John H. Eastwood (May 12, 1911 – February 13, 2007) was an author, seminary professor, army chaplain, and church pastor in the United States. He grew up in rural

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...

and earned a Doctor of Divinity from

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of t ...

in 1941. He served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

464th Bombardment Group during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, starting at Herington Army Airfield and later in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. His final position was as the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Hammond, Indiana, a church that he led to triple in size during his leadership. :"Our future is made sacred by their sacrifice."--Chaplain John H. Eastwood to the 464th's surviving airmen just after

V-E Day Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easte ...

1945

Airman's prayer

Eastwood delivered (and likely wrote) before every mission what became known as the "Airman's Prayer". In 1943, several of these verses were added to the Navy Hymn. :God guard and guide us as we fly :Through the great spaces of the sky; :Be with us as we take to air :In morning light and sunshine fair. :Eternal Father, strong to save, :Give us courage and make us brave; :Protect us whereso'er we go, :From shell and flak and fire and foe. :Most loved member of our crew. :Ride with us up in the blue. :Direct our bombs upon the foe :But shelter those whom Thou dost know. :Keep us together on our way, :Grant our work success today. :Deliver us from hate and sin, :And bring us safely down again. :O God protect us as we fly :Through lonely ways across the sky.

Bibliography

Eastwood published at least four books during his lifetime, all related to Christianity and Christian counseling.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastwood, John H. American Presbyterian ministers United States Army chaplains People from Hammond, Indiana People from Pawnee County, Nebraska United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II World War II chaplains 1911 births 2007 deaths Tarkio Owls football players Tarkio College alumni 20th-century American clergy