It was one of countless times when Phil and Louie were asked to locate a soldier among the hundreds of thousands of troops in Vietnam. A vivacious woman, eyes sparkling with interest, approached Phil following a service in a country church in Cottonwood, Minn. "Please, Phil, would you look up my son in Vietnam?"

The Palermo Brothers had just started some of their experiences from five trips to Southeast Asia, commencing in 1969. Sponsored by World Vision, they had been commissioned to minister to United States military personnel, refugees, prisoners of war or in hospitals - to anyone who needed their spirits lifted. The sounds of a guitar and accordion or mandolin attracted attention and soon people would sing along with these energetic, jovial musicians as they played patriotic songs, gospel music, or even Christmas Carols.

Gazing at the hopeful mother, what could they say?

"Well, ma'am, why don't you write to your son and tell him to look for us if we go to his base?"

"Great, I'll do that!" She quickly responded and watched as Phil pulled out a little book in which he wrote notes from family members in the States in order to contact sons or daughters in the military. (In Vietnam, soldiers would write their names and those of family members for Phil to contact after he got home from the war zone). Mrs. Gnifke nodded, smiling through her tears, longing that somehow, in God's plan, her son, Terry, and these dedicated men would cross paths.

Several months later on the last night of their final trip to Vietnam in 1972, the Palermo Brothers found themselves at Bien Hoa Air Base for a chapel service. It was there that a young Marine reluctantly trudged through the camp to find those "Italian Guys" his mother had written him about months before. Terry came in late to the chapel service, because he and his men had been building bombs for aviation ordnance, during the siege Anh Lat.

As he later recalled, "And here's these two guys and they were singin' Minnesotan and it was just like a piece of home and they were like Energizer bunnies up there. I thought, 'wow' so I stuck around. Then Phil started talking about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and how I could have peace in this place."

After the chapel service Terri Gnifke approached Phil and Louie with tears in his eyes as he introduced himself. They were so amazed to meet the young Marine from Cottonwood, Minn., whose mother's prayers had been answered! That night a battle-weary soldier found peace in a world filled with war by committing his life to the Prince of Peace.

One of the truly amazing things about Phil and Louie's ministry was the way in which significant events frequently connected to another happening many years later.

In 1985, Phil's daughter, Phyllis, and her husband lived in Orange County, Calif. They needed a new furnace and air conditioner. A referral from a friend brought a salesman to their home. In addition to air conditioning, the three of them began to share about their lives. The first thing they discovered was that they all had lived in Minnesota. When the conversation turned to more serious topics, the salesman began to explain how he had come to faith in God.

"I was a Marine in Vietnam and went forward in a chapel service over there conducted by these two little Italian guys."

Before continuing with his story, he stared at Phyllis as tears were streaming down her cheeks. Sniffling and wiping the tears away, she blurted out, "those men were my dad and uncle!"

Now everyone was wiping the tears away.

A coincidence? No, quite possibly it was a divine appointment revisited; the result of a mother's faithful prayers for her son so far away from home. The great love of the Lord is revealed in the wonderful truths of God's plan promised to those who follow Him.

Several years later, on Oct. 12, 2003, at Phil Palermo's memorial service, Terry Gnifke, that former young Marine shared this story with hundreds of friends and relatives gathered at The Salvation Army Tustin Ranch. He praised the Lord as he said, "If it wasn't for Phil and Louie Palermo I would not be standing here today, knowing that I will see them again in heaven. Just wait, Phil, because I'll be dancing in the streets of heaven, with you some day!"

Phil and Louie Palermo, the Palermo Brothers, were itinerant singing evangelists who traveled to 65 countries around the world during 60 years of ministry. Employed by Youth for Christ for 37 years, they also sang and participated in several Billy Graham crusades as well as working with many other Christian organizations and churches.

-- Darlene Palermo, Fundamental News
January-March 2005, (AFMC, Kansas City, MO) p.10,12

-- C.P. G.