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Her Hair Turned White

In the spring of 1940, Patrick Fenton graduated with honors from the University of Utah with his ROTC class. Ahead of him still lay one more year of law school. As expected, he received a commission in the United States Army and was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was there on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Patrick was soon on his way to the fighting which caused his mother, Melita McAlister Fenton, great worry.

She followed all the news of the war, but when letters came from Patrick, they were only the fronts of the envelopes—the rest, including the letters, never came. Her worry and anxiety increased such that she prayed day and night for her son’s safety. Her family tried to comfort and console her, but it was to no effect, she could find no peace. So deep and profound was her emotional distress that her long and lovely auburn hair turned white.

Then, one night, after two years of unyielding faith and prayer, Mother Fenton told her family she had received a visit from a messenger. Not much more was said, but she was, at last, at peace.

The war ended in Europe and Patrick Fenton came home to Parowan, Utah on a three-month furlough. He was told he would be sent to the Pacific, but before his furlough was over, the war in the Pacific ended. Patrick’s daughter, Tess relates the following,

The family home had a screened back porch, part of which was used for storage. My father pulled his army gear off the porch and told his family he was giving it away. My Grandmother stopped him and told him to put it back, he would be needing it again. My father was astounded. He asked her why she would think that? He had served almost 5 years and still had law school to finish, and the world was at peace. She then told him about her worry and her daily and hourly prayers for him…. She told him a “messenger” came to her one night and told Grandma her son would live and return home. The messenger then told her dad would leave again in the future to fight an Asian war and assured Grandma that dad would return safely again. My father said he just stared at his mom…, but did as he was told, returning his gear to the porch.

Patrick went back to school, completed his law degree, got married, opened his law practice, and became the commanding officer of the newly formed 213th National Guard Artillery Unit in Cedar City. Tess continues,

Then came the Korean War and the 213th was activated. My father very suddenly remembered the conversation with his mother when he returned from WWII. He temporarily closed his law office… and my father took the young men of the 213th National Guard to Korea. During the time he was there with his Unit he never lost a soldier. The prayers offered so long ago by his devoted and worried Mother, were answered then and through the years. My Grandmother was a very prayerful and faithful woman.

And then Tess makes this profound conclusion,

My Grandmother’s prayers have shaped the lives of her family in many ways, and I feel they still are.

Source: Tess Fenton