DeKalb County Vietnam Veteran and Naval Chaplain Shares his Story in a New Book called “The Hope of War” (View Video Here)

October 10, 2024
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Sometimes, the greatest (and only) thing we can offer is ourselves. When Larry Cripps, a DeKalb County native, was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, he had little idea of what lay in store for him and his future comrades, both on and off the battlefield.

Cripps has authored his first book called “The Hope of War” a Chaplain’s Journey to Abiding Faith, Enduring Hope and Love Under Fire and he appeared on WJLE Thursday morning in a video interview to talk about the book and his family and military background.

Larry will make an appearance at a Freedom Celebration/Charity Event in collaboration with the Wounded Warriors Project and the Mighty Oaks Foundation on Saturday, November 9 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the DeKalb Community Complex in Smithville right before Veterans Day. Copies of his book will be available for purchase during the program. You may also visit https://thehopeofwar.com/ to purchase a copy of the book

At the risk of his own life, in exchange for a future he couldn’t imagine, Larry began a journey that would go much further than the jungles of Southeast Asia, the deserts of the Middle East, or anywhere else he deployed in service of his country. Progressing from armored cavalry to the Navy Chaplain Corps, Larry discovered that the wildest war zones of all were the hearts and minds of the service members he counseled and cared for.

They were men and women who desperately sought healing. Frustrated troops who demanded truth from leaders. People wounded and haunted by the savagery of warfare, who longed to regain a healthy sense of perspective and self-image. Fellow veterans who risked life and limb, and sidestepped death – only to spend the rest of their lives wondering what it all meant. Family members trying to stay ahead of life’s demands, civilian or military, and facing the challenges of relating to their loved ones in uniform. Larry’s journey would take him to a place of rare distinction – serving and praying for warriors and their families through every US military conflict and front, from 1965 through to the present day.

The Hope of War offers a way out of madness to anyone blindsided by hardship, trauma, tragedy or transition. In a manner both uplifting and raw, Larry’s journey reminds readers to dig deep beneath the “surface issues” of politics, history, current events and public opinion, to look for the real gold of growth and maturity under fire, according to a timeless, Biblical model.

Amidst the raucous backdrop of competing visions and interpretations of a dark time in American history, The Hope of War cuts through the noise and invites young readers to take their first step toward uncharted destiny, through a mysterious path they don’t yet understand. It reminds older readers of the status they earned by responding to the challenge, and how crucial their experience and wisdom are in this hour of history.

The Hope of War is a quintessential, timeless and real-life tale of an average person, forged into an extraordinary leader, trusted by senior commanders, shaped by forces and events far beyond his comprehension or control – who found life-changing moments, simply by saying “Yes.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Larry D. Cripps grew up surrounded by the nurturing influence of Christian parents whose early beginnings emerged from the shadows of the Great Depression and the Second World War. He spent his formative years in Blue Springs, a small farming community in DeKalb County near Smithville, TN, which is an hour’s drive southeast of Nashville.

Larry was drafted into the US Army in August 1969 and later joined the ranks of over 25,000 young men who served in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment during combat operations in South Vietnam and Cambodia. After the Army, he attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, graduating with a B. A. in Biblical Education and History in January 1975.

While enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, Larry was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserve with the ultimate goal of returning to active duty as a chaplain. However, due to the massive reductions the Army underwent in the post-Vietnam years, Larry accepted the Navy’s invitation to attend Naval Chaplain School in Newport, RI, following seminary.

During his 32 years of naval service, Larry served in various assignments, including the U. S. Marine Corps, Combatant Commands, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command, and Naval Special Warfare Command. Larry’s military career and ministry as a chaplain spans three wars—Vietnam, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the 9/11 Terrorist attacks, and the War on Terror.

Larry and his wife, Charlene, reside in Hendersonville, TN.

October 10, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Ricky Atnip has taken the lead among WJLE’s Fearless Forecasters with the best record picking winners for the first six weeks of the college football season.

Ricky has compiled a record of 57-33 followed by Dewain Hendrixson at 56-34, Scott Brown and Scott Goodwin each at 54-36, Darrell Gill 53-37, Alex Woodward 52-38, Grant James 51-39, John Pryor 50-40, and Chad Kirby 49-41.

For the week, Ricky Atnip had the best record at 9-6 followed by Grant James, Scott Brown, and Dewain Hendrixson each at 7-8, Chad Kirby and Scott Goodwin each at 6-9, and Darrell Gill, Alex Woodward, and John Pryor each at 5-10.

Three of the forecasters hit their underdog picks last week including Scott Brown who picked up 7 points with SMU’s win over Louisville. Scott Goodwin got on the board with 6.5 points as Syracuse knocked off UNLV and Dewain Hendrixson added to his total as West Virginia upended Oklahoma State.

Overall, Dewain Hendrixson has pulled ahead in underdog points with 26.5 followed by Darrell Gill with 23.5, Chad Kirby 19.5, Ricky Atnip 15, Scott Brown 11, John Pryor with 9.5, Grant James 7.5, Scott Goodwin 6.5, and Alex Woodward with 4.5.

Today (Thursday) the Forecasters will be picking winners in the following games:

Utah at Arizona State, Georgia Tech at North Carolina, Wisconsin at Rutgers, Washington at Iowa, California at Pittsburgh, Penn State at USC, Texas at Oklahoma, Ole Miss at LSU, Ohio State at Oregon, Arizona at BYU, Kansas State at Colorado, Iowa State at West Virginia, Vanderbilt at Kentucky, Florida at Tennessee and in the NFL the Indianapolis Colts at the Tennessee Titans.

Catch the Fearless Forecasters on WJLE today (Thursday) at 4:30 p.m. on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and the LIVE stream at www.wjle.com.

The program is sponsored by the Charles D. Atnip Realty and Auction Company, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, FirstBank, DeKalb County Insurance, DeKalb County Ace Hardware, Gill Automotive, Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, Wilson Bank & Trust, and Domino’s Pizza.

October 10, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Police Department is warning residents to beware of donation scams claiming to support hurricane victims.

“We are seeing more and more good, honest people being scammed out of the money they work hard for, sometimes in the thousands, right here in Smithville. We should help our neighbors out, but the police department also wants people to be aware that there are crooks that prey on good hearted people. We see it regularly,” said Captain Steven Leffew.

After Storms, Watch Out for Scams,

Natural disasters and severe weather can create opportunities for fraud in their wake, occurring at a time when people may be especially vulnerable, or targeting charitable intentions. Scammers use phone, text, mail, email, and even go door to door to target residents of affected areas following hurricanes and damaging storms.

Watch Out for Red Flags

First, know that officials with government disaster assistance agencies do not call or text asking for financial account information, and that there is no fee required to apply for or get disaster assistance from FEMA or the Small Business Administration. Anyone claiming to be a federal official who asks for money is an imposter.

Remember that phone scams often use spoofing techniques to deliberately falsify the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity or make the call appear to be official.

If someone calls claiming to be a government official, hang up and call the number listed on that government agency’s official website. Never reveal any personal information unless you’ve confirmed you’re dealing with a legitimate official. Workers and agents who knock on doors of residences are required to carry official identification and show it upon request, and they may not ask for or accept money.

Steps for Avoiding Post-Disaster Insurance Scams

If you get a phone call about an insurance claim or policy, don’t give out any personal information or agree to any payment until you can independently verify that the call is legitimate. If the caller says they’re from your insurance company, hang up and contact your agent or the company directly using the number on your account statement. Policyholders with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP Direct) can call 1-800-638-6620.

Contractors and home improvement companies may also call claiming to be partners with your insurance provider. Never give policy numbers, coverage details, or other personal information out to companies with whom you have not entered into a contract. If your state requires licensing, verify that any contractor you are considering is licensed and carries adequate insurance. Many states have online databases you can check.

Disaster Relief Charity Scams
Consumers should also be aware of scammers posing as representatives of charities seeking donations for disaster relief. There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from this type of fraud:
▪ Donate to trusted, well-known charities. Beware of scammers who create fake charities during natural disasters. Always verify a charity’s legitimacy through its official website. If you have doubts, you can check with Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar. You can also check with the National Association of State Charity Officials whether charities must be registered in your state and if the charity contacting you is on file with your state.

▪ Verify all phone numbers for charities. If you need to contact a charity by phone, check the charity’s official website to see if the number you have is legitimate. If you’re using text-to-donate, check with the charity to ensure the number is legitimate before donating.

▪ Do not open suspicious emails. If you receive a suspicious email requesting donations or other assistance, do not click on any links or open any attachments. Scammers regularly use email for phishing attacks and to spread malware.

▪ Verify information in social media posts. Double-check any solicitation for charitable donations before you give. Crowd-funding websites often host individual requests for help but they are not always vetted by the site or other sources.

To report suspected fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at 1-866-720-5721. If you need to report other fraudulent activities during or following a natural disaster, please notify FEMA at 1-866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov.

You can also file a complaint with the FCC about phone scams, or with the FTC about fraud.
Consumer Help Center.

FCC consumer guides provide tips on avoiding caller ID spoofing and robocalls that may help you avoid being scammed. To learn more about scams and how to avoid them, check out the FCC Scam Glossary or visit the FCC Consumer Help Center at fcc.gov/consumers.

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