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"Nothing is too good for our boys in the service." This statement has been made many times by the Rev. Irvin L. "Dad" Rattan, director of Layne’s Hospitality Home in San Diego, California. Agreeing wholeheartedly is "Mom" Rattan, as she is affectionately known to thousands of boys.

These are not idle words; they are proven by the fact that the Rattans have dedicated their lives to our servicemen, particularly the sailors and Marines in and near San Diego. The first service in the Home was held on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day.

During World War II San Diego was, and still is, important to our national defense. At that time, there was also an Army base near San Diego. So there were great numbers of soldiers, sailors, and Marines on the streets. To make things worse, these men were not allowed to leave the city because of the state of emergency. No serviceman likes to stay aboard ship or on base when he’s not on duty. Mother Layne’s Hospitality Home (as it was known in the early years) was much appreciated by these boys, and many times when night came the lawn would be covered with sleeping boys.

In the ensuing 15 ½ years since the Home opened in 1941, Over 225,000 servicemen have passed through the doors at least once. Thousands of them have found Christ as personal Savior, either for the first time or as a backslider returning to the Lord. Several hundred have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many of these young men have gone on to Bible schools and have become pastors, evangelists, and missionaries.

Ably assisting on Sunday afternoons have been the pastors and members of the local Assemblies of God churches. These fine pastors preach sermons stressing salvation, and the boys freely respond. They go to the prayer rooms, where they are helped by Christian servicemen who have received training in personal work from Dad Rattan.

While their pastor brings the message, the ladies cut the cakes they have baked and brought along. Imagine, if you can, the huge number of cakes these boys have consumed! Needless to say, they appreciate these cakes that taste "just like my mom makes."

When the Hospitality Home was opened, it was only an average-sized house. Since then it has been enlarged. The roof was raised to make a thirty-bed dormitory, patios have been added for a shuffleboard court and an outdoor fireplace, and a rumpus room built for indoor recreation. The rumpus room is cleared of ping-pong tables, and folding chairs are set up to make room for the services. These are held four times a week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons. Two nine-passenger cars are used to bring the boys up from the streets.

The Hospitality Home has certainly been a blessing to many servicemen. Everything, including a good home-cooked meal each evening, is free.

MORE SPACE NEEDED

In the past two or three years, things began to seem cramped. Therefore, in the early part of 1956, plans were begun to enlarge the building. After weeks of planning, waiting, hoping, praying, and patiently enduring delays, work was finally started in October of that year. Great was the joy of everyone concerned when it was finished in April, six months later.

The Rev. L. R. Halvorson, of the Southern California District Council of the Assemblies of God, was the principal speaker at the dedication service which was held on June 17, 1957. Another honored guest was Captain Howe, Chief of Chaplains of the 11^th Naval District.

The exterior is painted a warm brown and that is also the principal color of the interior. As a guest goes up the wide steps and through the door, he enters the atmosphere of "home." A turn to the right and he enters the foyer, where there is a large desk and someone to take his hat. Mom Rattan meets the boys and they are taken on a tour of the Home. They are shown the new 50-bed dormitory, which is on the second floor of an entirely new addition, which also houses the two-car garage, living quarters for the Rattans, and two guest rooms. The former dormitory has become a library and reading room, where the boys may write letters on stationery provided by the Hospitality Home.

Other improvements include a large new dining room and an area which can either be an extension of the rumpus room or the dining room, depending on which folding door is opened. Several large planters are placed about the main floor, which serve to make the interior refreshing and attractive.

The Rattans point with particular pride to the new prayer room. It is large and will be adequate for communion services, as well as to accommodate any number of boys seeking the Lord in the Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon services.

With these new facilities, Mom and Dad Rattan hope to provide more and more young men with a "home away from home," where they can relax, write letters, play games and - most of all - find Christ and have Christian fellowship, as so many have over the past years.

~Marjorie Seaton Marshall

Author’s note: When I wrote this in 1957, it was common to refer to military men as "boys," so I have retained those terms. Through all the years the Home was in operation, women in the military were more than welcome, so the fact that they were rarely mentioned is simply a reflection of the fact that most of the military personnel were men.