United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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First, I thought of our front line troops who have been fighting in the Division in Korea since August 3, 1950. Of course, many who fought with this Division have gone home. Such places as Inchon, Chosen Basin, Seoul, Pusan Perim- eter. In these places the Marines fought a moving war, but on March 15, 1952, this Division moved from the east coast to the west coast of the 155 mile battle front and relieved the ROKs about 30 miles north west of Seoul with Pan- Munjan located in the center of our front. Here we have fought a bloody, vicious, trench, bunker, and outpost stalemate. Patrols went out in front of the Main Line of Resistance each night. Artillery pounded and planes rained fire on the enemy around the clock until 10 p.m., july 27, 1953. The last 27 days of fighting were as vicious as any battles previously fought. I went to a battalion command post on the 27th to visit Chaplain E. O. Floyd. While talking to him, a young Ma- rine who was muddy and tired walked up to us and asked for communion. His request was from a heart of gratitude that the firing had stopped. - At another battalion, I found Chaplain C. P. Hoff wet with perspiration at the close of a thanksgiving service. In the same chapel where he had conducted his service, Chap- lain R. E. Brengartner was holding Mass. And so it was with other chaplains all along the line. For the officers and men there was rest and sleep-a chance to bathe and wash clothes. Yet they know that the job here is not over until the terms of the truce have been effected. Second, I thought of answered prayers. Here is a quote from a letter which I picked up on the battle front: I would love to see you tonight. Well, Ray, you be good and pray. I am praying for you every day and night for the dear Lord to watch over you and take care of you and bring you back home safe and all right. The dear Lord is good and He will hear and answer prayers if we have faith in Him and put our trust in Him. Love, Motherf, The above statement is virtually the same thing that Lt. General William K. Harrison, the head of our truce delega- tion, said to me on Monday when I commented in his quar- ters at Base Camp that I know he is happy that the pressure on him will be relieved now that a truce has been signed. Third, I thought when I heard the last firing mission of our 155-mm howitzer-the battery fired about an hour be- fore the flares were fired over the battle lines signaling cease fire-How long will our guns remain silent in the face of our enemy? I hope that I will never have to hear them bark again. When will human beings stop trying to destroy each other? One fact remains evident. We must be alert and on guard until the Communists show good faith in trying to bring about peace. Fourth, the Christian and charitable relations cultivated between the officers and men of the 8th Army and Koreans make this beautiful country one of the most promising mis- sion fields in the world. The old oriental religions are empty and do not hold inspiration, hope, and salvation. Koreans are turning to Christianity. Conditions here are as they were in the Greek and Roman culture during the 1st century when Christianity overcame paganism. Awards: A number of chaplains were recognized for their fine work during this period. Chaplain Newman was again decorated. This time it was the Bronze Star. Concerning his work the citation informs one that: Working long hours under adverse conditions, he person- ally met each casualty as he arrived at the aid stations, re- gardless of the hour, both day and night. He wrote to the realtives of each man, regardless of the seriousness of the disability and followed the initial correspondence with prog- ress report letters. He spent countless hours traveling to various aid stations and hospitals where casualties of the battalion had been evacuated for treatment. Despite the extreme danger, he often held religious services on the main line of resistance and voluntarily advanced to the outpost positions forward of the main lines in order to be of service to the Marines in these exposed areas. Through his deter- mined efforts and understanding attitude, he restored con- fidence in many of the battle weary Marines who had been sent to rear areas as a result of excessive front line duty. The other Bronze Star was awarded to Chaplain, Elmer F. Ernst 1 . . . he frequently made visits to tank crewmen who were manning positions on the main line of resistance. Expressing complete disregard for his personal safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to murderous hostile mortar and artillery fire in order to reach the tank crewmen and offer them spiritual guidance. He voluntarily and habitually was aboard armored vehicles when they were employed in the evacuation of wounded Marines and so was enabled to render aid, spiritual assistance and consolation to the many wounded. The Commendation Metal Pendantu with Combat Vw was awarded to Chaplain John B. Conlon, Roman Catholic, Chaplain Roger L. Crabtree, Methodist, and Chaplain Samuel D. Chambers. Chaplain Conlon . . displayed outstanding ability and professional skill. His highly commendable ministrations to the wounded and sick aided immeasurably in the excellent morale sustained among the patients. When heavy casualties arrived, he demonstrated outstanding attention to duty and personally rendered spiritual guidance and advice to those in need. Throughout the entire period, he diligently brought to each wounded Marine consolation and spiritual comfort which contributed materially in the treatment of pain and suffering. It is said of Chaplain Crabtree that . . . he exhibited tireless efforts and outstanding attention to duty as he regularly visited the widely scattered elements of the battalion, as well as the provisional regiment of which the battalion was a part, in order to minister to the needs of the men. Sustaining an exceptionally vigorous schedule, he normally conducted 14 religious services each week. These included services at the forward elements of the unit where he was sometimes exposed to enemy artillery and mortar fire. Of Chaplain Chambers it is said that On numerous occasions, he disregarded his personal safety and visited the main line of resistance units in order to render -190-

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dents, Bakker's citation for a Letter of Commendation has this to say about the chaplain himself. Exhibiting personal courage and initiative, he conducted religious services in front line trenches, bunkers and platoon areas. Expressing complete disregard for his personal safety he frequently exposed himself to enemy mortar and artillery fire to conduct religious services on the main line of resistance for the marines manning combat outposts. On one occasion, when a helicopter evacuating a seriously wounded marine crashed, he personally removed the wounded man, the in- jured pilot and the bodies of two sentries killed in the crash. Chaplain John T. Moore, Roman Catholic, sent some action photographs of the fighting around the Berlin and East Berlini' outposts. He stated that some of the Marines who received Communion were killed the same day. He states that the . . . 3-7, lst Mar Div suffered 450 casualties alonef, Chaplain Homer L. Schnick, Southern Baptist, has this to say: With Chaplain Paul C. Hammerl, I visited the wounded at E Medical Company during the last serious fighting before the truce in July 1953. A sober sense of the awful reality of war surrounded the room where the men were being brought in-ambulatory and stretcher cases. One young fellow I'll never forget. He was muddy and wet and in considerable pain and discomfort. Being thirsty, he asked for a drink. After a corpsman got some wet pads for me, I cleaned around his mouth, eyes and ears fthe mud was caked in his earsj and applied the pad of water to his lips. In talking with him, I learned that after he was wounded, he had been dragged up and down the muddy trench line by the Communists before being rescued by men of his outfit. The shock was most evident as the men were first brought in, but it was amazing to see the men return to normalcy so rapidly in the succeeding days that we visited them. One felt a real sense of mission as he assisted the doctors and corpsmen in their busy times. Once, when talk- ing with one of the doctors, he said that he didn't know whether he could take much more or not. It was good to be able to be there just to talk with them. No door was closed to the chaplain. He was well received and was an integral part of the team. Chaplain Robert E. Brengartner tells of a Navy Chief Corpsman who was so impressed by the peace and joy which the Sacraments brought to the wounded that he himself took instructions and was received into the church. ' Chaplain Brengartner is later awarded the Letter of Commendation with Metal Pendant and Combat Distinguishing Device authorized. In the citation are found these words: During the period when the battalion was engaged in extensive combat operations against the enemy, he contin- uously worked long and arduous hours, frequently under intense enemy shelling in order to provide comfort and aid to the sick and wounded. His courage and determination in helping to evacuate and in tendering spiritual consolation to the severely wounded men won the admiration and confl- dence of all who served with him. The following incident demonstrates the type of work done by the chaplains, Assisted by a four-man Marine squad Lt. Robert E. Bren- gartner, CHC, USN, led in the dramatic rescue of a wounded Puerto Rican Marine left in no man's land, Korea, by Chinese Red captors. After a Chinese loudspeaker boomed to United Nations forces that a squad would be allowed to remove the soldier without being fired upon,'l Chaplain Brengartner led the Marines toward the victim. Despite his wounds the Marine tried twice to walk to the Allied line, but collapsed. On reaching the man, Father Brengartner gave him Ab- solution. The Marine, clad only in winter underwear and a sweater stuffed with Red propaganda leaflets, was clutching his Rosary Beads. The Chinese covered the area with their rifles but did not fire as the rescuers took him to the Allied line. The Truce Chaplain Bakkerz writes concerning the last day of the war: I WAS THERE-THE SIGNING OF THE TRUCE On Monday morning of 27 July at 10 o'clock General Harrison walked into the Truce Pagoda which we had watched during its construction from our outpost, sat down, and signed the truce. Folks-I was there. I decided that two-fifths ought to be represented, as I came over with the brigade 3 years ago, and so was present. I sat in the chair that the general sat in, and had my picture taken. I also got shots of the general, the pen he used fa Parker 515, and surrounding areas. It was quiet, semitense, nondramatic and yet deeply historical. When our grandchildren study about it in school-you tell them, Uncle Peter, and Grandpa Pete was there. The look, and feeling of utter contempt that the Chinese Communists have for us is something to see. I felt like decking the entire group of them. The hatred in their eyes seems to stem from the bottom of their high top boots. Chaplain Hutcheson states that Three out of four 'Services of Thanksgiving for Peace Restoredj con- ducted on the day the Korean Armistice was signed Q during 12-hour period between signing and effective hourj were interrupted by incoming artillery fireli' Chaplain Meachum was asked for a statement for the press: He wanted my reaction to the truce which had been signed a short distance up the road at Pan-Munjan. My first reaction was: Thank God this Meat grinderl' has stopped. The more I thought, the harder it was for me to give a short concise statement. Briefly I would like to write a few thoughts and reactions. 2Chaplain Bakker is known among other things for his ability as a wrestler. He at one time asserted that he found a better counseling relationship after wrestling with a man. 189-H

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Flying Chaplain. Chaplain Leo F. Rice adjusts his parachute in preparation for a takeoff in a Marine aerial observation plane. His destina- tion is the camp of a Marine observation squadron and his mission is to hold mass. -lll...-. l counsel and words of encouragement to Marines during intense enemy mortar and artillery fire. On one occasion, ignoring his own safety, he skillfully assisted in the evacuation of one wounded and two dead Marines. During a critical 3-day period when a strategic position was being subjected to vicious hostile attacks, he continually attended to the spiritual needs of wounded Marines brought to the battalion aid Statlon. Although the citations may sound repetitious, it is a repetition which brings great glory to the U.S. Naval Chaplain Corps. Attention is called to Chaplain Crabtreeis work with civilians in his citation. His effective personal contacts with the large Korean ci- vilian population throughout the sector and his support of Korean religious and charitable organizations established cordial relations which assisted materially in the successful accomplishment of the unit's assigned mission. Chaplain Rice writing on 20 July concerning his return from the front, tells of his work with the Com- bat Service Group in Masan. He states that the 'gbig problem here is to keep the men busy on the compound so that the moral problems can be lickedfl Academic work and vocational courses were offered and plans were laid for hobby programs. A citation in connec- tion with the award of a Bronze Star on October 1953 states that he continually demonstrated . . . Exceptional ability in dealing with the most difficult religious, morale and personal problems. His skillful coordi- nation and efficient administration of the charitable efforts of the command increased the prestige of the United States Forces in the area. Disregarding his personal fatigue, he conscientiously worked extremely long hours in order to effectively discharge his responsibilities. Concerning his previous work the citation has this to say: . . . he frequently went to the scene of battle to administer last rites to the dead and offer prayers for the wounded. He diligently visited the sick and wounded in hospitals and regularly visited refugee villages in the vicinity of the regi- ment to offer religious guidance to the predominantly Christian population. In the absence of chaplains in other United Nations units, he visited those units to conduct serv- ices and attend to the religious needs of the personnel. Another Roman Catholic Chaplain, john T. Moore, received the Bronze Star for the period 2 April- 1 August. One learns that: When the infantry companies and other elements of the regiment were committed to the main line of resistance and subjected to intense action, he expressed complete disregard for his personal safety and traveled over roads that were under constant enemy observation and frequent mortar and artillery fire in order to carry out his duties. He was continuously on hand at forward aid stations adminis- tering both spiritual and physical aid to the wounded men. He made daily visits to the men on the main line of resist- ance, holding services in bunkers and exerting every effort to administer spiritual guidance to the men.3 f'Sunday Routinej' A Marine Correspondent, M. Sgt. James F. Frye writes of the Chaplainls Sunday activity. He fol- lowed Chaplain Homer L. Schnick, Southern Baptist, of the 7th Regiment. There were four services that day. The regimental service consisted of Marines and a British Commonwealth Division. Late in the after- noon there was a visit to the MLR, . . . the busy chaplain climbed precipitous hills to reach defensive positions sprinkled over rugged countryside so he could spend time with those in need of his advice and counself' The lst Marine Air Wing Most of the information on the work of the Chap- lains of the Wing comes from their citations. Men- tion has been made of Chaplain E. C. Mulligan's Commendation, but it should also be noted that he was instrumental in the establishment of a special Catholic Orphanage nursery for destitute infants at Pohang, Korea. He enhanced goodwill for United Nations forces through his ceaseless endeavors to aid needy civilians and by main- 3 Chaplain Moore was wounded the day before the truce was signed, and thus became the last naval chaplain casualty of the Korean conflict. Chaplain Willetts was wounded about 2 weeks earlier.