A Devotion to Something Greater: A Message from Interim Executive Director Chase Haller

Chase Haller

When I was in middle school, I went to the library as often as I could. I read about the Roman legion and the Macedonian phalanx, Alexander the Great and his encounter with the war elephants of King Porus, the American Civil War and great tacticians like Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. The librarian would sometimes set aside the latest books she had about war and history, knowing that I would walk through her doors again soon, looking for a new text to devour.

Over time, I fixated on stories of American soldiers in World War II and especially enjoyed Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. The tale follows Easy Company of the 101st Airborne from basic training to their parachuting behind enemy lines in Normandy to the occupation of post-war Germany. I marveled at the heroism of men like Dick Winters, who earned the Distinguished Service Medal. On D-Day, he led an assault behind enemy lines against at least 50 Germans operating several artillery batteries firing on Utah Beach. He had only thirteen men, but it was such a well-executed attack that the military still cites it as an example of how to use small unit tactics to attack a larger enemy force.

As fascinated as I am by the strategies and the history, however, I am most drawn to the people who served. War Letters by Andrew Carroll is a collection of the personal letters of soldiers and war volunteers in every major American theatre. Many of these letters depict the strange shift between the often-abject boredom of deployment to the sudden, unspeakable horrors of armed conflict. It is a reminder of the soldier’s vast separation from all that is known to them — both a physical separation from those they love, as well as a psychological separation from what they are experiencing. This is evinced by the great tragedy in the United States today of veteran suicide and homelessness, efforts against which we must continue to support. This is why Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic is proud to partner with an organization like HVAF of Indiana, Inc., to help homeless and at-risk veterans return to self-sufficiency.

After many years, I now understand why I love to read stories about our great veterans. They embody a devotion to something greater, which I hope to emulate every day of my life. Their service motivates me to serve others, to serve our community, and to serve our Creator.

This Veteran’s Day, we thank our many community members, family members, friends, volunteers, and clients who have served the United States in the armed forces. We thank you for the safety and security that you provide to us all, and for the continued endurance of this great republic.        

With gratitude,

Chase Haller
Interim Executive Director

To learn more about our partnership with HVAF of Indiana, Inc., please visit our website.