United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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Aboard each ship my primary duty was to provide for the spiritual welfare of all embarked personnel. To this end I conducted Sunday and daily Protestant Church services un- derway with one Communion service each outbound and inbound voyage. In addition Sunday and daily Roman Catholic Rosary services were arranged for personnel of that faith whenever there was no passenger Catholic chaplain available to hold Mass. Furthermore, services were ar- ranged weekly for personnel of the Latter Day Saints and Jewish faiths. Finally, since I am a member of the Chris- tian Science Church, I also conducted Sunday and midweek Christian Science services. Chaplain of the Year, B'nai B'rith On 12 February 1953 Chaplain Robert D. Goodill was serving on the GEORGE CLYMER when 75 miles away the SS PRESIDENT PIERCE was shaken by a blast after which fire broke out on the vessel. While the CLYMER was hastening to assist the stricken ship the chaplain asked for and received per- mission to board the vessel upon arrival. It took 5 hours to arrive on the scene. Meanwhile some of the injured had been transferred to the BARRETT. The PIERCE was determined to continue on course but requested a Fire-Fighting party. At 0300 Chaplain Goodill was the first to board the vessel. He headed to the scene of action where a hatch had been blown completely open. He assisted in fighting the Hre which was consuming' part of the cargo of oxygen tanks, rubber tires, and other inflammable material. Learning of casualties he went to minister unto them. Later he attempted to go to the BARRETT as he was informed that one of the men taken aboard had died. He notified the Captain of the PIERCE of this loss and returned to the wounded. He offered spiritual consolations to the sufferers regardless of their religious aHiliations.,' He subsequently was des- ignated as Navy Chaplain of the Year, for 1953 by the Chaplain A. D. Goode Lodge of B'nai B'rith. -184-

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latholic Rosary Services when Catholic Chaplains vere unavailable. Chaplain James R. Spaid tells of he reaction of some commanding oflicers to the work mf chaplains. He affirms that several commanding mflicers stated that until they came to transport duty md saw the program of chaplains working under hem, they had not realized the importance of the :haplains in the military organization and have thus given them including himself, their full and complete 'ooperation. Chaplain Spaid also tells of an Army lieutenant who lad come . . aboard for a voyage to Korea who had no use for the Ihurch and anything it stood for due to some unfortunate experiences his family had had in his younger days. He Ltated that he had given chaplains a hard timev at every Jpportunity. Upon his seeing our full schedule of daily services for almost every faith, the schedule for Bible classes, :hoir practices etc., he decided to check in on a few and talk 1, little with the men hoping to aggravate them a bit and mock the program apart. About half way out from the States this officer took sick for the first time in his life and :alled for me and in the course of our conversation he un- covered his plan, but he admitted it had utterly failed for ue said he had absolutely no success in discouraging the men attending these various activities, in fact, he felt himself being influenced by the services. So he saw me each day for a period of instruction and I don't believe he missed a single daily service after that for the balance of the trip. I wrote his wife at the oflicerls request, in relation to his decision which made her most happy and inspired her to get back in active work in her former church. I thought it might be a temporary thing, but I have the word of the Port Chaplain at Pusan, Korea that this officer during his entire stay in Korea was one of his most loyal supporters and was very active in assisting the chaplain there. The officer now has returned to the States and now I have had several let- ters from them stating that they feel that their decision has brought a closeness in their lives they have never before experienced. I Each voyage of an MSTS ship is a new experience. New leadership is sought and found. Chaplain Spaid speaks of his volunteers, saying, . . . the most glory is due those many young men who vol- unteered their services to assist me in the entire program. Those men who played the organ, directed our many choirs, those who sang solos, who did the ushering, who assisted in the libraries as well as the religious services as well as those who actually conducted rosaries, Bible classes etc., did a magnificent job in the making of our program possible. Without them wc would never have been able to have such a complete program. On transports, we have a very mini- mum of our own personnel and as a result our congregations are different each trip, these volunteers did an invaluable piece of work and certainly should be recognized for their most unselfish efforts. Chaplain Nelson speaks of the Bible study class as the best source for Sunday School teachers and choir members. Chaplain Spaid says concerning the variety of services, It was nothing unusual to have Protestant, Catholic, Jew- ish, Latter Day Saints, Christian Science, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist land even Mohammedan on one tripl and others . . . held on one day. Catholic and Protestant services are held daily and many of the other groups especially the L.D.S. had services on a daily basis. In addition to the services, Bible classes and instruction classes were conducted daily along with daily choir practices. Chaplain Nelson reports on counseling stating that it varies greatly, depending on whether a person is going to Korean waters or away from them. Sex ed- ucation, rnarriage, and family life were the emphasis on the way out. On the way back the main emphasis was on civil readjustment. He also speaks on counsel- ing men who are interested in full time or part time religious vocations. Chaplain Jesse D. Harder also confirms the latter stating that Several men have in- dicated their desire to become chaplains. A number of men want to become chaplain's assistants. From the reports of the chaplains it would appear that char- acter education lectures were held aboard MSTS ves- sels and were well received. Collateral duties were as numerous as ever. Chaplain Nelson says that in the Special Services program alone, f'On some trips we have as high as 50 members of ship's company and troop personnel under our supervision. From the listing of activities aboard his ship it would appear that Chaplain Peter Marron would need as much help as Chaplain Nelson had. Chaplain Rauzelle M. Johnson tells of a voyage on an ocean that was pacific', in name only. In fact he was packing his congregation in. He recalls that, The chapel area was filled. The ship took a roll while we were reading the responsive reading, we had to stop the reading. A crowded chapel was about half full since the men were sliding from side to side. When the reading was resumed the chaplain read: Arise, O Lord. And the congregation read: And save me, O, my God. And they meant every word of it. The normal trip took 12 days, this one took 19 days. Chaplain Norman B. Holmes calls attention to his 2-year shipboard duty serving the Korean theater as marking the first time in more than 25 years that a Christian Science Navy Chaplain has served afloat and in combat waters. It also appears that Chaplain Holmes was the second chaplain of his afiiliation to serve in the naval chaplaincy. Concerning services aboard his ship, Chaplain Holmes reports, -183-

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CHAPTER TEN KOREAN DEFENSE Summer and Fall 1953 l May-27 July 1953 After the prisoners had been exchanged in the Little Switchi' Operation the UN representatives on 26 April began full negotiations for an Armistice. The problem had been made difficult by the refusal of 114,500 Chinese and 340,000 North Koreans to return to their homeland. It was further complicated by the Communists insisting that they be returned to them even if force had to be used. The war was stepped upf' late in May and by the first of June whenever truce prospects brightened the enemy would increase his efforts to gain ground along the MLR fMain Line of Resistancej. A number of outposts changed hands with no appreciable change occurring in the territory held by either side. The attacks ranged from company to division size with the heaviest concentration located in the eastern sector. Anchor Hill and Hill 812 passed into enemy hands in late May and early June. Heavy action followed in the central sector. The ROK forces were pushed back in several areas, and the Fleet was called to sup- port them. The ships involved in this support action were the BOXER, LAKE CHAMPLAIN, PHILIP- PINE SEA, and the PRINCETON. One of the heav- iest bombardments of the war occurred in the effort to recapture Anchor Hill. The NEW JERSEY, BREM- ERTON, MANCHESTER and the ST. PAUL as- sisted in this action. It was evident as early as the end of the first week of June that the anticipated terms of the Armistice which involved a divided Korea did not please Presi- dent Rhee. He asserted that the South Koreans would fight to the bitter end for a United Korea. This feeling of discontent erupted in demonstrations staged by the South Koreans on 26 June. Seemingly in reply to these demonstrations the Communists launched one of their heaviest attacks of the war. They struck with 6 divisions on 13 July using 80,000 troops against 60,000 ROK soldiers on a 20 mile front. The South Koreans were pushed back as much as 7 miles. In support of the ROK forces over 500 sorties were flown daily by the Fleet aircraft. The East Berlin attack occurred on Sunday night, 19 July. It was preceded by a Communist concert of Chinese and American music after which at 2030 the Chinese attacked with 1,500 troops. Rather bitter fighting followed. On the 24th Boulder City was under attack. The next day what was called a flare- up took place at Outpost Esther and at the Berlin complex. It was on this occasion that the 5th and 7th Marines repulsed a 3,000 man attack. Fleet action continued until the cease fire with the ST. PAUL firing the last round of the war at sea at 2159, 27 July 1953. Peace had come but only after 136,862 American casualties of which 24,386 had been killed or died of wounds. A bugler sounded Taps at the 1st Marine Division. The Ist Marine Division The lst Division was removed from the line 4 May 1953 after 20 months of fighting. On the 29th they returned to repulse a 2-day attack by the Communists. They were again returned to reserve on 5 June and remained there until 8 July when they were ordered into the sector previously manned by the 25th Infantry and in time for Berlin It was about 2 weeks later that Boulder Cityf, the last major action of the war, took place. The Chief of Chaplain? Visit One of the important events during this period of Korean Defense was the visit of the newly appointed Chief of Chaplains. On 16 May Chaplain Edward B. Harp, Jr., Rear Admiral, left Washington for the Far East. He was accompanied by Chaplain Joseph P. Mannion, Assist- ant Director of the Division. At Pearl Harbor Chap- lain Warren F. Cuthriell, Fleet Chaplain, joined the group. Most of the 200 chaplains in the Pacific Ocean area were visited. Chaplain Harp brought the Me- -185-