Billy DeVasher is both a WWII and Korean War veteran.
“I enlisted at 17,” DeVasher shares. “At the time, the Marines had lost 5,000 or 6,000 men. I served a couple years. Then I got out of the Marines and went to college. I played ball at UT Martin and did several things. Then I went back into the Marines in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea.”
DeVasher is thankful to have survived the brutality of war.
“The Chinese came over and cut our division,” DeVasher explains. “There were a great number of casualties. We only had a few men left after about 11 days. I don’t know how I got to be one of them that came out.”
His commitment, brave service and protection of his fellow soldiers earned him a Silver Star.
“I started recruiting. I married my high school girlfriend and got out of the Marines. I committed my life to Christ, went to school for ministry, and began preaching,” DeVasher explains.
He also worked as a coach, and in real estate development. He got to build multiple family homes.
While trying to help people who couldn’t afford down payments in a way that was against regulations, DeVasher ended up serving some time in prison. However, his unfortunate situation, combined with his heroic past, his love for Christ, and his job experiences, DeVasher was living a story that would need to be told.
During his time in the cell, DeVasher was determined to make that time productive and purposeful. Knowing he had found himself “in a trap” many times from war, to addiction, to his time in prison, to the trap of making decent money, he began penning a book. His whole life changed for better during the entire experience, and “Out of the Trap” would explain his unique and meaningful journey.
“A lot of things changed, and it was all for the better,” DeVasher says. “I had a real experience and encounter with God. I was then able to come home. Prison ain’t a bad thing if you can have that kind of experience.”
To this day, DeVasher still recalls the conversation that led to his book coming into creation.
“I was talking to another man who was in (prison) for tax evasion. We were discussing my life, and he said ‘golly you have the life of a book!’ DeVasher said.
“I said we’ve got 10 million books out there. Do you really think we need another? He said ‘Yea. Start telling me your story.’ The guy just happened to be a writer, so he helped me. He got transferred to another prison, and I put it on hold,” he continued.
Though DeVasher’s project would sit for quite some time, he never lost the desire to tell his story. At one point he found a ghost writer and was ready to proceed, but it didn’t end up happening.
The turning point came when DeVasher’s wife of 61 years asked him if there was anything in particular that he was still wanting to complete in his life. He told her that the book was what stood out to him.
Appropriately, Mrs. DeVasher, who had been an English teacher for many years, insisted on helping her husband with his wish. Within a year, the happy couple finished his big project. DeVasher enjoyed working closely with his special lady.
“It was really great for our marriage. We were able to sit there and talk all the time. I wouldn’t have made it if it hadn’t been for my wife. We went back to 1943 and the John Wayne movie that ignited me to be a Marine. She was my date, and we stayed in touch,” he recalled.
DeVasher selected an independent publishing association and upon the completion of his book, they printed his story. He got 100 copies to start with, and is learning the ropes of spreading the word. “Out of the Trap” is currently available at Barnes and Noble, on Amazon, and in various places across the web.
“It’s really helped my life. It’s good to know that it’s already helped a person I know too – a guy at church,” DeVasher said.
“Hopefully with this book, I can spend some time speaking, and have some appointments here and there. I want to do something worthwhile.”
“I enlisted at 17,” DeVasher shares. “At the time, the Marines had lost 5,000 or 6,000 men. I served a couple years. Then I got out of the Marines and went to college. I played ball at UT Martin and did several things. Then I went back into the Marines in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea.”
DeVasher is thankful to have survived the brutality of war.
“The Chinese came over and cut our division,” DeVasher explains. “There were a great number of casualties. We only had a few men left after about 11 days. I don’t know how I got to be one of them that came out.”
His commitment, brave service and protection of his fellow soldiers earned him a Silver Star.
“I started recruiting. I married my high school girlfriend and got out of the Marines. I committed my life to Christ, went to school for ministry, and began preaching,” DeVasher explains.
He also worked as a coach, and in real estate development. He got to build multiple family homes.
While trying to help people who couldn’t afford down payments in a way that was against regulations, DeVasher ended up serving some time in prison. However, his unfortunate situation, combined with his heroic past, his love for Christ, and his job experiences, DeVasher was living a story that would need to be told.
During his time in the cell, DeVasher was determined to make that time productive and purposeful. Knowing he had found himself “in a trap” many times from war, to addiction, to his time in prison, to the trap of making decent money, he began penning a book. His whole life changed for better during the entire experience, and “Out of the Trap” would explain his unique and meaningful journey.
“A lot of things changed, and it was all for the better,” DeVasher says. “I had a real experience and encounter with God. I was then able to come home. Prison ain’t a bad thing if you can have that kind of experience.”
To this day, DeVasher still recalls the conversation that led to his book coming into creation.
“I was talking to another man who was in (prison) for tax evasion. We were discussing my life, and he said ‘golly you have the life of a book!’ DeVasher said.
“I said we’ve got 10 million books out there. Do you really think we need another? He said ‘Yea. Start telling me your story.’ The guy just happened to be a writer, so he helped me. He got transferred to another prison, and I put it on hold,” he continued.
Though DeVasher’s project would sit for quite some time, he never lost the desire to tell his story. At one point he found a ghost writer and was ready to proceed, but it didn’t end up happening.
The turning point came when DeVasher’s wife of 61 years asked him if there was anything in particular that he was still wanting to complete in his life. He told her that the book was what stood out to him.
Appropriately, Mrs. DeVasher, who had been an English teacher for many years, insisted on helping her husband with his wish. Within a year, the happy couple finished his big project. DeVasher enjoyed working closely with his special lady.
“It was really great for our marriage. We were able to sit there and talk all the time. I wouldn’t have made it if it hadn’t been for my wife. We went back to 1943 and the John Wayne movie that ignited me to be a Marine. She was my date, and we stayed in touch,” he recalled.
DeVasher selected an independent publishing association and upon the completion of his book, they printed his story. He got 100 copies to start with, and is learning the ropes of spreading the word. “Out of the Trap” is currently available at Barnes and Noble, on Amazon, and in various places across the web.
“It’s really helped my life. It’s good to know that it’s already helped a person I know too – a guy at church,” DeVasher said.
“Hopefully with this book, I can spend some time speaking, and have some appointments here and there. I want to do something worthwhile.”