United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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Altar Kit. Chaplain John T. Moore shoulders the new compact altar kit provided by the Chaplains Division. It is designed to make it easier for chaplains of all faiths to bring church services to marines in the field. A closeup of the contents of the kit. of their own faith and sit down with them for a friendly chat. The Catholic chaplain dons a violet stole, hears confessions, administers communion, and presents rosaries, medals, prayerbooks, and missals as desired. Chaplain Rice. says, Because we were not certain of the physical condition of the returning PWls at Freedom Village the priests of the Marine Division were ready to give the sacraments to any requesting them. The idea caught the imagination of the PW's and a great percentage wanted communion after con- fession. Having chapels at Freedom Village turned out to be a big consolation to men of all faiths. One cor- respondent said to the Catholic Far East news represent- ative: How come the priests are administering confession and communion to the PW's? After all you don't meet people with the sacraments coming back from a trip. I proposed this to one of the returning prisoners. He an- swered: I spent 3 years in prison and I examined my con- science all the time. I sure want to go to confession. I'm starting in a new life right here. Another Roman Catholic Chaplain, Paul C. Ham- merl, has these incidents to relate, . . . listen to some of them at Freedom Village. I never prayed before at home but, I prayed up there and I don't see why I should stop now. My girl tried to get me to go to church, but I couldn't see why then, but now I know better. HI didn't have many instructions in the faith, but I will learn all I can in the future, If you may think God isn't in the hearts of our young men, listen to their stories and see how they formed study clubs, how they exchanged thoughts of God as often as they could. It would do many a doubter good to see the crosse they molded out of toothpaste tubes so they Could have reminder of Christ about their person. Some had Bible they received years ago from their pastor, now worn an well used. Others on their own, bound up their Bibles t make them last and treasured them above everything else Our men came back with little in the way of material goods but if they had salvaged and saved a medal, a Bible, or rosary, they took it along to bring back home. One la carried a Bible of his buddy who died. I want to give i to his mother to show her he prayed and used it regularlyf What a consolation such will be for the brokenhearted mother. For adherents of Judaism, Chaplain Murray I. Rothman was present to take them before the Ar with its sacred scrolls of the Torah fLawj for th traditional prayers of Israel. Protestant chaplains. held services of thanksgiving and served communion to those who desired it. Chaplain William H. Vinson affirms that over one-half of the men did receive Com- munion. Chaplain Walter H. Nordby tells of some of the experiences of the men, One prisoner looked at you and in reverent tones slowly -196-

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sau: 'A' . M74-'ff Memorial Services. The National Colors are carried to the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines Chapel as the memorial services begin in memory of the men in the battalion who have lost their lives in Korea. and clutching numerous papers as well as their ditty bags, the repatriates meet the chaplain at the fourth station? Chaplain Meachum says, We were standing in our section of the processing lines by our altars ready to extend the hand of Christian fellowship to soldiers and marines of many nationsf, The room was dominated by a large mural depicting the varied activities of chap- lains with the lst Marine Division. Chaplain Meachum describes the setting We made our sections as attractive as possible by getting flowers from the hillsides. We pinned the religious posters, church pennants, and spare altar cloths to the walls of the tents. The impression on the prisoners was terrific--as well as on generals, newspaper men, photographers, and all hands who were engaged in the processing work. The chaplain extends his hand in warm welcome to the serviceman. After a brief get acquainted period, the chaplain determines the religious affiliation of the man. If not of his own faith the man is introduced to a chaplain who is. The chaplains claim the men 3NoTE: Chaplain William H. Vinson tells us that as planning for 'Big Switch, came into its final stages, the many lessons learned during KLittle Switch' were applied. One of these lessons had to do with the chaplains section in the processing line. It was decided that food for the soul should come before the food for the body. In the previous opera- tion, the chaplains section was set up behind the nourishment section and offered very little privacy or atmosphere of reverence to the worshipersf' Rollcall. In a service conducted by Chaplain Peter J. Bakker the names are read of those who gave the supreme sacrifice and who were members of the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines. 535332 0460+-14 H 195

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Big Switch. Chaplain Paul C. Hammerl counsels with a returned POW at Chaplain R. N. Stretch, llth Marines, holds service for two Freedom Village' repatriated POW's at Freedom Village Chapel. Division Chaplain Francis T. O'Leary administers communion during a mass celebrated at Freedom Village for UN POW,s repatriated from North Korea on 6 September 1953 at Munsan-ni. -197- l w