianity, to stand up meant the annihilation because there were so few. Today there are enough Christians to change the course of the world and to lay down or stand back could mean annihilation of Christianity.
Christianity is loving our fellowman even more than ourselves. This may mean killing for those we love, when not to kill would be selling them down the river. A part of life is death, and true love is living that life for others to the fullness that death has no sting for us and at any given time we are free to face that death for others sake even to ending that life.
To me this leaves no place for conscientious objectors on the grounds of killing or being killed, so long as we are defending the oppressed and weak. Objection would be toward the cause where we were persecuting and oppressing.
Sincerely,
[signed] Duder
[E.F. Duderstadt, Manager
Indian Creek Scout Camp
Alamo Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Ingram, Texas]
Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital
At Louis Pasteur and William Mayo Drives
South Texas Medical Center
San Antonio, Texas 78229
April 16, 1968
Mr. Larry Dill
709 W. Lynn
Austin, Texas 78703
Dear Mr. Dill:
I am writing you concerning a letter you recently wrote my father seeking his help in your effort to be classified as a Conscientious Objector. I do not know what my father’s response was to your letter but I suspect it was not what you had wished it might be. I base this on a conversation I had with him about this matter. My father is a great man and I have great respect for him but I also know he is rather “head strong” about some things and conscientious objection is one such subject.
All of this is to say that I disagree with my father’s negative feelings about conscientious objection and, in fact, am disappointed in him at this point. I feel your feelings are justifiable and legitimate. Therefore, since I feel my father will not help you as you requested, then may I offer you my services in any way possible.
I could be wrong and my father may have responded as you requested – and I hope so but I doubt it. Nevertheless, if I can help, let me know. I would prefer that my father not know that I have contacted you.
Thank you and best of luck.
Peace,
[signed] Jerome
F. Jerome Duderstadt
Chaplain
709 West Lynn
Austin, Texas 78703
April 17, 1968
The Reverend F. Jerome Duderstadt
Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital
San Antonio, Texas 78229
Dear Mr. Duderstadt:
I was extremely pleased to receive your letter. “Duder” (as I have always called your dad) has done as you predicted. He wrote on March 27, “I too am an objector of war and all that the word implies but I sincerely believe that there are times when we must stand up and kill or be killed and that this will be ended when we learn to truly practice Christianity at all times.”
His position is not unlike my own father’s who has worked on the weapons of war all of my life and considers his work to be vital. It is ironic that my father should spawn a conscientious objector and your’s a minister of peace.
But the irony is not tragic. On the contrary, it is a sign of great hope. It means that peace can come in one generation if it becomes the message of our lives and of our ministry. We have been given a “video replay” of the crucifixion in our own time and it calls us to action.
As for my own case, upon initial review by my local board, my request for C.O. status has not been granted. I will be called shortly for a personal appearance. At that time I will present those letters of recommendation I have received so far. I expect to be given C.O. classification at that time. If I am not, I may call upon you for help.
For now, it gives me great strength just to know that you are with me in spirit. Thanks again for your letter and peace to you.
Larry L. Dill
Go to Chapter 2C: "I'm a little worried about my future": The Reece Correspondence
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