United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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Chaplain Harold H. Cummings also worked with a medical company during these harrowing days. Al- most overwhelmed with casualties, the medics worked around the clock, and the chaplain along with them. Later he was cited for the period 15-21 Sep- tember, being awarded the Letter of Commendation, which speaks of his spending approximately 18 hours a day administering spiritual aid to wounded and dying Marinesf' Vignettes Two incidents from the heavy Fighting in Septem- ber, 1951 may serve to document the experience of chaplains in combat. The 3d Battalion, 1st Marines was on the east coast north of the 38th Parallel. Mov- ing up with the forward aid station, Chaplain K. H. Capers would set up what came to be known as the Chaplain's Galley? There honest-to-goodness coffee and even steak, bacon, and eggs were offered casualties and battle-weary Marines who chanced by. The helicopter pilots evacuating the wounded would replenish the larder on their return trips. On one occasion, when the aid station had just moved forward, it became impossible for bearers to evacuate litter cases over the mountainous terrain to the rear aid station. Until helicopters should arrive, there was a long wait. Capers rigged for church, 65 stretchers providing pews for that many seriously wounded, with less serious casualties sitting around. The chaplainis organist, Pak, interpreted for the enemy casualties, among whom was a North Korean ofiicer, seriously wounded, who had refused coHiee and cigarettes and had sneered at the chaplainis efforts to be comforting. During the service, however, he ap- peared to be listening and afterward asked to talk to Capers. Pak interpreted: The prisoner says that he knows the imperialists are butchers and show mercy only to gain their own ends. But he says he likes that Man you were talking about and would like to save your life. He says yould better get out of here be- cause the North Koreans are going to attack tonight in great strength to rescue him, and if you don't es- cape you will be killed with the rest of the Americans. In fact, the Communists did not attack, though they were well able to do so. But that Communist pris- oner had been provided every ministry our own troops received and was evacuated by helicopter with our own wounded. Chaplain Capers was given the Letter of Com- mendation award for service during the period 27 April-9 October. His citation reads in part: He moved with the battalion under all conditions and re- mained with the forward aid station where his work could best be performed. His faith and sincere in- terest in all gave strength to the wounded and the weary. Further Awards By the third week in September fighting in the 1st Marine Division sector of X Corps front began to show results. There was much more to come, how- ever, both in the 2d Infantry Division's sector, and further west, along the IX Corps front. A fifth chaplain, Joseph P. Trodd, would be awarded the Bronze Star for outstanding service dur- ing this period, speciflcally for 16 September-8 Oc- tober. While his battalion was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of E-dong, Trodd remained at the forward aid station, assisting with the casualties. Taking no thought for his own danger or fatigue, tirelessly he ministered to the men who passed through the aid station, ofTering solace and reassur- ance and spiritual strength. Three others received the Letter of Commenda- tion: Chaplain Donald W. Jolly for excellent service during the period 8 july-18 October, Arthur M. Kulinski for 25 August-27 October, and William A. Taylor for the period 9 May-19 November 1951. Jolly was in the 5th Marines. His citation espe- cially mentions an occasion when the command post was subjected to artillery barragesg the chaplain moved about the area fearlessly, giving comfort and spiritual aid to the wounded men, and through the night maintaining a cheerful conversation .... Chaplain Kulinski was serving in the Medical Bat- talion. He followed an exhausting schedule to pro- vide Roman Catholic ministrations for adjacent units lacking a chaplain of that faith. He voluntarily spent many hours at the medical companies, minister- ing spiritual reassurance and comfort to the wounded. When an artillery unit was subjected to the counter- battery fire, he proceeded to that unit to make him- self available for those wounded who sought comfort in his encouragement and confidence. Taylorls award covers a long stretch, but his cita- tion centers upon a particular incident when his regi- ment f llth Marinesj occupied positions in the area of Yanggu. He learned that an adjacent infantry regiment was suf- fering heavy casualties and was endeavoring to evacuate its casualties under serious handicaps and lack of facilities. He promptly went to the regimentis aid and established commu- nications, arranged transportation, and assisted in securing additional medical aid for the wounded. When it began to rain, he sought out blankets, ponchos, and shelter halves to -97-

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enemy artillery Hre, he unhesitatingly proceeded to the spot where the wounded man lay and assisted in his evacuation. He continued to give assistance for a period in excess of 48 hours without rest. A third chaplain was decorated for devoted action on that same ll September. Henry H. Hayes, who had previously received the Bronze Star, was given the Letter of Commendation award. His citation reads in part: While under continuous fire from enemy artillery and mortars, he fearlessly stationed himself at the forward aid station, and with utter disregard for his own personal safety, went about ministering to the wounded and providing them the utmost in comfort and safety. When not performing these duties, he voluntarily organized and dispatched stretcher parties and medical supply trains to the infantry companies. Through his determined efforts and unselfish actions, the lives of many of the critically wounded were saved. Two Chaplains Wounded Two chaplains received light wounds during this period. Chaplain Ferris was wounded on 14 Septem- ber. Hearing that the Marine artillery unit sup- porting his regiment had received direct hits, Ferris hurried to the place and en route was knocked down by a shell which exploded about 10 feet from where he was walking. A lad accompanying the chaplain was killed. In a letter to Chaplain C. L. Drury Qthen Chaplain Corps historianj, dated 20 August 1956, Chaplain Ferris described the event: All I can say is that the good Lord was with me. It wasn't until later that evening when I had returned to my own outfit and was changing my clothes that I discovered my clothes were covered with blood, not necessarily my own blood. My clerk noticed I had a number of cuts on my back. Thinking that there might be some small splinters of shrapnel, I reported to sick bay and found everything to be O.K. An examination showed the wounds to be slight. How- ever, Ferris was reported as a casualty and his wife received a telegram to that effect before he could write and let her know that he was not seriously injured. The second chaplain wounded was E. Hollings- worth. Somehow a report was circulated which reached his wife at home that the chaplain had died of his wounds, actually the wound was not serious enough to require hospitalization. He would later re- ceive the Letter of Commendation award for uexcel- lent service . . . during operations against the en- emy . . . 20 April to 15 October l95l. His citation includes the following: Despite the threat of enemy action, he often held Divine Services for the infantry companies within easy range of the enemy positions. On one such occasion, he was wounded while holding services. He refused to be evacuated until he had reassured the Marines in their faith. The Medios If chaplains sometimes received decorations, and often both silent and expressed respect and apprecia- tion from their fellows, they in turn were warm in their regard for the sacrificial spirit evidenced around them. The Division's Jewish chaplain, E. H. Rickel, wrote of one 30-hour period in which A Medical Company cared for some 675 wounded Marines. Every man, he wrote, from highly trained specialist to truck driver, sweated and worked at furious pace according to his skill. And he quoted with obvious approval the re- mark of a surgeon, washing up after an extremely deli- cate operation, I'm damned proud to be a member of this outfit. Iive never seen anything like it. 59 About 8 olclock on Sunday evening 80 men were brought in from the enemy line, 78 turned out to be ROK Marines, 2 were North Koreans. Accompanied by interpreter and chaplain, a doctor began routine admissions work. The Korean equivalent of Where do you hurt? was repeatedly called out, as doctors and corpsmen ascertained the extent and nature of wounds and prepared initial charts. The chaplain bent down to hold a canteen of water to the mouth of one of the wounded enemy. A gleam of life flashed into the half-closed almond-shaped eyes, he lifted his head up, bowed in thanks, and drank deeply. A South Korean Marine looked on with amazement and shouted, He is the enemyf, The chaplain asked Yu to explain that here and now there were no enemies, only wounded. Chaplain Rickelis account continued: The devotion to duty of the medical personnel was rein- forced, was only equalled by the conduct of the wounded. Faces showed pain, involuntary anguished moans escaped, but at no time did anyone hear loud outbursts. The wounded waited patiently, with closed eyes, tight lips, and gratitude that they were still alive. And when they did talk, this is what one heard. 'Tm okay, Doc, take care of himf' Do you think I'll make it, chaplain? Gee, my poor wife, shclll be so hurt. A'Pray for me, padre, I promised my little boy that lid take him on a camping trip when I got back. As one warrant officer said, if that number ever hit a hospital in the States, they'd have to declare a city- wide emergency. But men can and do rise above themselves, above what they commonly think is ex- pected of them and indeed expect of themselves. Perhaps, as Rickel said, You have to see it to believe it , but when it happens, one can only pause in humble gratitude. -95-

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Care for the Wounded. Chaplain J. P. Trodd administers rites to a wounded marine as the corpsman gives him plasma. A Letter Home. Chaplain Elihu Rickel takes dictation at an aid station for a wounded marine. Makeshift Altar. It is said necessity is the mother of invention. Pictured here is a demonstration of one of the methods used to set up an altar near the front. protect the wounded men. With complete disregard for personal comfort and fatigue, he spent long hours, day and night, at the evacuation relay point, giving comfort to the casualties and writing letters home for them. During an- other period, when two battalions of the regiment were being subjected to daily counterbattery fire, he continued to make frequent visits to the two units, comforting and inspiring the wounded, as well as those who had to continue their work under fire. ' Chaplains serving in the Division during this Sixth Korean Campaign received live Bronze Star awards, seven Letter of Comrnerrdation awards, and two Purple Heart awards. Approximately 50 percent of the Chaplain Section were decorated, not considering those who had earlier received citations or would later do so. Never before in the history of the Navy Chaplain Corps had so many from such a relatively small group won such recognition in so short a time. Chaplain Peck Comes Aboard From 1 August until Chaplain Kelly was relieved, the following new chaplains had arrived: Edmund W. Pipho CLutheranj, James F. Follard CRoman Catholicj, Walter J. Vierling tLutheranj , Robert N. Ruleman QMethodistj, and John O,Neill CRoman Catholicj. On 10 September Kelly wrote to the Chief: Colonel Krulak asked me again the other day when an Episcopal chaplain was coming. General Shepherd, FMF Pacific, was here for a visit and commented that there is no Episcopal chaplain in any part of FMF Pacific. I know Krulak is Episcopal, so I guess General Shepherd must be also. Chaplain Kelly had been suffering from dysentery. He wrote on 17 September that the doctors had or- dered him to the hospital ship CONSOLATIONQ the next day, upon his evacuation, Chaplain C. Fitz- gerald was assigned duty as Division Chaplain until Chaplain W. S. Peck, Jr., on his way as Kelly's relief, should report in. Peck reported to the Division CP on 8 October 1951 and Fitzgerald was detached to return to the States. The Chief, replying to Peck's first letter from Ko- rea, requested that as Division Chaplain he continue certain practices which his predecessors had evolved