One of twelve children, David’s father sets a proud example of black fighters in World War I. But David doesn’t do well in school and drops out to join the army, and he learned to drink with other soldiers in bars. He becomes paratrooper like his brother and they carouse. When his brother is discharged, David suffers turmoil. He talks with the chaplain, receives Christ and then baits Satan. He goes to jail, but the chaplain restores him and David goes on to give his testimony and study the Bible. The first part ends as he leaves the Army to go to college, called by God to the ministry.