United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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for no light was permitted, sang Christmas carols far into the night. Presently the sound of the singing carried to other ships. While we were too far apart to sing together, they caught the spirit and we could hear them singing. It had been a good Christmas. Ist MAW Chaplain E. R. Barnes was detached before the arrival of his relief and on 27 November 1951 Chap- lain Howard A. Seymour, who had been at Itami since his arrival in September, was ordered to duty as Acting Wing Chaplain by the Wing Chief of Staff. Writing to Chaplain Salisbury on 14 December, Seymour indicated progress along several lines: a new jeep for the chaplain, a much better qualified chaplain's assist- ant, a chapel in the Wing's new location, including oflice space for the chaplain, and living quarters in a building rather than a tent. Seymour had, in addition to taking Protestant services at Wing headquarters, arranged for missionary priests to afford Roman Catholic coverage where needed. He noted preaching in a nearby Presbyterian Church through an inter- preter, keeping in touch with the chaplains of the Wing, and attending the Command Staff meeting on Monday mornings. Concerning relief work he wrote: In line with the policy of the command, clothing sent to the Wing from the States for the refugees and all excess food has been distributed from this ofiice through proper organi- zations. We have concentrated our efforts on the Presby- terian Seminary in Pusan and the Korean Blind School. However, because of the extremely cold weather here we have handed out many coats directly to Korean refugees who live near by. Christmas in the Air Wing The Wing headquarters had before Christmas nearly completed its move from Pusan to Pohang, farther up the east coast. fSee ch. 6.1 The new chapel was unfinished 5 Seymour described it as an adequate. structure seating 160 personnel, adding that through his contacts at Itarni he had scrounged white paint for the interior. The General insists upon a dedication service before the arrival of the Wing Chaplain, so Chaplain La Duca and I are aiding him Chaplain Stephen Horvath reads the epistle at Christmas Eve mass at the First MAW chapel. A -- S 1

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desiring them had been furnished Christmas greet- ing cards to mail home. Incoming mail brought not only greetings and gifts from families, but from in- dividuals and groups who had voluntarily provided gifts for Korean troops, among them the Armed Forces Wives Club of Boston, the Womenls Division of the Jewish Welfare Board, and employees of the Kiplinger News Agency in Washington. A USO troupe provided entertainment, in addition to movies. President Truman's Christmas message was screened. Tons of hot turkey with trimmings were iiown by helicopter to forward positions where men relieved one another from the line long enough to eat Christ- mas dinner. Cardinal Spellman was in Korea for a Yuletide visit to the U.S. forces in the Far East. He celebrated Mass at the Division Command Post on Christmas Day, with an estimated 3,000 in attendance. Division Chaplain Peck wrote to Chaplain Salis- bury: The Christmas coverage was tops. Things were quiet enough, militarily speaking, that a full religious observance could be made. The chaplains really put out, I am proud of them. For men in bunkers on the line, the infantry chap- lains walked the hills to take the message of Christmas to them. One chaplain had 8 services, another 11. Chap- lains Felder of the Engineers and Stamper of the llth Marines had laymen, oliicers and enlisted, conducting Christmas Eve services throughout their units-19 such lay- direeted services were held. Felder had prepared a mimeographed Order of Service which was used in each of four simultaneous services in outlying companies of the lst Engineer Battalion, with laymen reading a sermon prepared by the chaplain. F elder took his own congregation, augmented by Korean personnel, out on a mountain- side where, as they sang Christmas carols in both English and Korean, two loudspeakers were directed out over a valley holding several thousand troops. Truly the welkin rang as the valley echoed Glory to the new-born King. At the suggestion of his commanding oliicer, Chap- lain R. C. Fenning of lst Signal Battalion conducted a 10-minute service nightly during the week preceding Christmas. Consisting of carols sung by a 12-man choir and a brief talk, each service was broadcast throughout the entire battalion area, reaching about 1,000 men. On Christmas Eve a songfest followed by coffee and cake was held in the mess tent of each of the 23 batter- ies of the llth Marines. Regimental Chaplain R. L. Stamper had arranged with line officers to organize Christmas Decorations From the States. Chaplain Henry C. Duncan assisted by Sergeant Beeson opens a shipment of Christmas decorations sent to the chaplain by Beeson's mother, who belonged to the Navy Mother's Club the chaplain had contacted for such items. - carol-singing and to read the Nativity story. Protes- tant services were held in two battalions and midnight Mass celebrated in two, with further services on Christmas Day. Christmas in VALLEY FORGE The VALLEY FORGE spent its second consecutive Christmas on the line. Many of her personnel had been aboard both those holidays, away from home and all it means at that season. Chaplain Abner R. Cook, one of those, was determined to make it as cheerful as possible, and his captain heartily concurred. With the good help of a sailor named Wheeler, who had been a choir director in a Presbyterian church in Los Angeles, a small choir had been trained. Instead of the usual bugle for reveille, on Christmas morning the crew was awakened with appropriate music by this group. During the day, when they were not singing in one of the several Divine Services, they went to many sections of the ship, from the Admiral's cabin to sick bay, and sang. Usually the oflicers and men joined in. By night everyone wanted to sing so all hands, except those on watch, crowded on the hangar deck and in total darkness.

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X ' 4 1 1 7 . rv 1 .,, - -4 ,tum .- -0 f -. Q' Chapel for MAG 12. This is a chapel located on the east coast at K-18 above Pohang. The group was later moved to K-1 Chaplain Weidlcr and Sergeant Pearson A New Dress. admire a little Korean girlls new dress which has arrived from America --1l3-