Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 11/27/24

God is never outnumbered. In her just-released book Under His Wings: How Faith on the Front LinesHas Protected American Troops, Emily Compagno, co-host the popular Fox News panel program Outnumbered (weekdays, Noon ET), Emily Compagno writes of the special bond she believes exists between the Almighty and the service men and women who put their lives on the line to protect human freedom. The subject is a personal one for her as she stems from a long line of those who have served in uniform, including her father who has served as a commander in U.S. Navy Medical Corps.

JWK: How important was your own family background in inspiring you to write this book?

Emily Compagno: Incredibly important. I have the honor of coming from a strong military family and through the diligence and the painstaking effort of my beautiful mom, who is the family historian, I know the stories of my family’s service. I have the photographs. I have seen the records. This book includes the culmination of her efforts, and her relatives efforts as well, to compile, maintain and share our family’s military legacy. So, the photos of my family are in here as well as their stories and letters home from World War II and World War I. Those are in this book also. I’m honored to carry forward their stories just as I was honored to hear them from the age of a little girl.

JWK: How did you choose the title for the book. It comes from the 91st Psalm, right?

EC: The psalmist chose the title, sir, as indeed it comes from Psalm 91. So, yeah, that’s where it comes from exactly.

JWK: And what is the significance of that title?

EC: As the psalm says those who find refuge under the Lord shall be protected…That is exactly the theme of these war fighters’ stories. The whole point is the closer you draw to God the more more protected you are. He says “I will surround with favor like a shield.” These war fighters learned, discovered and/or rediscovered that the Lord indeed never leaves them, that Jesus Christ is always with them – is always with us. Psalm 91 reinforces to the war fighters that they are never alone and that God and God’s faith will always protect them.

JWK: How did you decide what military stories to include in the book?

EC: I had the honor of having a lot of my dear friends included in the book – and through my large community of military connections and contacts. Twelve of the voices in this book were my family, my friends, you know, people that I deeply believe in and have the honor of knowing professionally. Seven were provided through my deep relationship with the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio. The incredible veterans there connected me with voices that are in this book. So, a collaborative effort. I believe God’s hand was on these connections, 100%…I had the honor of serving as a messenger for these amazing voices because of God’s work. One of them, I even had read an article about that particular person years ago. Really, it was a blessing to have all of these voices work out in they way they did.

JWK: What do you hope readers take from these stories – both people who come from military families and those who don’t?

EC: My prayer is that people’s faith is strengthened, that their knowledge of military history is enlarged, that they feel inspired, that they feel encouraged to walk with Jesus and…that they feel solidarity with those war fighters and their families whose service and sacrifice are unique to every single story. These people are ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. My hope and prayer is that at the end of this book people feel not alone, that they know Jesus is with them also and that they feel encouraged that their iron has been sharpened by iron, their territory is enlarged (and) that they’ve been blessed indeed.

JWK: How did you come upon your personal faith?

EC: I was raised in a strong Catholic household.

JWK: Looking at these stories collected in your book, it’s like an anthology. I could imagine a Fox Nation TV series stemming from this. Is that a possibility? Could this be put to film?

EC: It already has been! What a prescient question! Actually we have a Fox Nation special that debuts on December 2nd. It is incredible. It includes, for example, the reunion I had with Colonel Karcher who took care of me fifteen years ago when I was stranded in Sadr City along with other fellow Raiderettes who were there as part of a USO tour and our exit Blackhawk was diverted for a medivac. We ended up spending the night there in Sadr City. We called it a Sadr City slumber party. The colonel in charge there, Colonel Karcher, said “I have three daughters at home. I’m not going to sleep until I make sure you guys are safely out of here!” It was an incredible night hanging out and spending time with the troops all night in the courtyard there.

After we were safely out of there the next morning, three days later those men drove over an IED. Colonel Karcher lost his legs and a young sergeant, Timothy David, lost his life (from) a subsequent IED coming back from the medivac.

Colonel Karcher and I reunited 15 years later. That is part of the Fox Nation special as well as some other incredible voices that are in the book. So, additional footage, additional stories and details not founded in the book are in this incredible Fox Nation special. Colonel Tom Moe, a double Silver Star recipient who has become a dear friend and truly is a national treasure, for example. He and I met on the deck of the USS Intrepid in front of the F-4 which was the fighter jet that he was shot down in over Vietnam – and in front of the F-16 which after his rescue – six years later – he went on to fly for the United States Air Force. So, an incredible individual. The Fox Nation special is deeply moving and beautiful.

JWK: Sounds good. Now, you must have some thoughts on the transition from the Biden Administration to the Trump Administration and how that will affect the military. What are your thoughts about this transition?

EC: I look forward to peace through strength. I look forward to the honoring of our military in a way that protects their lives and honors the services and sacrifices of each valorant man and woman in uniform and their families that serve day in and day out to protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.
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Programming note: Fox News Channel’s morning show Fox & Friends (weekdays, 6:00-9:00 AM ET) kicks off its All-American Christmas Concert Series on Friday with singer-songwriter Justin Jesso. Other award-winning Christian and country musical artists to be featured over the course of the holiday season include Lee Brice, Lauren Daigle and for King + Country, among others.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.