NPR 12-28:A 'Silent Night' That Brought Healing 那一次，平安夜的歌声第一

On Christmas Eve, 1968, Steve Banko was lying in a military hospital with shrapnel and burn wounds from a battle in Vietnam -- and he wasn't sure that he wanted to live. But the sounds of Christmas carols floating over the hospital's PA system helped change his mind.

Welcome to this I believe at NPR series presenting personal philosophy of remarkable 1 men and women from all walks of life, From NPR news this weekend edition. I am lynn handison.
I believe in mystery.
I believe in family.
I believe in being who I am.
I believe in the power of failure.
And I believe normal life is extraordinary.
This I believe.
Our this I believe essay today was sent to us by steve banko of buffalo 2, new york. Banko spent 16 months in comebat as an army sergeant 3 in Vietnam. His decorations include the superstar and four proper hearts. Since then he’s worked in public service in local state at federal governments. Here is our curator independent producer jay Alison.
In the 30 years since his service in Vietnam, steve banko struggled with post comebat depression during those years when he sometimes questioned the value of his life. He would recalled a belief he aquired in childhood and with reaffirm for him during one of these darkest times. Here is steve banko with his essay for this I believe.
I’ve been moved by the magic of the Christmas music since the northern gramma school launched the words of ‘the carols’ into my brain. That magic persists despite the memory of our preppy bison male voices that sounded more like a pond of bullfrogs than the Vienna voice acquire. The music rose above us, even a child with rivalries 4 and pet differences was no match for this pell of that music.
I believe that Christmas music can touch the spirit.
Those nouns taught me the music in the lyrics 5. But I’ve learned of the real magic about ten years later. On Christmas eve of 1968, I was a patient in a military hospital in youkodo japan, my leg had been shattered by couple of machine gun bullets after 5 hour battle in Vietnam. My bldy was full of shrapnel’s. my hands had been badly burnt. For three weeks, I met the doctors in Vietnam who struggled to save my leg. They sent me to japan on that Christmas eve to give me a new team of surgeon’s a chance to work their magic. And I was desperately 6 need of magic. Somewhere it was Christmas, but it didn’t feel like to me at least not until I heard the music pipe of PA system.
A chorus singing of peace on earth and mercy mild and promise god in reconcile inside. Another voice called to let us all with one accord send praises to our heavenly lord, and another to sleep in heavenly peace. But heavens in peace seemed so distant to me.
My misery 7 was interrupted by a low moan coming from the next bed. All I could see was a white cash shake like a body cut out off his eyes, nose and mouth with the only breaks in the cast. Even as the music touch me toward comfort, the reality of pain angered me at present. But looking at my neighbor in close in god knows what kind of pain, I didn’t say nearly is important.
The soft strains of the silent night were filling in the air of the world when the nurses were made the final round of our medications. When my nurse approached, I asked her to push my bed closer to the man in the cast. I reached out and took my new friend’s hand and the cario told us all is come, all is break we spoke 8 no word to each other, none we needed it.
The cario revived the message with the hope of triumph of love for me. I felt a slight tightening 9 on my hand, and for the first time at that Christmas I felt I was survived of my ordeal 10. And for the first time in a long time I wanted it too.
I believe there is magic in Christmas and the music that celebrates it. Because it brings us closer together and closer to our own hearts.
Steve banko with his essay for this I believe.
This Christmas banko will spend with his family and a new grandson. We hope you all can consider our invitation arouse for series or encourage one of your friends and family members to do it.
At website of NPR.org this I believe, you’ll find the series guidelines and you can search through the tens of thousands of eaasys that’s been sent to us. For this I believe, I am jay Alison.
Jay Alison is the coeditor with dan gedimen America of the book this I believe the personal philosophies of remarkable men and women. Next week on NPR.org and essay from ara hang on her belief in the importance of going home.