United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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Slattery said, i'Even though it seems as though we are rushing the season a little, the packages have been distributed to the men on the line. 1Bronze Star Awards Four chaplains received the Bronze Star for serv- ices in the lst Marine Division during the 8th Korean Campaign or for periods whose terminal dates fell within that time. Chaplain James C. Moore was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achieve- ment . . . while serving with a Marine infantry bat- talion in Korea from 12 February to 5 July 1952. After citing his initiative, courage, and industrious- ness in providing a ministry to his men, Mooreis cita- tion continues: He was consistently present in the front line trenches when friendly patrols and raids re- turned from making contact with tlhe enemy. Chaplain Noah L. McDowell was cited for coura- geous action on 13 September 1952. The Fire Direc- tion Center, Battery C, 159th Field Artillery Battalion received an intense concentrated shelling by hostile fire, one shell scoring a direct hit on a squad tent, kill- ing four men and wounding five others. Chaplain McDowell, who was with the 4th Battalion, 11th Ma- rines, when word was received of the situation in the Army unit, immediately made his way there. His citation continues the story: Entering a gun section tent where a direct hit had killed or wounded the occupants, he bravely remained with the men in the face of grave danger to render spiritual comfort and to administer first aid. After helping to move the wounded to nearby sheltered bunkers for further medical treatment, Lieutenant McDowell remained with them until they were evacuated. Chaplain Robert H. Willets, who received the Pur- ple Heart after being wounded on 12 June, was also awarded the Bronze Star for his service as regimental chaplain, 7th Marines, covering the period 2 May-20 September 1952. Although frequently exposed to enemy mortar, artillery and small arms fire and wounded in action on one occasion, he persevered in his efforts to aid and comfort the men of the regiment, constantly leaving sheltered positions and mov- ing through interdicted zones to minister to the spiritual needs of the stricken men. By his marked coolness under fire, strength of faith and unswerving devotion to duty, Lieu- tenant Willets served to inspire and encourage all who ob- served him .... The fourth was Chaplain Lionel A. Guillaume whose Bronze Star award for the period 29 April-8 November 1952 cited his untiring labors in the face of enemy fire. Despite extremely adverse conditions, he constantly moved among the wounded Marines with words of encouragement, attempting to make the casualties as comfortable as possible and, in many instances, administering first aid to the stricken men. Letter of Commendation Award Nine chaplains serving in the lst Marine Division received the Letter of Commendation for duty during the 8th Korean Campaign or for periods whose ter- minal dates fell within that time. Those of Chaplains McCabe, Callahan, and Barlik have been noted. Chaplain Alan R. Gibbons was cited for service from 15 October 1951 to 7 May 1952, almost all of it within the 7th Campaign. His citation notes that his courageous and selfless actions were directly in- strumental in saving the lives of several wounded Ma- rines. Chaplain Henry C. Duncan's award covered the period 18 January-29 May 1952, noting that working under hazardous conditions, he was con- stantly at hand to administer spiritual guidance and assistance to the men .... Chaplain Jonathan C. Brown, Jr., was cited for excellent service from 30 May to 4 November 1952, Chaplain Alla W. Robertson for service with the Tank Battalion from 2 March to 7 November 1952 3 and Chaplain Oscar Weber, for the period 2 August-30 November 1952, the latter part as regimental chaplain, lst Marines. All three were commended for their devotion and courage in providing a religious minis- try to men in combat, earning by their attitude the respect and gratitude of the men they served. The ninth chaplain to receive the Letter of Com- mendation was Ernest A. Wolfram, Jr., for service in the lst Engineer Battalion from 15 January-1 Septem- ber 1952. His citation read in part: Lieutenant Wolfram conducted services for all units of the battalion and planned services to meet the religious needs of all faiths. With no concern for his personal safety, he went to companies in direct support of front line units to hold church services, although often subjected to enemy sniper, mortar and artillery fire. On one occasion, while visiting members of the battalion working on a road within close proximity to the enemy, he was pinned down an hour by enemy mortar fire .... His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Chaplain Wolfram died on 30 July 1955, while serv- ing in the cruiser MANCHESTER. Air Wing Chaplain Parker Joseph F. Parker had reported on 18 April 1952 as Wing Chaplain. Something of his activities at the outset of the 8th Korean Campaign can be described by means of excerpts from the Historical Diary sub- mitted by him for inclusion in the Wing's Historical 153 -

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56,857 counseling interviews, made 4,475 visits to the sick and wounded, and written 8,522 letters. Chinese Upsurge During October and November action at the front was stepped up, more frequent clashes were marked by extremely bitter fighting. On 9 October Chaplain Slattery wrote, As you have gathered from the news reports, we have had an extremely busy few days. Chaplains Jones and Barlik, at the medical companies, went sleepless a few nights due to patient load. And on 27 October: Once again we had a busy night on the front. The Chinese Communists seem to be celebrating their second anniversary of entrance into the Korean War by pushing hard against outposts of ours. The next day he reported on the action in a long letter to Chaplain Salisbury. The Marines have won another great battle. The papers are probably calling it the 'iBattle of the Hook. As usual your chaplains performed well, which is expected of them now. Chaplain Prickett spent the Hrst night of the battle at a forward aid station. I went up to see him yesterday and he was pretty tired .... Chaplain Guillaume had spent the night at the battalion aid station, and Chaplain Pat Adams came up for last night. When Guillaume went to the forward aid station, Prickett and Adams took care of the evacuees at Battalion. I went to see Prickett again this morning. He was much refreshed and spent the day visiting his unit casualties who had not been already evacu- ated to the hospital ship. As usual the medical companies are rushed. Moore teamed up with Jones and Lane and they did a wonderful job at Charlie Med. Barlik and Herrick teamed up at Easy Med. Incidentally Barlik received some garbled publicity, a United Press report which states the chaplain has a medical degree. It was one of those wrong slants that eager jour- nalists get. Barlik has given unselfishly of his strength and the medicos really have words of high praise for his assistance in the OR loperating roomj. I have seen him work there and he does have pretty good technique. I want to assure you, however, that he is not practising medicine and surgery. Barlik was consequently awarded the Letter of Commendation, which cited among his other minis- tries his help to the surgeons: Performing in the ca- pacity of an assistant at surgical operations, he con- tributed materially to the success of more than 75 surgical cases. The award was for the period 30 March-3 November 1952. Savage as it was on occasion, the fighting continued to be sporadic. In the intervals and in those units not directly engaged, life went on much as usual. On 18 October Slattery wrote that lst Aircraft Wing Chaplain Parker had fiown up to see how we were caring for two of his 'chopper' units. We gave him the S64 tour of the front lines, which he enjoyed tremendously. On 26 October Chaplains Weber, P. Adams, and Sobel held a Memorial Service for Marine and Navy personnel of the lst Marines and attached units lost in combat from 26 -July to 12 October 1952. The cover of the service folder displayed a bronze plaque affixed to a stone building, with the shadow of a Marine in combat dress falling across the inscribed words: THAT THE BEAUTY or His COUNTENANCE B1-3 NOT HIDDEN FROM Hrs owN THAT HIS WOUNDS AND WOE WHEREIN HE WROTE HIS LOVE BE KNOWN TO ALL THE PEOPLE HE REDEEMED Chaplain T. A. Newman, Jr., a former Navy hos- pital corpsman and according to Slattery a man of naturally sympathetic disposition was able to render exceptional service in motivating Marines who had developed nerves,' to return to the lines. On 10 November his battalion commander authorized him to go to one of the forward outposts, carrying a Marine Corps birthday cake. Chaplain Newman said some prayers for the lads on the outpost, then all hands sang the Marine Corps Hymn and they all sat in a cave to feast. Slattery added: Incidentally, I have a standing agreement with all bat- talion commanders that chaplains will not go forward of the MLR fmain line of resistancej to OP's foutpostsj without specific authorization. Real estate forward of the MLR is under hot dispute too often for the Padres to tour without a special visa. Concerning this point Chaplain Mannion wrote in reply: I certainly agree with fyour policyj .... The unnecessary exposure to danger may be commendable to a limited de- gree, but certainly our chaplains should not be foolhardy, exposing themselves to unnecessary danger and running the risk of cutting off their services to God and country. As November drew to a close, after appropriate Thanksgiving services everywhere throughout the Di- vision, the men's thoughts began turning toward Christmas and home. Ten boxes of gaily wrapped Christmas gifts arrived in the Division chaplainls oflice from the employees of the Kiplinger Organization in Washington, D.C. Writing to them on 3 December -152-

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X-exjjajmgl t g '..,NN'N'-sk NNN . I . NMQ mm MNH -I .K Wing chapel with newly constructed front. E E n n E i ! 5 All Hands Evolution. Even the generals turned out when Chaplain Parker called fo volunteers to help paint the newly constructed chapel 0 the air wing. Pictured here wielding paintbrushes are Brig Gen. Clayton C. Jerome and Brig. Gen. Frank H. Lamson Scribner, commanding general and deputy commande. respectively. Chapel Painting. Seabee Lawrence Schoenrock puts the finishing touches on a religious painting for the MAG 33 new chapel as Chaplain Gerard J. Clark looks on. Korean Painter. Jung Na Vi is shown with his painting of Christ executed fo: the MAW Chapel. The artist was an art professor at the University of Seoul. I tu 1-: ...L K -1544