"...Mr. Primm completed more than 60 fighter-pilot combat missions in his P-38 Lightning and had his share of crash landings as well. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his combat aviation prowess."* Gerald C Primm, of Greensboro, NC, is my oldest brother. He was a college freshman when the USA was attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He left school, joined the army air force, and trained for single-fighter air combat. He served country, community, and family well for many years then and later. Today he is ill and unable to move about as he used to do when always on the go. After WWII, he became a husband, preacher, and father. From a young age, he began faithfully to study, then preach, lead churches, mentor young pastors and others, teach, and comfort sick or hurting ones, and wandering ones with whom he often shared a meal. When we had just finished The Mourner's Comforter new edition, based on his rare edition in his personal library, if I spoke of even minor discouragement he would say, his voice from the other end of the phone connection, "Well, just open the book!" And I could hear the smile in his voice. "It's true," I would tell him, "I can open to almost any page and feel better." He said that was what he would do. He knew of the "brooding darkness that spreads its jealous wings," which Spurgeon wrote about in The Comforter, and which comes at different times to everyone. Although he is now very ill, my brother is in the care of family and others, resting, waiting, and at peace. I am thankful for what his copy of one of his treasured books now means to many readers, through the editions he has published and helped.
*Source: "Ask Veterans to Share Their Stories," Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, Greensboro News & Record, Harry Thetford
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