Remembering Chaplain Vincent Capodanno: R.S.V.P. September 14, 1967

Moynihan Letters No. 74

June 14, 2013, Friday -- Remembering Father Capodanno

"Stay quiet marine. You will be ok. God is with us all this day." — Father Vincent Capodanno, last words, speaking to a wounded marine on a battlefield in Vietnam 46 years ago in 1967. A few seconds later, Capodanno was shot and killed. Today in Vietnam, not far from the spot where he died, a Mass was celebrated in his memory. (See note on these words at the end of the story below)

Today, June 14, something extraordinary happend in Vietnam.

A Mass was celebrated by a Vietnamese bishop in memory of an American Marine chaplain, Father Vince Capodanno (photo), who was killed in Vietnam on September 4, 1967, at the age of 38. Capodanno was ordained a priest on June 14, 1957, so this Mass today was celebrated in commemoration of the 56th anniversary of his ordination.

And so, in a sense, the Mass, attended by Americans and Vietnamese Catholics, was a sign of peace, and perhaps also of healing, nearly a half century after the end of the Vietnam War.

The Mass was largely the result of an effort by an old friend, Captain Edward "Ted" Bronson, a career Navy officer, now retired, who believes Capodanno was a holy man who died a holy death, administering the last rites to wounded soldiers on the battlefield, and so ought to be canonized by the Church as a saint.

(This photo shows Navy Captain Edward "Ted" Bronson and EWTN journalist Joan Lewis flanking Bishop Tri, with the choir that sang at the Father Capodanno Commemorative Mass in Vietnam)

Here are excerpts from an email Bronson just sent to me:

From: efbronson
To: moynihanreport
Sent: Fri, Jun 14, 2013 6:37 pm
Subject: Re: capodanno mass da nang 14 jun

Bob,

All went well. As magnificent and spiritual a Mass as you could pray for. About 500 attended. The bishop sat on the side, after opening remarks re Father Vincent Capodanno. Then came the procession of 15 celebrants. A high school choir of 38 "rang out" with English hymns.

(A view of the church where the Mass today was celebrated; Photo by Joan Lewis)

I did the first reading.

(Photo of those attending the Mass, by Joan Lewis)

A reception followed for all, a Vietnamese food feast.

Among the 500 were two bus loads of Que Chau villagers from two hours south. We had a special Mass in a home there on Wednesday for 83. They exude pure, intense, single focus faith. It seems as if, were they asked to give up their faith, instead they would join the earlier "martyrs of Vietnam."

This village Mass site was 2 km from the Que Son valley battlefield where Father Capodanno died with his fellow marines on the opening day of "Operation Swift" on 4 september 1967. It was the worst casualty day for our Marines in the war, as they were outnumbered 500 to 2000.

Father Capodanno's death occurred 15 seconds after telling a wounded marine,  "Stay calm marine. Some one will be with you shortly. God is with us this day."

He then went to the side of a corpsman who cried out for help and both were machine gunned to death.

Father Capodanno was a true "Grunt Padre."

Danang Bishop Joseph Tri told us afterwards, he will make this an annual 14 June Mass for the repose of the soul of Father Capodanno. The date is the anniversary of his ordination to the Maryknolls by Cardinal Spellman 55 years ago today.

'Twas magic, Bob, and it was all your challenge at dinner after the Mass at Santa Susanna, Rome 21 May, 2012. I started with a blank piece of paper and went from there... with a measure of help from my guardian angel and Bishop Tri. Delighted to have participated.

Now in Saigon; fly out at 5 am; into DAC at 5:45 pm. Thank you for your friendship and 'till we meet again, very best. Ted

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Note on Father Capodanno's last words

I received the following note about Father Capodanno's last words, which are reproduced above in two different forms.

Bob,

Thank you for covering this historic Mass. Several Marines heard these words from Fr. Capodanno, though versions vary slightly with each telling. From the biography, the quote reads:

"Stay quiet, Marine. You will be OK. Someone will be here to help you soon.  God is with us all this day." The reference is found on page 133 of The Grunt Padre by Fr. Daniel Mode, as recalled by Operation Swift veteran Corporal Ray Harton.

Thank you for all you do to make known Fr. Capodanno. It is an important and timely Cause to be sure.

God bless,

Judy L. McCloskey
Founder
Mission Capodanno
MissionCapodanno@gmail.com
www.MissionCapodanno.org
www.VincentCapodanno.org

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"AND THE LORD WAS WITH US THIS DAY"

Also present at the Mass was another old friend, the Rome correspondent for EWTN Catholic television, Joan Lewis. She flew to Vietnam specifically to attend this historic Mass, and wrote a report today on her blog, "Joan's Rome." Here are excerpts:

Friday, June 14, 2013

By Joan Lewis

As I write these words, it is 9 am on a hot Friday morning in DaNang and I am in the courtyard of Sacred Heart Cathedral where the gates have been opened to welcome the bus loads of pilgrims from nearby and from far villages who have come today for Mass at 10 that Bishop Joseph Tri has organized to celebrate Servant of God Fr. Vincent Capodanno.

June 14th was the day, 55 years ago, that Vincent Capodanno was ordained to the priesthood in the Maryknoll order, a missionary order that sent him abroad during his short life as a priest. Eventually he became a chaplain and died giving the last rites to solders in Vietnam, not far from DaNang.

The courtyard is huge but I know it will soon be filled by scores of motorbikes and bicycles in addition to the buses -- probably not a single car! I am sitting on a stone bench next to a lovely sculpture of the Holy Family, listening to the hustle and bustle and horns of DaNang traffic outside the complex that comprises the cathedral, bishop’s residence, school rooms, church halls and the convent.

I have just been joined by a young priest – the brother of our driver these past days. He is from the DaNang diocese and is also a scout leader. We are having a good conversation about many things involving the Church in Vietnam – as well as scouting – but now have to go into the church to prepare for Mass. I will video the Mass and take photos and Father is one of the concelebrants.

More later…..

It is much later now and I am writing from Ho Chi Minh City, from one of the most famous hotels in this part of the world, the Rex Hotel. I am luxuriating in an amazing room in the new wing of the Rex and enjoying, as the expression goes, “champagne tastes on a beer budget.” The Rex opened in 1961 and its first guests were 400 U.S. Army soldiers. They stayed here a week as their tents were being set up in Saigon and Quy Nhon.

During the Vietnam War (called the American War in some guidebooks), the Rex became especially famous for hosting the daily military press conference which the journalists who resided in the Rex cynically called “The Five O’Clock Follies.”

(photos of the Mass)

Following Mass, the cathedral offered a buffet lunch for about 400-500 people. It was astonishing hospitality and prepared by a group of women in the parish!! It was a ton of fun and I could have stayed and spoken to the people for hours, especially the wonderful, joyful, enthusiastic young people! I wanted to charter a plane and bring them to Rome!

(In this photo, Joan Lewis dines with some of the vibrant young Vietnamese Catholics who attended the Father Capodanno Mass today in Vietnam)

Once again, as always happens on these trips, it is late and I am overdue for dinner so will close this chronicle of June 14, 2013, a celebration of the life of Servant of God Fr. Vincent Capodanno. The bishops spoke about him this morning but it was all naturally in Vietnamese and the only words I understood were Vincent Capodanno!

To get a feel for the day’s events and people, go to my many Youtube videos of this occasion. I know my Vietnamese friends in Rome and the U.S. will enjoy hearing Mass in their language – though the youth choir sang in English for the occasion and they were superb!

God sit on your shoulders, dear friends in DaNang.

Before I close, I wish America and Americans Happy Flag Day!

Write to Joan at: joansrome@ewtn.com

Link: http://www.ewtn.com/news/blog.asp?blog_id=1

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Semper Fi

The example of Father Capodanno, in his life and in his death, shows us the meaning of the Marine Corps motto, "Semper Fi" ("Semper Fidelis," Always Faithful.) Here is an article written two years ago which well describes Capodanno's life and death:

Father Vincent Capodanno and the Meaning of “Sacrifice”

May 16, 2011

By Beth Crumley
If you have never visited Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel on the grounds of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, you have missed visiting a truly inspirational place. It is a breathtakingly beautiful building, an edifice of stone, rich wood and soaring glass that derives much of its beauty from the surrounding landscape. It is also breathtakingly simple. Nestled in the woods, it was designed to pay homage to the improvised chapels found in the field, attended by those who bear the burden of war.

Last Wednesday was nothing short of a glorious spring day in Virginia. The skies were crystal clear, without a cloud, and vibrant blue. A warm breeze stirred the air. Springtime had brought the grounds surrounding the chapel to life. I was struck by how green the trees were, and by the sound of birds singing. And on this glorious spring day, several people had gathered for a private ceremony to dedicate the “Sacrifice” window in memory of Navy chaplain, and Medal of Honor recipient, Father Vincent Capodanno.

As a former theology student, and a Marine Corps historian, I have long had an interest in those chaplains who have chosen to serve with the Fleet Marine Force. Of particular interest to me were those who served in Vietnam. It was many years ago that I first heard of the “Grunt Padre,” Father Capodanno.

The son of an Italian immigrant, Vincent Capodanno was the youngest of ten children. He attended night classes at Fordham University and in 1949, confided to a close friend that he had felt a calling to the priesthood. He had read The Field Afar, a magazine published by the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, also known as the Maryknolls. Their training was different… in addition to traditional seminary courses of study, a Maryknoll’s training also included emergency medical care, basic sanitation and agrarian methods and survival tactics. Capodanno relished the challenges of the Maryknoll education and was ordained on 7 June 1957.

After serving in Taiwan and Hong Kong, Father Capodanno requested permission to join the Navy Chaplain Corps and serve the growing number of Marines arriving in Vietnam. Commissioned a lieutenant on 28 December 1965, Capodanno arrived in country in April 1966, assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines.  Asked by a reporter why he had chosen to volunteer for service in Vietnam, Capodanno simply said, “I think I am needed here as are many more chaplains. I’m glad to help in any way I can.”

The Reverend Daniel Lawrence Mode, author of The Grunt Padre described this most extraordinary man of God and his service to the Marines in his spiritual care: “Known for a remarkable courage and tenacity, the grunts could hardly be prepared for the horrible realities of war they routinely saw each day -- deaths, brutal woundings, endless loneliness and depression, temptation to despair. To combat the darkness of the combatant, the light of Christ needed to be lit and carried. Such was the job of the Christian chaplain in a war zone… Father Capodanno chose to be more than just a priest assigned to minister to the tragedies of war. He became a spiritual comrade by removing all distinctions and obstacles between his grunts and himself in the way he had learned in his Maryknoll training and ministry. He lived, ate, and slept as the men did… Grunts recall in  vivid detail their padre keeping company with them through an entire night, isolated in distant and dangerous jungle outposts. Others recall the Grunt Padre leaping out of a helicopter in the midst of battle, blessing the troops, serving the Eucharist to the Catholics, and then leaping into a chopper heading off to another corner of active conflict… He remained at the side of the dying, present until the end, rather than let any man die alone, and then he sought to offer solid grounding and hope to the buddies who grieved at the loss of friends.”

While serving as the battalion chaplain with the 1st Medical Battalion, Father Capodanno requested an extension to his tour of duty. That extension granted, he continued to work tirelessly in his new assignment with the 3d Battalion, 5th Marines.

In September 1967, the 2d NVA Division moved into the Que Son Basin, south of Da Nang, in a planned effort to disrupt elections in the area. Operation Swift began when elements of the 5th Marines were attacked in the early morning hours of 4 September, southwest of Thang Binh. Father Capodanno had been travelling with the command post of Company M, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines. First Platoon came under heavy enemy fire. Second Platoon was ordered to assist. While crossing a small knoll they came under withering fire and radioed they were in danger of being overrun.

Father Capodanno left the relative safety of the command post and as his Medal of Honor citation describes, “ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleaguered platoon. Disregarding the intense enemy small-arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last-rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded. When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he steadfastly refused all medical aid.”

Father Capodanno moved to the side of Sergeant Lawrence Peters. He recited the Lord’s Prayer with him. After Peters had died, he moved to comfort Corporal Ray Harton. He cradled the young corporal’s head, blessed the wounded Marine with his left hand, saying, “God is here with us, Marine, and help is on the way.”

As the fighting raged, Father Capodanno saw a young lance corporal giving aid to a wounded corpsman who was in danger of bleeding to death from a thigh wound. As the priest moved toward the wounded man, an enemy machine gunner set up his weapon no further than 15 meters away. Father Capodanno gathered the corpsman in his arms, and used his own body to shield the wounded man from enemy fire. He was struck and killed instantly, 27 bullets piercing his body.  He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

The day after his death, a letter written by Father Capodanno was delivered to the regimental commander. In the letter, the fallen priest had written, “I am due to go home in late November or early December. I humbly request that I stay over Christmas and New Year’s with my men. I am willing to relinquish my thirty days leave….”

Forty-four years later, we sat in Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel, reflecting on the service of this extraordinary Servant of God, a title bestowed upon him by the Catholic Church. We contemplated the meaning of “sacrifice,” and pondered both his life and his death. Said one Marine, “He radiated the love of God. He was, in fact, the presence of God in our midst… He was an oasis in the midst of a very difficult situation. He was always willing to take on our burdens, to share in our sufferings and anxieties. Whenever I heard him speak I had a feeling of peace. If we were worried and anxious, he took our fears and burdens.”

In the closing moments of the dedication ceremony, Lieutenant General Ron Christmas reminded those gathered that we were in the Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel -- “Always Faithful.”

“Have faith,” he said, “in those young men and women who wear the uniform. Have faith in your God, have faith in this great country, and have faith in our Corps.”

And let us remember the sacrifices of so many, and the sacrifice of Father Vincent Capodanno.

Link: http://www.mca-marines.org/blog/beth-crumley/2011/05/16/father-vincent-capodanno-and-meaning-“sacrifice”

Chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun: The Good Thief [Servant of God]

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By Lawrence P. Grayson

Fr. Emil Kapuan, a decorated war hero, was declared a Servant of God.

On Easter morning, March 25, 1951, the Catholic priest mounted the steps of a partially destroyed church, and turned to face his congregation, some 60 men – gaunt, foul-smelling, in tattered clothing. 

Fr. Emil Kapaun raised a small, homemade, wooden cross to begin a prayer service, led the men in the Rosary, heard the confessions of the Catholics, and performed a Baptism.  Then, he wept because there was no bread or wine to consecrate so that the men could receive the Eucharist.

The U.S. Army chaplain, with a patch covering his injured eye and supported by a crudely-made cane, may have been broken in body, but was strong in spirit.

The following Sunday, Fr. Kapaun collapsed.  His condition was serious – a blood clot, severe vein inflammation, malnutrition – but the Chinese guards in the North Korean prison camp would allow no medical treatment, not even painkillers.  After languishing for several weeks, he died on May 23 and was buried in a mass grave.

Emil Kapaun was born on April 16, 1916 to a poor, but faith-filled farm family on the prairies of eastern Kansas.  Life was hard and even children had to learn to be resourceful as mechanics and carpenters and to care for the animals during bitter winters and brutally hot summers.  With a strong desire to become a priest, he attended Benedictine Conception Abbey to complete high school and college, continued his studies at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, and was ordained in 1940.

Heroic Chaplain

Fr. Kapaun celebrates a field Mass on the hood of a jeep.

When the United States entered World War II, he asked to become a military chaplain.  His bishop initially refused, but later relented.  Fr. Kapaun enlisted in 1944 in the Army, served for two years in Burma and India, then returned to civilian life.  Two years later, he reenlisted and was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division in Japan.

In June 1950, a North Korean army crossed the 38th parallel, and advanced quickly toward Seoul, South Korea.  The U.S. intervened militarily, with the 1st Cavalry Division executing an amphibious landing to block the advancing army.  The enemy onslaught was severe and the U.S. units soon were in retreat.  Fighting was intense.  Fr. Kapaun, with his soldier-parishioners in danger, was tireless.  He moved among the GIs, ignoring enemy fire, comforting the wounded, administering the last rites, burying the dead, and offering Mass whenever and wherever he could.  On one occasion, he went in front of the U.S. lines, in spite of intense fire, to rescue a wounded soldier.

By August, the U.S. troops had been pushed to the southern end of Korea, near the port of Pusan.  Then, on September 15, 1950, the war took a radical turn when U.S. troops landed at Inchon behind the invading army.  The North Korean forces fled northward, with the Americans in pursuit.  Within a few weeks, the 1st Cavalry Division had crossed the 38th parallel.  Unknown to them, China, which had secretly moved a huge army into North Korea, was about to enter the war.

Fr. Kapaun holding a pipe shot out of his mouth by an enemy sniper.

Fearless in Danger

The night of November 1 was quiet.  Fr. Kapaun’s battalion, having suffered some 400 casualties among its roster of 700 soldiers, was placed in a reserve position.  Chinese troops, however, had infiltrated to within a short distance of them.  Suddenly, just before midnight, there was a cacophony of bugles, horns and whistles, as the enemy attacked from all sides.

Fr. Kapaun scrambled among foxholes, sharing a prayer with one soldier, saying a comforting word to another.  He assembled many wounded in an abandoned log dugout.  All the next day, he scanned the battlefield and, some 15 times, when he spotted a wounded soldier would crawl out and drag the man back to the battalion’s position.  By day’s end, the defensive perimeter was drawn so tightly that the log hut and the wounded it contained were outside of it.  As evening came and another attack was imminent, the chaplain left the main force for the shelter so that he could be with the wounded.  It was soon overrun, and Fr. Kapaun pleaded for the safety of the injured.  Approximately three-quarters of the men in the battalion had been killed or captured.

Admirable Self-Sacrifice

Hundreds of U.S. prisoners were marched northward over snow-covered crests.  Whenever the column paused, Fr. Kapaun hurried up and down the line, encouraging the men to pray, exhorting them not to give up.  When a man had to be carried or be left to die, Fr. Kapaun, although suffering from frostbite himself, set the example by helping to carry a makeshift stretcher.  Finally, they reached their destination, a frigid, mountainous area near the Chinese border.  The poorly dressed prisoners were given so little to eat that they were starving to death.

For the men to survive they would have to steal food from their captors.  So, praying to St. Dismas, the “Good Thief,” Fr. Kapaun would sneak out of his hut in the middle of the night, often coming back with a sack of grain, potatoes or corn.  He volunteered for details to gather wood because the route passed the compound where the enlisted men were kept, and he could encourage them with a prayer, and sometimes slip out of line to visit the sick and wounded.  He also undertook tasks that repulsed others, such as cleaning latrines and washing the soiled clothing of men with dysentery.

Unwavering Faith

Fr. Kapaun (right) helping a wounded soldier.

Fr. Kapaun’s faith never wavered.  While he was willing to forgive the failings of prisoners toward their captors, he allowed no leeway in regard to the doctrines of the Church.  He continually reminded prisoners to pray, assuring them that in spite of their difficulties, Our Lord would take care of them.  As a result of his example, some 15 of his fellow prisoners converted to the Catholic Faith.

Fr. Kapaun’s practice of sharing his meager rations with others who were weaker, lowered his resistance to disease, and eventually to his death.  For his heroic behavior, he received many posthumous honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross and Legion of Merit, had buildings, chapels, a high school, and several Knights of Columbus councils named in his honor, and is currently being considered for the Medal of Honor.  In 1993, the Pope declared Fr. Kapaun a “Servant of God,” and his cause for canonization is pending.

It was announced in February of 2013 that Father Kapaun will be receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor, posthumously, in April of 2013.

Emil Kapaun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe Ordeal of Chaplain Father Kapaun - The Angelus Online |

Father Kapaun Cause - Catholic Diocese of Wichita

8 Heroic U.S. Military Chaplains, most of whom you haven't heard of

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by Miss Cellania - Mental Floss Blog

While researching the post 10 Heroic Battlefield Medics, I came across a couple of fascinating stories about military chaplains and their wartime exploits. Those stories were filed away for later, and they grew into a list of stories that deserve to be told and remembered. They are presented here in more or less chronological order.

1. Anthony Rey

Some contemporaries wrote of the Mexican-American War as one of U.S. Protestants against Mexican Catholics. President Polk responded to such allegations by appointing two Catholic priests to serve as military chaplains. Father Anthony Rey, a Jesuit from Georgetown University with no military background or training, participated in the battle of Monterrey in September of 1846. He tended to the wounded on the battlefield and gave last rites to the dying. Afterward, serving in north Mexico, he ventured out of the U.S. garrison to minister to the locals, despite warnings of the danger. In 1847 he said a mass at the village of Ceralvo, and never made it back. His body was found a few days later, stabbed through by lances. He was mourned by both the U.S. troops and the Mexicans he served.

2. Horatio Stockton Howell

Presbyterian minister Horatio Howell was chaplain of the 90th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. Most military chaplains at the time wore clerical black, but Howell preferred a regulation captain’s uniform. On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, Howell was serving at the infirmary set up at a church in Gettysburg when he went to the door and was confronted by a Confederate soldier demanding his surrender. The minister began to argue that he was a non-combatant and not subject to capture, but was shot and killed, probably due to the uniform.

3. John P. Chidwick

Father John P. Chidwick was the chaplain serving on the battleship USS Maine when it exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898. Tensions were already high, and this incident was the spark that began the Spanish-American War. Father Chadwick worked tirelessly through the night to rescue injured sailors and tend to their wounds. He was the last man to leave the ship. Two days later, Chadwick conducted the funeral rites in Havana for those who died.

4. John B. DeValles

Father John B. DeValles earned the nickname the “Angel of the Trenches” during World War I. He ventured into No Man’s Land in France to search for wounded and dying soldiers, and ministered to both the Allies and the Germans. During one foray, he did not return and was found unconscious and wounded, next to a dead soldier he had tried to help. DeValles’ wounds caused his health to suffer, but he continued to serve in France until 1919. He died a year later, never having completely recovered from his wartime attack. France awarded DeValles the Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor. Only a half-hour before he died, DeValles was notified that he would be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It was pinned on him at his funeral in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The funeral carried full military honors, and all town flags were flown at half-staff. A school in the town was named in his honor.

5. Colman O’Flaherty

Father Colman O’Flaherty was an Irish immigrant who was educated in Canada and then worked to establish several schools in South Dakota in the early 20th century. When World War I began, he joined up and was sent to France as a chaplain with the the 28th Infantry. O’Flaherty was shot and killed while helping the wounded on the front lines on October 1, 1918. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism in action.

6. Francis P. Duffy

Canadian-born Father Francis Duffy served in the Spanish-American War, and returned to service in 1916 to accompany troops in Mexico. Then during World War I he ministered to soldiers on the front lines in France. During battle, Duffy administered first aid and last rites as well, often under heavy fire. For his service and bravery, the priest was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal. After the war, Duffy served as pastor of Holy Cross Church near Times Square in New York until his death in 1932. Duffy Square in the city’s theater district is named after Father Duffy. He was portrayed by Pat O’Brien in the 1940 film The Fighting 69th. Father Duffy is pictured on the right.

7. John G. Burkhalter

Rev. John G. Burkhalter was a professional boxer who became a Southern Baptist minister in Florida in 1932. He then earned a degree in history and immediately joined the military when he graduated in 1942. Burkhalter was assigned as a chaplain with the First Infantry and landed in Normandy with Allied forces during the D-Day invasion on August June 6, 1944. In October, Burkhalter worked to recover the wounded and dead during the Battle of the Bulge. He went missing for several weeks and was discovered in a French hospital, having sustained several head wounds during the battle. Burkhalter was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star as well as a Purple Heart for his activities under fire. After the war, he stayed with the army, eventually serving in the Korean War. Burkhalter retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1969. In 1992, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

8. Francis L. Sampson

If you’ve seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, you might be surprised to learn that the real hero who reunited the soldier Private Ryan was based on with his remaining family was a chaplain. Father Francis L. Sampson was “The Paratrooper Padre” with the 101st Airborne Division who jumped into Normandy on D-Day, landing behind enemy lines in a river. He dove to the bottom to retrieve his equipment because he couldn’t lose his Mass kit. Sampson was once captured but was saved from being shot by an enemy unit leader who was Catholic. He ministered to friend and enemy alike, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his activities in France. Sampson then went into action in Holland, where his parachute jump landed him again in water -a castle moat. He was captured by Germans during the Battle of the Bulge and imprisoned near Berlin for four months. That camp was liberated by the Russians in 1945. But that wasn’t the end of Sampson’s heroics -he went on to serve in Korea, then stayed with the army to train other chaplains and eventually became Chief of Chaplains. He retired with the rank of Major General and a slew of medals in 1971. But that’s not all! Father Sampson was then appointed to head the USO, and he spent the rest of the Vietnam War visiting troops with entertainment tours. He died in 1996 at the age of 83.

We’ve only made it to World War II, and there are other heroic stories from the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and more recent conflicts. Those will be posted next week.

Archdiocese for Military Services reports surge in vocations for Catholic chaplains

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Back on track after years of decline

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA welcomes a steady increase in the number of young men entering Catholic seminaries who would like to become military chaplains and thanks the many Catholic bishops who have agreed to co-sponsor them.

When the 2011-2012 academic year rolls around later this month, the number of co-sponsored and military-affiliated seminarians will stand at 31, up sharply from just three in 2008-2009; 12 in 2009-2010; and 23 in 2010-2011.

Co-sponsorship means that a diocesan bishop agrees to accept the young man as a seminarian, and that the seminarian will participate in the Chaplain Candidacy Program of one of the branches of the U.S. armed forces. The bishop agrees to release him for service as a military chaplain after three years of pastoral experience as a priest in his diocese. When the priest leaves military service, he returns to the diocese.

Father Kerry Abbott, OFM Conv., Director of Vocations, said, “This is one of the ‘untold stories’ of the blessings of the Holy Spirit upon the Church and those Faithful fervently seeking to respond to the Voice of God. Catholic seminaries in the United States, and the Pontifical North American College in Rome, are straining to accommodate the influx of seminarians entering formation programs leading to presbyteral ordination and military chaplaincy. Many seminaries have found it necessary to convert guest rooms to seminarian quarters.”

The outlook for future vocations is just as bright. The archdiocese is currently processing hundreds of inquiries from prospective military chaplains. Father Abbott expects anywhere from five to 10 more to enter seminaries next year, with still more to come in years to follow.

The timing could not be better. The U.S. armed forces have seen a steady decline in Catholic military chaplains over the past 10 years as priests reach the military retirement age of 62. Their numbers are down from more than 400 active in 2001 to 274 this year.

Father Abbott says the increase in vocations is due mainly to the support of Catholic bishops, “for which this archdiocese is most grateful,” and successful recruiting over the past three years. The recruiting, which began under his predecessor, Father John McLaughlin, is taking place largely among a pool of candidates that has contributed substantial numbers to the priesthood in recent years -- the U.S. military.

According to a study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, nearly 10% of men ordained as U.S. Catholic priests over the past two years had previously served in the military. Another 10% came from military families.

“When you think about it, this makes complete sense,” Father Abbott said. “Both the military and the priesthood rely on a largely common set of foundational values, including a commitment to service, self-discipline and a higher calling. So it should come as no surprise that so many of our seminarians come from a military background and a growing number are looking to go back to the life they know after ordination.”

For the archdiocese, the growing influx of new co-sponsored seminarians poses a dilemma -- that is, how to pay for its 50% share of their five-year education. The archdiocese splits tuition and related costs evenly with each diocese where the co-sponsored seminarian is educated and ordained. In just three years, the archdiocese’s annual seminary bill has climbed from less than $40,000 to more than $350,000. The Knights of Columbus recently announced a new “Venerable Father McGivney Military Chaplain Scholarship” that will provide $200,000 a year over the next five years. The archdiocese is now in search of additional funding sources to make up the difference.

Father Abbott remarked, “What a delightful dilemma to have!”

For more information about Catholic priestly vocations in the U.S. military, Click Here.
California Catholic

To Hell and Back: Priest describes life as an Army combat chaplain

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Father Jerome Fehn, a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and a chaplain for the Army National Guard, has served in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and Croatia. Photo by Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

A line of young men and women clad in Army fatigues poured out of the plane into the sweltering, black night. Still groggy after crossing several time zones, the soldiers boarded windowless buses waiting to transport them to their camp.

“In the bus I sensed a very eerie silence,” said Father Jerome Fehn, a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who was one of the passengers that night in 2006. “I felt it was more than the fact that all of us were dog-tired, almost like, oh, gosh, we’re really here now. . . . The fact that anything could happen was already starting to hit us.”

After six months of training at Mississippi’s Camp Shelby, the “Red Bulls” of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division finally had touched down in Kuwait, where they would remain for a short time before proceeding to their permanent base in southern Iraq.

As the caravan of buses rolled through the desert that first night, Father Fehn remembers praying for the soldiers’ safety. “That was my constant prayer,” he said.

Providing spiritual support

Father Fehn joined the Army National Guard in 1998. Now a major, he served six months in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 17 months in Iraq, and, in June, two weeks in Croatia for a training exercise.

As an Army chaplain, Father Fehn’s mission is to provide spiritual and emotional support to the soldiers. Although he is a Catholic priest, in the Army he serves soldiers of all faiths, ensuring that their religious and spiritual needs are met.

“A chaplain’s motto is: ‘Nurture the living, care for the wounded, honor the dead,’” he said. “That’s our mantra.”

In 2006, Father Fehn’s battalion received notice that it would soon be deployed to Iraq. At 54, Father Fehn was three decades older than many of his fellow soldiers. Nevertheless, he completed the Army’s grueling training regimen — climbing over and under obstacles, running, learning how to march and salute properly.

In Iraq, Father Fehn wore everything the other soldiers wore: 40-pound body armor, a helmet, glasses, gloves — everything except a weapon. An armed soldier protected him during dangerous missions.

At times the mercury would soar to 120 degrees. “But it’s a dry heat,” the priest added in all seriousness.

Days were long. At 5 a.m. he would rise for prayer. Sometimes his work wouldn’t be finished until after midnight.

In addition to celebrating Mass and the sacraments, Father Fehn attended meetings, conducted suicide awareness workshops, and counseled the soldiers wherever they were stationed — in the motor pool, the supply room, the garbage dump.

“You can’t sit in the office in a rocking chair waiting for them to come,” Father Fehn said. “As a chaplain at the battalion level, you’ve got to go to them and present yourself.”

That often meant putting himself in harm’s way.

“It’s always a scary thing to be out there because you never know what can happen,” Father Fehn said. “Even when I was in the base, we would get occasional rocket fire and mortar attacks. You’d hear ‘Ba-boom!’ and you’d immediately put on your equipment.”

During Father Fehn’s time in Iraq, three members of his battalion died. One soldier was killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle, another died in a vehicle accident, and the third suffered a medical condition. Father Fehn presided at memorial ceremonies for all three.

After a loss, he would make himself present to any soldier who wanted to talk. “They ask questions like all of us do,” he said. “‘Where is God in all of this? How does this fit with my faith? Why this person? Why now?’”

Father Fehn also wrestles with tough questions. “You’ve got war, but we are a church of peace. You’ve got evil, but we are a church of forgiveness. How does one rectify and help the soldiers who do battle and who may have to kill and who have killed with [spiritual laws like]: ‘Do not kill. Turn the other cheek. If your enemy makes you walk one mile, walk two. If he wants your coat, hand him your shirt as well.’”

“You can understand defense,” he added, “but how do you make that jump to doing battle with another country, another people? That’s probably the hardest thing.”

Thirty-year training

Military chaplain Father Jerome Fehn celebrates Christmas Mass in 2006 in ancient Ur, the birthplace of Abraham. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood/ United States Army

When he is not on active duty, Father Fehn serves as a hospital chaplain at Fairview-Southdale Hospital in Edina and Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.

Nearly 30 years of hospital chaplaincy work prepared him well for the Army, he said. He has learned to accept people wherever they are in their faith journeys without judgment.

“All those years of hospital ministry converted like hand in glove because when I see soldiers I don’t know if they have faith or don’t have faith,” Father Fehn said. “But they are a child of God, and I try to do my best to respect that, to honor that, to give witness to my faith if the opportunity should present itself, but always making sure that the person knows that they are important.”

As a hospital chaplain, Father Fehn has dealt with death and dying countless times. While that work helped to prepare him for the battlefield, still he hasn’t grown accustomed to it.

“The day that I get used to it, the day that I can’t cry with a family or shed tears with a soldier because of a tragedy is the day that I have to quit doing hospital work, quit being an Army chaplain,” Father Fehn said. “If it doesn’t make you pause and think and feel sad inside, then something is wrong, something has happened to you. Somehow you encased yourself.

“You have to have some type of [emotional] cushion,” he added, “but it should never be a hard, steel cushion. You’ve still got to feel for what you’re doing.”

Father Fehn said he realized long ago the importance of having someone in his life to talk with, to provide spiritual and emotional support when his work begins to weigh on him. “You can’t keep getting all this dumped on you and expect to carry it yourself,” he said.

Prayer and a close relationship with Jesus Christ are vital, he said. “But even Christ himself ran up to the mountain a couple of times and got away from his apostles, got away from the crowds. He knew the importance of regrouping in his own heart and mind with his relationship to God. He also had Lazarus, Martha and Mary, a close relationship with the three of them.”

Challenges and rewards

Despite its many challenges, chaplaincy work also has its rewards.

In Iraq, Father Fehn welcomed several new Catholics into the church, validated the wedding of two soldiers, and celebrated Christmas Eve Mass at the traditional birthplace of Abraham, the father of our faith.

At 58, Father Fehn is approaching the Army’s retirement age of 60; however, he hopes the Army will allow him to serve for several more years.

“In the Apostles’ Creed, I like the phrase that the church uses — Jesus descended into hell,” he said, slapping the table for emphasis. “And on the third day, he rose again.

“If not me, then who would bring the word of God to people who are seemingly living in hell?”

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Army to priests: We want you

Gen. George Washington established the Chaplain Corps in 1775 — a year before the United States officially became a nation — making it the second oldest branch of the U.S. Army.

Today about 230 active duty Catholic priests serve 1.5 million Catholics in all branches of the armed services, according to Deacon Michael Yakir, chancellor for the Archdiocese for the Military Services in Washington, D.C.

The dwindling number of priests in recent years has led to a severe shortage of Catholic military chaplains, Deacon Yakir said. He has heard stories of priest chaplains serving as many as 20 bases, meaning some Catholic soldiers have access to Mass only about once every six weeks. Another 400 priests are needed to meet the demand, the deacon said.

Four Minnesota Catholic priests currently serve as military chaplains: Father Jerome Fehn, Army National Guard; Father John Echert and Father Thomas Foster, Air National Guard; and Father Lawrence Blake, Air Force Reserve. Catholic Spirit

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• Priests ministered to Civil War soldiers on both sides
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Catholic Military Chaplains: America's Forgotten Heroes

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Written by Major James A. Harvey III

July 14, 2011

“War is Hell” General William Tecumseh Sherman once noted. Indeed there is nothing to celebrate about warfare; however unfortunately it has been present with mankind in his fallen nature since departing from the Garden of Eden. War was a common affair throughout the Old Testament. Saint Augustine understood the sometimes unfortunate necessity of war and as a result outlined the “Just War” clauses to allow moral principles to still be applied. Later in more modern periods Saint Joan of Arc was called to battle by Our Lord, and in the twentieth century Our Lady noted at Fatima that war was a “punishment for sin.” In other words man’s own sinfulness often leads to war due to a lack of God in society. This helps us in our current age understand that at certain times war is necessary to defeat evil; or in self defense. While often it is hard to tell throughout history whether a war was just or not, in the end it is truly left to the judgment of God. However, regardless Catholic chaplains have served throughout history on the battlefield to serve those who have fought wars whether from a sense of duty, or simply being caught up in the times and circumstances. Fr. Aloysius Paul McGonigal, a Chaplain of the U.S. Army holding the rank of Major. The Forgotten Heroes In the U.S., military chaplains have also served since the Revolutionary War. The widespread use of Catholic chaplains did not begin until the Civil War after large populations of Catholic immigrants had changed the demographic of a previously Protestant dominated America. Additionally, previous wars found Catholics still facing much prejudice in the military and their religious needs were not considered as much as those of Protestants. However, since the Civil War, the Catholic chaplains of the U.S. military have provided comfort in war and peace. Frequently many were and remain true Catholic heroes but, sadly are often forgotten. This article while not all inclusive will re-introduce some of the many forgotten Catholic chaplains throughout American military history, and also recommend some additional references for further reading. The Mexican American War Even before the Civil War during the Mexican American War of 1846-1848, Father Anthony Rey served in the army of General Zackary Taylor. Father Rey administered to American troops with Last Rites and care of the wounded. He was present at the Battle of Monterey in which he earned admiration for his bravery. Father Rey also ministered to local Mexican Catholics. He was warned by U.S. Army officers against this practice due to guerilla and bandit activity outside U.S. camps. However, Father Rey accepted the risk nonetheless for the good of souls. He would die doing the work of his Master in 1847 in the Mexican countryside being found dead of multiple lance pierces. A quick internet search will reveal more details and background on the life and mission of Father Rey.1 Civil War Chaplains During the U.S. Civil War from 1861-1865, Father William Corby became famous for his absolution of the Irish brigade at Gettysburg in 1863 as they went into battle. Shortly after this absolution many Irish soldiers would be cut down, but in the mercy of the Lord, they died with the sacramental comfort of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. This act is still commemorated by a statue of the absolution at Gettysburg National Battlefield. Father Corby later became president of Notre Dame and wrote a memoir of his three years in the Civil War which is still in print titled Memoirs of Chaplain Life: Three Years in the Irish Brigade with the Army of the Potomac.2 Also during the Civil War, Father Peter Whelan was a Confederate Army Catholic chaplain who ministered to the Union prisoners at the infamous Andersonville Prisoner of War (POW) camp in Georgia. At Andersonville Union prisoners were subject to exposure at all times and seasons. The stream that flowed through the camp was the water source and latrine. Father Whelan administered to the prisoners in the hot, disease ridden, and filthy camp where thousands would die. Prisoners also suffered from gang violence committed by fellow prisoners. From dawn to dusk Father Whelan heard confessions, cared for the sick, and provided comfort including the Last Rites to the numerous dying. In this camp of horror, Father Whelan saved thousands of lives and souls through his zeal for charity. Father Whelan cared for those seen as the Union “enemy” as he, like his Lord, saw all mankind first: as his brother not an enemy. Father Whelan would contract a lung disease from the disease ridden camp and die in 1871 going to his eternal reward after working in his Master’s vineyard.3 A work titled The Prison Ministry of Father Peter Whelan: Georgia Priest and Confederate Chaplain was written in 1987 by Peter J. Meany, OSB. The small book can sometimes be obtained at old book stores and is quite inspirational and more detailed.4 Later Wars Following the Civil War, conflict was constant in the Western U.S. during the period known as the Indian Wars from 1865 to Wounded Knee in 1890. Father Eli Washington John Lindesmith ministered to the troops and families stationed on the lonely Western outposts. His readings are very interesting and well documented by author Monsignor James R. Kolp in his work The Amazing Father Lindesmith: Chaplain in Indian Country; and noted as “worthwhile reading” by Father Benedict Groeschel CFR.5 The Spanish American War of 1898 began with the explosion that destroyed the U.S.S. Maine in Cuba’s Havana harbor which was likely incorrectly thought to be the result of foul play from Spain. Regardless, Father John P. Chidwick, Chaplain of the U.S.S. Maine, immediately gave a mass absolution, and then feverishly began rescuing and administering to the wounded. Last Rites were also given to the dying. Needless to say all these actions were done at great risk to his own life. One cadet noted that night Chaplain Chidwick was “everywhere.” Father Chidwick would also be one of the last to leave the stricken ship.6 Fr. Francis Duffy in World War I trenches. World War I During World War I, Father John B. DeValles would become known as the “Angel of the Trenches.” This was due to his charity in deliberately entering “No Man’s Land” to look for wounded and dying soldiers; Allied or German. The danger he risked in his zeal for souls made him a legend. Father DeValles was once even found unconscious due to breathing in mustard gas while trying to aid a wounded soldier. Father DeValles’ selfless charity would lead to early death from health problems connected to the war at age forty-one.7 Father Francis Patrick Duffy was also a legend and known for his chaplaincy to the 69th “Fighting Irish” New York National Guard in World War I. Today, while not well known, a statue of Father Duffy can be found in the middle of Times Square as this author has visited.8 World War II The attack on Pearl Harbor brought about the first Catholic chaplain hero of World War II. Father Aloysius Schmitt was beginning preparations for Mass on the U.S.S. Oklahoma when Japanese torpedoes hit the battleship. The attack caused immediate flooding aboard the vessel. In one compartment, Father Schmitt helped push sailors through a small porthole to escape the incoming waters. The last man to leave would have been Father Schmitt however, after realizing more sailors had arrived into the flooding compartment below him he went back and gave up attempts to save himself. Father Schmitt pushed another twelve men through before he drowned. Later in the war a destroyer would bear his name as the U.S.S. Schmitt.9 In the following days, the Japanese attacks on the Philippines also brought out more Catholic priest heroes. Father William Cummings was one such chaplain who ministered to the victims of the attack on the Philippines. Eventually captured, Father Cummings would be one of the five priests who participated in the infamous Bataan Death March. Father Cummings would continue to minister to troops in the Prisoner of War (POW) camp and become known as the man “who never said no to anyone.” Father Cummings would go to his eternal award eight months before the war’s end dying on a Japanese POW ship.10 Also on the Death March, the Japanese brutally murdered a Jesuit priest who until today is regarded as a martyr by the Filipino people. Father Juan Gaerlan, a chaplain to the Philippine Army (the Philippines was still an American colony,) after he escaped with other Filipino soldiers was later recaptured. In retaliation all were fastened with baling wire and bayoneted to death.11 Additionally Father John E. Duffy would survive the Death March, being left for dead after Japanese guards bayoneted him three times. Rescued by Filipino guerillas he was later recaptured and sent to Japanese POW camps where he ministered to the prisoners. During his imprisonment Father Duffy was tortured, beaten with a baseball bat and subjected to high water pressure, all of which failed to get the priest to collaborate with the enemy in any way. This information in greater detail is available in a great work on Father Duffy; But Deliver Us from Evil: Father Duffy and the Men of Bataan by Dan Murr in 2008.12 Father Duffy was also with Father Matthias Zerfas who survived the Death March. While a prisoner he celebrated Mass and cared for the sick even though he was weak and himself literally starving to death. Father Zerfas even conducted convert classes and led night prayers and a daily rosary. Father Zerfas eventually died after being given Last Rites by Father Duffy when their POW ship moving them was mistakenly attacked by U.S. warplanes.13 Father Carl Hausmann also ministered to POWs after surviving the Death March. Father Hausmann entered the army following the attack on the Philippines as he was already present in the islands as a priest ministering to the lepers at the Colion Leper Colony. One survivor noted that they felt unclean around Father Hausmann as he was so holy. One example of this holiness was his giving of food to other prisoners although he himself was dying of starvation, and another was how he worked for others while barely able to stand himself. Father Hausmann also suffered a ten minute rifle butt beating by a Japanese guard for refusing to halt the consecration during Mass when an air raid began. Father Hausmann survived the beating and still completed the Holy Mass after the guard left.14 Additionally, Father Duffy himself said Father Hausmann died partly because he gave his daily two spoonfuls of rice to other prisoners.15 This author recommends the aforementioned book by Dan Murr for more detail on these great priests of Bataan and their resulting heroic charity in Japanese POW camps. Holy Mass on Iwo Jima, 1945. The Pacific Theater As the war continued, many Catholic chaplains entered military service and began to bring the sacraments so needed to soldiers in danger or on the verge of death. Many would give their lives or make other heroic sacrifices. In the Pacific War, Father Thomas Reardon suffered with the troops on Guadalcanal so much that he lost fifty pounds. Father Reardon wore the same clothes for eighty-five days and despite dealing with malaria rarely rested in order to minister to his “parish” on the beach for 125 days. Father Reardon was later evacuated unconscious and close to death from his overwork.16 Author James Campbell in The Ghost Mountain Boys regarding the campaign in New Guinea discusses the role of Father Stephen Dzienis who accompanied the 32d Infantry Division as it crossed the Owen Stanley Mountains in a 130-mile march through thick jungle to attack the Japanese army at Buna. This march through the jungle decimated the 32d through disease and exhaustion, but they still went into immediate combat for two months with a determined Japanese enemy. Even in battle and despite jungle rot sores, Father Dzienis would provide Mass, comfort, and Last Rites. Soldiers of all faiths were known to shout “Chaplain Dzienis is here!” so important was his presence as he crawled to the front to visit “his parish.”17 At Iwo Jima, Marine Chaplain Father Charles Suver celebrated Holy Mass shortly before the raising of the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi by the Marines. Debate has been inconclusive whether it was the first less known or the second more well known raising of the flag that is now immortalized in history. Regardless of which flag raising it was Father Suver could still hear Japanese voices in the nearby caves as he said the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!18 Fr. Joseph O’Callahan ministers to an injured man aboard the USS Franklin, March, 1945. At sea, Navy Chaplain Father Joseph T. O’Callahan received the Medal of Honor due to his bravery administering to the dead and wounded when the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Franklin was severely damaged and turned into a blazing inferno by a kamikaze attack off Japan in March 1945. Father O’Callahan additionally was credited with inspiring the crew to fight the fires despite the danger of flames and exploding American bombs set off by the fire. Father O’Callahan set an example of bravery and spiritual calmness which in turn helped inspire the crew.19 The European Theater In Europe, Catholic chaplains were no less brave and were present throughout the theater. Father Joseph Lacy spent much of D-Day in France providing Last Rites to Catholic soldiers and spiritual comfort to non-Catholic soldiers.20 Father Francis L. Sampson became known as the “Parachute Padre” serving in the 501st parachute regiment. Father Sampson was captured at Normandy by the German SS and almost executed until saved by a German Catholic soldier. Father Sampson noted he was so nervous he kept repeating the Catholic grace prayer before a meal instead of an Act of Contrition. Eventually freed by American troops and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Father Sampson would go on to survive the famous jump into the Arnhem pocket in Holland also known as “the bridge too far,” and was later recaptured by German troops during the Battle of the Bulge. This time Father Samson would remain a POW in a Stalag until the end of the war, but remain busy aiding the sick and saying Mass. Father Sampson would survive to serve as a Chaplain in the Korean War and later become the U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains from 1967-1971.21 Father Sampson also wrote a memoir of his World War II experiences appropriately titled Look Out Below in 1958.22 This memoir also gives great insight to Soviet actions in occupied areas of Eastern Europe after German defeat. Father Sampson was in a POW camp “liberated” by the Soviet army and he offers a good firsthand account of the horrors of life in the Soviet sector. If it can be acquired through an old book store it is a worthwhile read. At sea in the Battle for the Atlantic with German submarines, Father John Washington is remembered as one of the four chaplains that gave away their lives after the troopship Dorchester was torpedoed by a German U-Boat off Greenland in 1943. Father Washington and the other three chaplains a rabbi, a Methodist, and a Dutch Reformed minister all gave away their life preservers and were last seen sinking with the ship praying with arms linked for the men’s safety.23 There is a stained glass memorial to these four chaplains in the Pentagon. In concluding the World War II part of this article it must be mentioned that any reading about Catholic chaplains in World War II is not complete without Battlefield Chaplains: Catholic Priests in World War II by Donald F. Crosby, S.J. Chaplain Harold O. Prudell hears a soldier’s confession on the front lines of Korea, June, 1951. After World War II In the postwar era, Father William Menster would accompany the U.S. exploration mission Operation HighJump to the Antarctica. Father Menster would be the first clergy to set foot on Antarctica and also consecrated the continent through the Holy Mass. Father Menster wrote his memoirs in a work called Strong Men South in 1949.24 In 1950, the Korean War would bring forward more sacrifice on the part of Catholic chaplains. Father Emil J. Kapaun who was declared a Servant of God in 1993 may one day be declared a saint. Father Kapaun worked tirelessly to aid and comfort POWs after he was captured and imprisoned by Chinese Communist troops. Father Kapaun despite abuse would also help the allied POWs refute communist propaganda with Catholic doctrine. Eventually communist abuse would take its toll and Father Kapaun would die of sickness, the denial of medical care, and starvation before the end of the war. Giving away his food to other POWs exasperated the problem. A great work on Father Emil Kapaun is A Shepherd in Combat Boots by William L. Maher.25n Fr. Emil Kapaun, the Good Thief During the war in Vietnam Father Vincent Robert Capodanno, a U.S. Navy Chaplain, ministered to U.S. troops and was killed while trying to rescue a wounded corpsman. Father Capodanno was into his second year after he volunteered to extend past a year in order to continue to administer to U.S. troops. This action would lead to the award of the Medal of Honor for Father Capodanno. Father Capodanno was named a Servant of God in 2002 and may likely become a saint. Grunt Padre by Father Daniel L. Mode is a great book on Father Capodanno.26 U.S. Army Chaplain Father Aloysius Paul McGonigal during the Tet Offensive of 1968 volunteered to minister to troops in the urban battle for Hue city. The urban battle for Hue ranks with other great urban battles like Stalingrad and Manila during World War II in its intensity. Despite an order to not go into the city, Father McGonigal’s zeal for souls in danger was too great. Fr. Charles Watters in Vietnam shortly before his death in November, 1967. Chaplain Watters was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery under fire. Once he linked up with the Marines they told him to leave as it was too dangerous. Father McGonigal refused and ministered aid and Last Rites to the wounded and dying. He was killed on February 17, 1968 trying to rescue a wounded Marine. The Marines later dedicated a chapel at Camp Pendleton in his honor to the service he gave to the Marines at Hue.27 In our own times, Minnesotan Father Tim Vakoc served in Bosnia where he told his sister he wanted to do God’s will even if it included being in the line of fire. Father Vakoc would eventually deploy to Iraq and drove in the dangerous convoys prone to Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks in order to minister to the troops. After returning from saying Holy Mass in the Mosul area in 2004, Father Vakoc was in a vehicle struck by an IED that caused him to loose an eye and suffer heavy brain damage. Father Vakoc suffered during his attempts of recovery and went to his eternal reward in June 2009 a true warrior of Christ. Stella Borealis posts on Father Vakoc While this brief article can only scratch the surface it is a reminder of the many Catholic heroes that have served as chaplains in our country’s history. The spiritual and physical benefits of the priest in service to the armed forces are incalculable. This author has seen firsthand the selfless service of priests in Iraq, and hopes all who read this have a new found appreciation for our wonderful Catholic chaplains past and present and will find the works mentioned beneficial for future reading and inspiration. Our Lord truly built his Holy Roman Catholic Church to bring us salvation and His comfort under the most trying of times in this world. James A. Harvey, III is a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve. He holds a Masters Degree in Military Studies from American Military University. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites 9Share Footnotes 1. Donald R. McClarey, “The American Catholic,” http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/03/09/the-first/ This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back] 2. Corby, William, and Lawrence Kohl. Memoirs of Chaplain Life. New York: Fordham University Press, 1992. [back] 3. Donald R. McClarey “The American Catholic,” http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/04/21/priest-of-andersonville/ This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back] 4. Meany, Peter J. The Prison Ministry of Father Peter Whelan Georgia Priest and Confederate Chaplain. Savannah: The Georgia Historical Quarterly, 1987. [back] 5. Kolp, Monsignor. The Amazing Father Lindesmith. Canton, OH: St. Raphael Center, Inc, 2004. [back] 6. Donald R. McClarey, “The American Catholic” http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/07/24/hero-of-the-maine/#more-10928 This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back] 7. Sources are hard to find on Father Devalles. The link here is to a daycare center named after Father Devalles and their site presents a quick biography of their namesake. http://www.devallesdaycare.com/our-name.htm [back] 8. Father Duffy’s memoirs are available sometimes in old book sales. Duffy, Francis, P. Father Duffy’s Story A Tale of Humor and Heroism, of Life and Death with the Fighting 69th. New York: George H. Doran Company, 1919. Also available in reprint at Kessinger Publishing http://www.kessinger.net/ [back] 9. Donald R. McClarey “The American Catholic” http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/03/11/sunday-in-paradise/#more-5684 This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back] 10. Crosby, Donald F. Battlefield Chaplains: Catholic Priests in World War II. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1994), 27-28. Info on Father Cummings obtained from Battlefield Chaplains. Used with permission. [back] 11. Crosby, Battlefield Chaplains, 29. Used with permission. [back] 12. Murr, Dan. But Deliver Us from Evil: Father Duffy and the Men of Bataan. (Jacksonville, FL: Murr Publishing, 2008), 83-84. Used with permission. [back] 13. Murr, Deliver Us from Evil 100-102. Used with permission. [back] 14. Murr, Deliver Us from Evil 84-86. Used with permission. [back] 15. Murr, Deliver Us from Evil 104. Used with permission. [back] 16. Crosby, Battlefield Chaplains, 40. Used with permission. [back] 17. Campbell, James. The Ghost Mountain Boys. (New York: Crown Publishers, 2007), 255. Used with permission. [back] 18. Donald R. McClarey “The American Catholic” http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/03/30/the-mass-on-mount-suribachi/ This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back] 19. Donald R. McClarey “The American Catholic” http://the-american-catholic.com/2010/02/21/great-jesuits-5-medal-of-honor/#more-17858 This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back] 20. Crosby, Battlefield Chaplains, 129. Used with permission. [back] 21. Donald R. McClarey, “The American Catholic” http://the-american-catholic.com/2008/11/18/father-major-general/ This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back] 22. Sampson, Francis. Look out below! A Story of the Airborne by a Paratrooper Padre. Sweetwater: 101st Airborne Division Association, 1989. [back] 23. Donald R. McClarey, “The American Catholic” http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/01/05/four-chaplains/ This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back] 24. Menster, William. Strong Men South. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1949. [back] 25. Maher, William. A Shepherd in Combat Boots. Shippensburg: Burd Street Press, 2002. [back] 26. Mode, Daniel L. The Grunt Padre. Oak Lawn, IL: CMJ Marian Publishers, 2000. Father Mode himself has served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and is currently on active duty as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy. Father Mode has also served in Afghanistan. [back] 27. Donald R. McClarey, “The American Catholic” http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/05/24/jesuit-grunt/#more-8930 This is part of a blog regarding Catholic chaplains on “The American Catholic” website that features great information on many forgotten Catholic chaplains. Permission was obtained from author Donald R. McClarey to use them. [back]

Catholic Military Chaplains