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DAVID APPLEBY A Fisher of Men
BY MA JOR FR ANK DUR ACHER
teens at the corps, on the street, and in their homes every day from 4:00 in the afternoon to late at David Appleby is quite good night, and all day on Saturdays and at fishing, but not the kind of fishSundays. ing that normally comes to mind. At the Citadel, he organized And he’s been at it a long time— and taught budding musicians beginning as an adolescent and from beginner level to advanced, continuing to this day, well into his working with them as individu87th year. als and groups several times each David could have followed week. He even taught them how to many paths in his life, any of which transpose music from church hymwould have likely brought him nals so that when making guest apsuccess and even fortune. But he pearances in other churches, they chose to follow the mandate of Jecould easily play in the same key as sus and will be long-remembered the church organist. as a “fisher” of men’s souls—an David Appleby’s maxim for evangelism comes from Most importantly, he taught General Albert Orsborn: “Trust in God and do your duty!” influence reverberating through them that Army bandsmen were two USA Salvation Army territories not merely musicians, but soldiers (Eastern and Southern). with a vital mission and ministry for the Kingdom. One of four sons of Salvation Army officers, David has been faithful to While a soldier at Manhattan Citadel, David established at Eastern The Salvation Army’s mission and ministry since his first Sunday in an Army Territorial Headquarters (THQ) a trust fund for young adult soldiers pursumeeting at the tender age of two weeks. ing a college education. Today, after more than 40 years, this fund provides At age six, he became a junior soldier, and that Christmas he began $20,000 for that purpose. That trust fund is only one of three he established volunteering as a bell-ringer, until age nine when he instead began to play for the Army, and all on his schoolteacher’s salary! Christmas carols on a pump organ, becoming proficient on the keyboard in But that was then; what follows is now. his adolescent years. Coming to the warmer climes of Columbia, South Carolina in 2002, DaUpon enrollment as a senior soldier in 1945, David formed the habit vid and his wife, Eileen, fully intended to enjoy the benefits of retirement. of rising 45 minutes early each morning for systematic Bible study, a habit Instead, David quickly established a rapport with the homeless and recovmaintained throughout high school, college, his U.S. Navy career, his study ering addict populations in the area. At one time he was serving as mentor overseas as a Fulbright scholar, and even to this day. for 15 men in the corps’ recovery program. His love for God’s Word is further indicated by his years of contribution Over the years, many of his mentees would experience relapse, but Dathrough the Army’s Corps Cadet lessons, as well as seven years as a Bible vid continued visiting and mentoring them, causing one of his “successes” instructor at the Eastern Territory’s School for Officer Training. “David Appleby...” continued on page 5 He soldiered at the Manhattan Citadel Corps for 17 years, working with
Hurricanes Hit Hard
The Salvation Army Responds in Love STORY CONTRIBUTORS: SHELLEY H E N D E R S O N , E R I C S H O R T, K A R E N YO H O, M I C H E L L E H A R T F I E L D, A I M E E M U R R Y, J AY P R I T C H A R D , L E O N F A R R A E Z I I I , N AT H A N L AW S O N , D E A N N E J O N E S , S T E V E D I C K , M A R I A M AT H E U S , C H R I S T I N E R O G E R S , M A S O N M AY E R , J A N E LY S V I L L A LTA , B R E N T R I N E H A R T On September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall on the Florida coast as a Category 4 hurricane, the strongest-ever hurricane to strike the Big Bend region of Florida. In a matter of hours, the catastrophic storm left far-reaching damage across the Southeastern United States, directly impacting the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Alabama, and West Virginia. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on October 9, once again leaving destruction in its wake. The Salvation Army prepared a thorough Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) response prior to the arrival of each storm, deployed quickly to meet the sizable need, and will continue its comprehensive efforts long after the initial response. “The 2024 hurricane season has been his-
toric in terms of its impact on communities all across the Southeast, and The Salvation Army’s response has been equally historic,” said Jeff Jellets, EDS coordinator for the Southern Territory. “We’ve mobilized teams not just from our territory, but the Eastern Territory, Central Territory, and Canada and Bermuda Territory, and these disaster workPhoto Credit: Michelle Hartfield ers have been performing life-changing work.” As of October 14, The Salvation Army has deploy dedicated response teams in six states served more than 385,000 meals, provided (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Caroli38,000 meal kits, 191,000 drinks, and 168,000 na, Tennessee, and West Virginia). In addition to snacks from 43 active mobile feeding units in storm surge, flooding, and power outages, the response to Hurricane Helene. In addition, carestorm created unprecedented distress in the givers have provided emotional and spiritual southern Appalachians, including devastating care to more than 36,000 people, and 72 trained flooding in Western North Carolina. Salvation Army disaster workers have given In Buncombe County, NC, an 11-year-old more than 50,000 hours of service. boy named Connor sprang into action alongThe scope of Helene’s impact was wide-ranging, leading The Salvation Army to “Hurricanes...” continued on page 2