I like the story. I did not hold a concept in my mind of the "religion" of the Marine as I read the story. It could have been a story from a code talker serviceman. Or a Japanese-American serviceman. Or "__insertothertermhere____." I have heard a remarkably similar story (albeit not necessarily taking place on an island in the south pacific) from an Indigenous American Tribal storyteller, a Japanese American storyteller, a Kenyan American storyteller and a German American storyteller--if you will, please, forgive the use of "labels" used here only for the sake of understanding by some who otherwise might not get it.
      Great Spirit, aka Grandfather, et all, by any other name, is still Great Spirit--at least in my humble belief system.

   Evidently I missed where the term, "Jesus" was in the story.