United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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targets for enemy artillery or mortar fire. Traveling through extreme cold, stormy weather over rugged mountainous terrain, he continually stayed with the men, giving instruc- tions and conducting religious services without regard for his personal safety. MAW Chaplain Personnel Acting Wing Chaplain Seymour's report to the Chief of Chaplains dated 12 February 1952 detailed the following personnel picture. Chaplain R. D. Cleaves had departed on 1 February, and Seymour was giving Protestant coverage to Marine Aircraft Group 33 in addition to his own duties. Chaplain Horvath, transferred to headquarters, was replaced at Marine Aircraft Group 12 by Chaplain La Duca. E. R. Weidler remained as Protestant chaplain in MAG 12. A. Sullivan continued as Roman Catholic chaplain in MAG 33. Chaplain Harrison was still in Pusan, attached to the Marine antiaircraft artillery battalion. There was no Navy chaplain with the units at Itami. The Chaplains Division had run into unexpected diiiiculties in detailing a replacement for Chaplain Barnes as Wing Chaplain. Bames had received or- ders in October 1951 detaching him on the arrival of his relief, Chaplain E. R. Brewster. Because of serious illness in his family, Barnes was detached in November without relief. On 5 December Chaplain Brewster's orders were modified, granting him 20 days delay because of the illness of his father, and on 19 December his orders to the lst Marine Aircraft Wing were canceled because of further illness in l1is family. On 26 December Chaplain Joseph F. Parker was or- Worship for Replacements. A large group of Marine replacements on their way to front- line duty with the lst Division attend services conducted by Chaplain Robert C. Fenning. ' . ...K dered to the Wing but his orders were canceled be- cause his wife was critically ill. On 29 December Chaplain William Kuhn was ordered but upon physical examination was hospitalized in San Francisco. After this series of setbacks the Air Wing Com- manding General, C. F. Schilt, wrote directly to Chap- lain Salisbury: The lst Marine Air Wing is one of the few organizations of the Naval Service engaged in land combat and has per- sonnel at five main locations in Korea and one in Japan. As you know an adequate number of competent chaplains is essential to good morale in an organization committed as we are. Under the circumstances I believe you will agree with me that the Wing has not received proper treatment, having been without a Wing Chaplain since November. After commending Seymour's work as Acting Wing Chaplain and suggesting a couple of chaplains he would like to have if available, the General concluded, If a more senior chaplain is not readily available, Chaplain Seymour is entirely acceptable as Wing Chaplainf, A postscript, handwritten, extended an invitation to the Chief of Chaplains to come to Korea himself for a tour of inspection. Chaplain Salisburyis reply, after explaining the sit- uation described just above, noted that Chaplain Par- ker's orders had been reinstated, and added, I only wish that I could get out to see you but there are cer- tain pressures here which require my presence for sometime to come. Parker reported on 18 April 1952 and the lst Marine Aircraft Wing once again had a Wing Chaplain. Divine Services Most chaplains would regard their religious ministry as encompassing more than services of divine worship, but nothing they do, they would say, is more funda- mentally important. The following statistics, included in the quarterly report ending 31 March 1952 sub- mitted by Force Chaplain Martell H. Twitchell, cov- ering all activities of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, indicate the zeal of clergymen in uniform in provid- ing a ministry of worship. During March 14 chap- lains reported conducting from 32 to 96 separate services each. The live who conducted the greatest number were the following: Com- Serv- Attend- muni- ices ance cant: J. H. Sullivan. MAG 33 .... 96 2, 163 1, 132 H. A. Seymour .... lst MAW. . 53 1, 663 360 R. C. Fenning. Sth Marines ..... 45 984 136 E. R. Weidler. MAG 12 ...... 43 1, 570 190 Geo. F elder, jr 7th Marines 40 647 364 --129-

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Field Mass. Chaplain John J. O'Neill celebrates mass in the field for marines at a forward position. meritorious conduct . . . as Division Chaplain for a Marine division during operations against the enemy in Korea from 8 October 1951 to 16 April 1952. The citation continues: Commander Peck displayed exceptional ability and fore- sight in caring for the spiritual welfare of all the Marines coming under his jurisdiction. An understanding and capa- ble leader, wise and persevering, he organized his section in such an outstanding manner that spiritual services and guidance were always available to those who were in the greatest need. Frequently making journeys throughout the entire division in the most adverse conditions of weather and terrain, he worked long and arduous hours with little con- cem for his personal health, in order to insure that all Marines received the opportunity to attend services in their own particular faith. Chaplain John O'Neill was awarded the Air Medal for the period 19 November 1951 to 8 January 1952. His citation reads in part: Utilizing air transportation to reach the front line units, Lieutenant fjg.j O'Neill repeatedly flew over action combat areas in a slow, unarmed aircraft to conduct religious services for friendly troops at the front. Chaplain O'Neill also received the Letter of Com- mendation award for action on 8 January 1952. When well-entrenched enemy forces gained fire superi- ority over a Marine patrol, inflicting heavy casualties, Lieu- tenant O'Neill left his battalion command post immediately and proceeded to the scene of the battle in order to give spiritual aid to members of the patrol. Alone and unarmed, with no thought for his own personal safety, he fearlessly worked his way through intense enemy fire to reach the patrol and for 45 minutes exposed himself while adminis- tering last rites to the wounded and dying. To the other members of the patrol, his shouted words of encouragement served as a constant source of inspiration. Ridge-Runners Rewarded Five other chaplains received the Letter of Com- mendation with Combat V for periods of service terminating within the 7th Campaign. It is instruc- tive to read their citations, noting how frequently is mentioned their ministry to small Marine units dug in on the mountainous slopes of northeastern Korea. The citation of Chaplain Robert N. Ruleman, for the period 14 September 1951 to 17 January 1952, reads in part: On numerous occasions he refused opportunities to retire to safer areas in the rear. His creed lay in serving with the Fighting Man, and regardless of the situation he remained with the front line troops. Whether it was to solace the weary, comfort the wounded, or dispense the Word of God, he discharged his responsibilities in a manner which pro- vided a reverent inspiration to all who observed him. Chaplain William E. Brooks, Jr., was cited for the period from 29 October 1951 to 29 January 1952. While the regiment was committed in defensive action against the enemy, he personally visited every man on the front lines many times. He conducted divine services in the forward-most areas when it was impossible for men to attend services elsewhere. Chaplain Vincent Lonergan's citation, covering the period from 28 October 1951 to 4 February 1952, indicates how widespread a chaplain's ministry might be. Lieutenant Commander Lonergan, serving as the regi- ment's Catholic chaplain, worked tirelessly with complete disregard for his health and personal safety, to give spiritual aid not only to the men in the regiment but to two medical companies, Army engineers, Marine engineers, and Marine service troops. On one occasion he fearlessly exposed him- self to intense enemy fire to give spiritual consolation to the wounded Marines of an artillery battery and to members of an infantry regiment's command post. Chaplain Joseph P. F. Gallagher was commended for service as a regimental chaplain from 16 January to 4 April 1952. Working for the most part under the most adverse ter- rain and climate conditions, and often in areas that were exposed to enemy mortar and small arms fire, he faithfully held services for and administered to the men and oflicers of the regiment. The citation accompanying Chaplain Robert G. F enning's award, covering the period 25 January-30 April 1952, states the case very explicitly. He constantly ministered to the spiritual needs of the men in the battalion by going from bunker to bunker in order not to assemble a group of men where they could be -128-

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Relief Work Chaplain Weidler wrote that during January and February 1952 numerous North Korean children were airlifted from advance airstrips to the Kangnung field, in need of food, clothing, and a place to live. The local orphanages are the first places the youngsters receive assistance on their way south. This section of Korea has been overrun four times by war in less than a year. The buildings where the children were placed required a lot of repair work. Our men have donated many hours of labor and have written home describing the plight of the children. From our Protestant chapel offering we have spent S585 for clothing to meet the immediate needs of the youngsters. We have been joined by the Marines at El Toro .... We are receiving on the average of 10 large boxes of clothing each day from people at home, in response to the letters written by the men out here. There are 3 UNCACK IUN Civil Assistance Commission, Koreafl and 1 Catholic orphanage with a total of over 250 children depending on us for fuel, clothing, and food. The chaplains serve as liaison between the Air Group and the UNCACK and civil relief personnel in making assistance available where most needed. Commander William Lederer of CINCPAC spent a week with us, obtaining material for a story on our Air Group and its work with these children. ,You should be able to read his own account of our work here in Korea in an Q early issue of This Week, if his plans materialize. According to Chaplain Twitchell's report, cited just above, Weidler had reported that Marines of Marine Aircraft Group 12 had provided clothing for 350 children in the 4 Kangnung orphanages and that 31,200 from the Chapel fund had been donated to them during March. MAW Chaplains Cited Chaplain Richard D. Cleaves was awarded the Bronze Star for his service with Marine Aircraft Group 33 from 23 May 1951 to 1 February 1952. Constantly concerned with the welfare of the men of the group, he frequently spent long hours in helping to seek a solution for individual tribulations. Always ready to assist in the struggle to aid an impoverished country, he guided and directed the Marines in founding and maintaining orphanages in the vicinity of the airfield where he was serving and elected to remain at his post rather than avail himself of the rest and recreation facilities in Japan. Two of the Air Wing chaplains received the Letter of Commendation award for outstanding performance of their duties during periods ending before the termi- nal date of the 7th Korean Campaign. For meri- torious service as Acting Wing Chaplain from 27 November 1951 to 7 April 1952 Chaplain Seymour was cited for his thorough understanding of the various complexities confronting the fighting manfl His work in aiding civilian refugees was singled out for comment. Sparing no efforts in assisting the United Nations struggle to help an impoverished country, he supervised the generous efforts of Marine personnel in their desire to establish and maintain orphanages in the vicinity of Pohang Airfield. Chaplain James A. Sullivan was commended for service with Marine Aircraft Group 33 from 30 June 1951 to 10 April 1952. His concern for the spiritual, mental, and physical welfare of the men prompted him to assist them in their difliculties and troubles at any hour. His citation continues: Not confining his Christian work to his unit alone, Lieu- tenant Commander Sullivan assisted the United Nations efforts to help an impoverished country by aiding in the rehabilitation and maintenance of churches and orphanages in the vicinity of the airfield where he was serving. COMNA VFE Chaplains Cited As the first chaplain to serve on the staff of Com- mander U.S. Naval Forces, Far East, Walter A. Mahler had successfully and with constant good humor planned and supervised the many activities necessary to meet the greatly increased scope of re- quirements for the chaplains' ministry throughout the command. In addition he carried duties as Headquarters chaplain. He was given the Letter of Commendation award covering service from 20 No- vember 1950 to 11 January 1952. Part of his citation reads as follows: His ability to achieve and maintain the proper and delicate balance between the religious and naval aspects of personnel relations and problems was outstanding. His integrity and his staunch, unswerving faith and piety set an inspiring example for all who knew him. Chaplain James E. Reaves, Senior Chaplain, Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, also received the Letter of Com- mendation with ribbon for faithfulness to duty during the period 25 June 1950 to 15 November 1951. Chaplain Mahler was relieved by Daniel F. Mee- han. Other changes in the command since the roster given in chapter 5 were as follows. Chaplains E. D. Bennett, O'Neill, E. Reaves, and E. M. Turner had been relieved. Raymond A. Beaulieu had been assigned to Naval Air Station, Atsugi. Gerard Clark had reported to Naval Hospital to relieve C. W. Lawler, awaiting orders. Benoit R. Galland had re- ported to Fleet Activities, Yokosuka. Charles Horejs was ordered to the repair ship HECTOR and Bob G. Rochelle to the DELTA. Edward G. Swain was assigned to Camp Otsu, which functioned largely as a Marine casual company. In addition, A. Wolf, as noted earlier, had been assigned as Jewish -130-