STAND STEEL

A soldier's duty. A pastor's calling. A husband's devotion. A story that refuses to remain silent.

"Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord..." - Exodus 14:13 (KJV)

When Bishop Field Bennings answered the call to serve his country during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he carried more than the responsibilities of a soldier. He carried his Christian faith, his commitment to ministry, and an enduring love for the wife and family he left behind.

In Stand Steel: A Soldier's Story, Bishop Bennings recounts his firsthand experiences of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War, including his perspective on how the United States nearly lost the war before it ever got started. Encouraged by fellow soldiers to share his experiences, he offers a personal account of military service, sacrifice, and events that shaped his understanding of faith, leadership, and duty.

From his farewell to his family and congregation in Lubbock, Texas, to the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Bennings takes readers into the realities of life during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Serving with the 114th Evacuation Hospital, he witnessed the challenges of wartime medical care, the threat of Iraqi SCUD missiles, and the suffering experienced by wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians.

But beyond his military assignment, another mission was unfolding.

Through prayer, preaching, Bible study, and personal ministry, Bennings sought to remain steadfast in his calling while confronting the uncertainties of war. His reflections explore spiritual warfare, temptation, courage, obedience, and the strength required to stand firm in one's convictions.

And through it all, he remained a husband deeply devoted to his wife.

In a deeply personal chapter of wartime correspondence, Bishop Bennings preserves the intimate letters exchanged during their separation. Drawing upon the Song of Solomon, he challenges the notion that expressions of romantic longing and marital intimacy must be hidden or treated with shame within the Christian faith. These letters reveal the humanity behind the uniform and the enduring bond of marriage across thousands of miles.

"Upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18 (KJV)

Inside this powerful military memoir, readers will discover:

• A firsthand account of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War.

• One soldier's perspective on how the war nearly ended in defeat before it began.

• Life and medical service with the 114th Evacuation Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

• The spiritual challenges of war and the sustaining power of Christian faith.

• The sacrifices of a husband, father, and pastor separated from those he loved.

• Honest reflections on biblical marriage, romantic devotion, and intimate wartime correspondence.

• Wartime photographs, military recognitions, personal letters, and historical documents.

More than a military memoir, Stand Steel is an unapologetically personal testimony of patriotism, Christian conviction, marital devotion, and the courage to speak openly about difficult subjects.

For veterans, military families, Christian readers, pastors, and students of Gulf War history, Bishop Bennings offers a perspective that challenges assumptions while honoring the enduring values of faith, family, and service.

When duty calls, faith is tested, and love is separated by war, what does it take to "STAND STEEL"?