A most honorable man. I think the faith in Jesus is what helps us through our ordeals. Be it in the service or elsewhere.
I think I have heard his name mentioned, but I’m not sure.
All branches knew him....... And, all walks of life.
When he was not covering current events at the time he gave lessons, his Bible teaching and excellent history lessons remain timeless, and right on target for today.
I got to know a Marine recruiter when I lived up north. Heard from some other believers that there is a Marine recruiter the next town over who seemed to be interested in the Bible. Stopped by his office. Got to know sergeant after speaking with him a few times.
One day, I stopped by and gave him audio copies of lessons called, the 'Doctrine of War.' He took them, and I left.
After a couple of weeks, I stopped by to see the sergeant. Only his secretary was in the office. I told her about the messages I had given him and had stopped by to see him. What she told me next took me totally by surprise.
She told me he had all the branches in that federal building come to his office and had them listen. I was amazed... to put it mildly.
Next thing I knew... I was attending an annual east coast Bible conference down in Alexandra, VA.... right near to the Pentagon.
Military dress could be seen throughout the conference hall. During one lesson, I was sitting at the outside row adjacent to the
walk down aisle.
I looked over to my left and saw two hands in Navy whites holding the "collection plate" for me to take and pass down.
He was holding a steel pot helmet. I looked up and saw a big smile!
Later, after a class was finished, as I was walking back to my hotel room, I was stopped by a Marine officer. I had only been a specialist in the army, and was not too certain what his rank was. I was a civilian at the time. He made me feel totally relaxed, and at the same time, wanting to "pop to" and salute.
To make a log story shorter.
I mentioned to him the Marine recruiter up north. He asked me his name. I said that I am from up north and he would not know him. He smiled, and then told me... "We're all family. What is his name?"
I mentioned the sergeant's name. And, then continued on my way. Back home, a few weeks later, I went to visit the sergeant again. He was walking down the stairway reading papers. I told him about the conference, and he told me the ministry sent him a lot of materials to study. Then, with a perplexed expression, he said he just got notice that he is being transferred to Hawaii.
I can not say for sure who the Marine officer was at the East Coat conference. But we knew that at the conference some had been working at the Pentagon. It took me years later to finally put the pieces together., when learning at that time my church had members stationed in Hawaii. Some special forces.
And, to add to that? That Marine officer I spoke with at the conference looked, and had, the demeanor of Ollie North. Whom I did not know at the time. Only until months later did I see the resemblance while watching the Iran Contra hearings on TV.
Yes... There was military everywhere to be seen at that conference.
For, RB Thieme, Jr was no ordinary Bible teacher. He was a scholar of the highest calibre.
Was even invited to give a conference at MIT by some of the student body.
Yeah.... he was pretty good.
