In 1952 we were living at Fort Benning in Columbus Ga. I was 9 years old and Dad was the post chaplain responsible for the Protestant religious program for the soldiers and their families who lived there.

One day a sergeant asked to speak to Dad and revealed an interesting story. The sergeant had sponsored two Japanese boys to the United States to come over here and become American citizens. So he said to my father that the one boy, Herbert Takashi Yammamoura, was a senior in high school in Columbus and that he had received orders transferring him to Germany. He did not want Herbert to have to leave his high school and his friends in his senior year so he was looking for a family for Herbert to stay with for a year.

My father immediately replied, “Let me call my wife.” He called my mother and relayed the message that the sergeant was looking for a place for Herbert and did she mind if he stayed with us for a year.

She replied, “Bring him over for supper and I will put him in the room with Knox.” I had never had an older brother and was very excited to have Herbert stay with us.

The sergeant said to my father, “He is a good child and will make you a great house boy.” My father immediately replied, “If Herbert comes to our home, he will come as a family member not as a houseboy.”

I remember when Herbert walked down our driveway wearing his suit and all he owned in one suitcase. We were all there to welcome him and a great friendship began. One year later Herbert graduated from high school and I remember the tearful goodbye we all had that summer.

We also were transferred to Panama Canal Zone and somehow lost track of Herbert. Ten years later in 1966, Dad finally retired and we settled in Atlanta.

One day a large box of fruit showed up on our doorstep in Atlanta.

It consisted of limes, mangoes and avocados. In the box of fruit was a letter from Herbert which revealed a fascinating story.

Herbert had graduated from high school there with us and went down to Dade County, near Miami, and started picking fruit for a local fruit company. He worked very hard and finally became the foreman. Several years later he bought a partnership in the company and then bought his partner out. Herbert later bought and sold several businesses and did very well financially. In fact he became a millionaire several times over.

He had tried to find our family but we had moved so much in the military that it was difficult to locate us, so he decided to call Washington. He somehow found where Dad's retirement check was being sent, and located us by sending the box of fruit with the letter to our doorstep.

He one day shared with me that he appreciated the sergeant sponsoring him to the states but it was our family that he remembers that showed him love and made him part of the family.

When Dee and I married, Herbert flew up to Atlanta to be at the wedding.

He later flew Dee and me down to his beautiful home in Florida and he took us out fishing in his 40-foot boat.

Not everyone you attempt to help in life will turn out to be a millionaire, but it will be worth a million dollars and more to you to follow the teachings of Jesus. These teachings from God's Word say that whenever you entertain strangers, you entertain angels unaware.

Press on always to the higher calling of Christ.

[The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of “His House Community Church” and a substitute school teacher in the Fayette County school system, and a former Army chaplain. The church is currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville. Prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail Khern2365@aol.com

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