United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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'1 557 T-if E Y ' i 'iii-z Seder. Chaplain Reuben Siegel is shown with Lt. Col. Sidney J. Altman, division provost marshal, Chaplain Slattery, Mr. Peterson, Red Cross representative of the division, and Chaplain Ernest Wolfram as they partake of the Seder meal in celebration of Passover. Marines Sing Hymns. Voices of marines break the cold crisp night air in Korea as they sing adoration to God during a mission conducted in - preparation for the coming lenten season. -125-

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DIXIE in January 1952, relieving R. A. Vaughan. Tin can chaplains were evidently still working out patterns for their ministry. Of his work Jeffers wrote: The Commodore, not knowing exactly how to govem my work, gave me pemiission to move at will from ship to ship on the condition that I keep him informed of my location. While in the forward area I tried to move at least once a week to another ship in my division to better cover the division and encourage the lay leadership program. Com- manding officers were very cooperative in passing the chap- lain when another ship in the division came alongside with the mail or during refueling or replenishing operations. Other changes were made. W. S. Powell was transferred from ComDesRon 1 to the tender FRON- TIER. Charles E. Hailstone had reported to DesRon 5, Harold F. Syrnons to DesRon 7, Raymond W. Moore to DesRon 9, and George B. Riley to DesRon 13. Edward O. Riley was assigned to Commander Destroyer Division 32. When it is noted that all these chaplains except Edward Riley were Protestants, it would appear that the need for equitable coverage demanded that the Roman Catholic chaplain be assigned to a larger command, in order to be able to move more freely and extend his ministry more widely. Carrier Chaplains The carriers continued interdiction campaigns dur- ing this period. P. Murphy was still in the PHILIPPINE SEA. He wrote to Chaplain Salisbury of the arrival on 16 March of Gordon B. Galaty, an Episcopalian. The Phil Sea had been short a chap- lain, for when Barnes and Murphy had, in effect, ex- changed assignments in the carrier and lst MAW, the former Roman Catholic chaplain, H. E. Meade, was also transferred. Since then nearly a year had elapsed. Murphy expressed delight that the Chap- lains Division had decided to have two chaplains aboard the CV's. There was one hitch, however. Galaty had re- turned to active duty in August 1950 and it appeared that, according to current regulations, he would be eligible for return to inactive duty in late November. There was clearly still a shortage of chaplains, and the release of Reserves who had fulfilled their obligated service would in the future add further pressures. In the PRINCETON Chaplain R. F. McManus was relieved by Thomas F. McNeill, a Reserve who, having returned to active duty in September 1950, would serve 27 months before being released to inac- tive duty in January 1953. Chaplain Cook was relieved in VALLEY FORGE, after nearly 2 years, by Prescott B. Wintersteen. In its third combat tour, the ship had long since come to appreciate the nightly lights out prayer given by the chaplains over the inter-comf, One prayer of Chaplain Cook's may be thought worth recording. Almighty God, our Father, our thoughts turn tonight to our comrades-in-arms in Korea. Be pleased, we pray Thee, to grant them Thy most gracious protection against the enemy and the weather and from every peril. Let Thy fatherly hand be over them, and grant them sure trust in Thee. In these critical hours of negotiation for a cease-fire agree- ment, guide our leaders that they make no decision that will compromise truth, and no error in judgment of righteous- ness and justice: for we fight for truth and justice for all men. If peace means the sacrifice of these, for us or those who shall live after us, grant us the courage and fortitude to continue, in war if necessary, by peaceful means if possible, until, if it be Thy holy will, a lasting peace of freedom from tyranny, freedom from fear, freedom from want shall come to all the nations of earth. We pray in the name of Jesus our Savior, our friend, and our companion of the way. Amen. Paul Knapp had served with Chaplain Cook dur- ing the first year of the war. Because of serious fam- ily illness he was detached without relief and VAL- LEY FORGE was without a Roman Catholic chap- lain until Pius F. Keating reported in March 1952. Keating was a jg with less than a year's active duty, having served at Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, after graduation from Chaplains School in Class 1-51. Chaplains in the BOXER, now in its fourth Korean tour, were G. A. Hoglan fwho had been aboard since his recall in September 1950j and A. Keeley. Kee- ley had previously served in BON HOMME RICHARD but when that ship returned stateside in December 1951, the chaplain was transferred in Ala- meda, Calif., to the BOXER, before she started to the Far East once again. It thus appears that the Chap- lains Division was forced to transfer chaplains, even after only a few months, from ships leaving Korea in order to keep the complement filled on those slated for active war service. Even so it was not always pos- sible to have two chaplains in the large carriers. Escort Carriers Chaplain O. B. Salyer was relieved in BADOENG STRAIT in June 1951 by Warren, L. Wolf, who would remain until May 1953. Chaplain C. O. Sul- livan was relieved in SICILY in December 1951 by George A. Jacobs, who served until his release to in- active duty in December 1952. Both followed the practice of their predecessors in trying to get around to as many small ships as possible, administering Com-

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munion and encouraging whoever might be carrying on religious activities. Chaplain J. Coffey was still aboard the BATAAN. Chaplain R. W. Moore, sewing in DesRon 9, replied in his questionnaire: During Holy Week 1952 it was arranged with the chap- lain in USS BATAAN to have him visit my destroyers for Roman Catholic masses, while I conducted Good Friday services in his ship and other Holy Week services in the re- maining destroyers. We were operating off the coast of Korea. These transfers were accomplished by helicopter. Two other escort carriers were operating in the war theater during this period. The BAIROKO had been in Korean waters from November 1950 to Sep- tember 1951, returning in December 1951, she was present until June 1952. Her chaplain was David M. Humphreys, from August 1950 to August 1952. The RENDOVA served in Korean waters only from Au- gust to December 1951. Chaplain Hugh T. McManus had been aboard since March. Easter I 952 Chaplain Salisbury had planned to visit Korea for Easter, 1952. Maj. Gen. John T. Selden, command- ing the lst Division, wrote to Salisbury expressing his hope that the visit could be accomplished. Invita- tions were extended to the Chief of Chaplains to preach at an all-Division Sunrise Service and else- where in the Division. But it was not to be possible. Salisbury wrote on 8 March, There are a number of matters which keep me here and my superiors feel that it would be best for me to remain within calling distance. During March the picture began to change. The following are excerpts from Peck's letters to the Chief of Chaplains: 11 MARCH 1952. It looks as if the worst of the winter is over. Our nights are cold, but the days are brisk, sunny springtime days-and it certainly lifts the spirits. On the military front it has been a week of a great deal of incoming mortar and artillery rounds. The men in our sector have taken a pounding and the chaplains of the 5th and 7th Marines have had a rough go of it making the ridge-lines on their rounds .... The order has gone out prohibiting any walking of the ridge-line during the daylight not dictated by absolute military necessity. Therefore the chaplains are experimenting with covering the lines during the evening hours, talking to men in bunkers. 17 MARCH 1952. There is considerable activity here right now. I cannot say more except to advise you that some of my next letters may have to be handwritten, although I will do my best to type them, since I always send copies to the CINCPAC Fleet Chaplain and the FMF Chaplain. -126 Peck was referring to a major move then under- way. Until 12 March 1952 the Division had been located on the east flank of the X Corps sector, with the ROK I Corps between it and the Sea of Japan. In the middle of March it began moving to the west- ernmost end of the UN line. The excerpts from Peckls letters to Chaplain Salisbury continue: 26 MARCH 1952. We are moved and back in business. The situation is en- tirely new and in a great state of flux from a religious cover- age standpoint . . . I'm glad that Chaplain Slattery I:Peck's reliefl is here for he can learn this picture from the start and be in on whatever decisions have to be made .... There is even a larger geographical area we have to cover than we had before, but we are out of the mountains. There will be a VD problem here for we have many civilians around. That will get the chaplains into a phase of activity which we haven't needed to have during the winter. We are also located where we will get many church VIP's. I wrote once before they didn't get up into the moun- tains where we wintered but they are sure to come here. As it turns out, with conditions as they are here now, I'm sure you'11 Find your visit later in the year will be more satisfactory. In this turmoil we couldn't have done your visit justice. I am still going to have an Easter Sunrise Service but it will not be the all-Division affair I'd planned in the other area. We will have to have a number of them. 3 APRIL 1952. We have the problem of coverage pretty well in hand now. Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter, and Jewish Passover Serv- ices will all be held now, and everyone will have an op- portunity to participate. They moved units and then moved them again, until it was quite a race to keep our plans for total coverage up to date .... Field conditions create a need for flexibility that no other place demands. During Lent four Roman Catholic chaplains Uoseph P. F. Gallagher, john O'Neill, Vincent Lonergan, and James F. Follardj were able to con- duct a 3-day mission in a rear area. Each evening as approximately 500 personnel of the 5th Marines gathered in a makeshift chapel, the chaplains preached words of guidance and comfort 3 and through the cold, crisp air could be heard the sound of prayers for the repose of the souls of fallen com- rades, for world peace, and for protection amidst the perils and sin of the world. On Easter Day Chaplain John L. Curtis, 1st Sup- ply Battalion, conducted a Sunrise Service at Head- quarters, 8th Army fAdvancej, at Munsan-ni, the camp of the UN delegates, preached the sermon. fGenera1 Harrison was well-known for his personal interest in Christian faith, and active in the promotion of the Officers' Christian Union, an interservice asso- ciation of Protestant churchmen.j