United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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.Aux Dedication Day. Church Call is sounded announcing the dedicatory service for the chapel of the 2d Battalion, lst Marines. Chaplain Chambers led the men in the building of this place of worship. designed and built by men in the unit. This chapel was also built in the center of the llth Marine Com- mand Post. It was completed and dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, 1953. Chaplain S. B. Bennett, chaplain, FMF, Pac, writing later about the Chapels as he saw them on an inspection made in May, had this to say, I recently visited these chaplains serving with the Marines in Japan and Korea. The effective work they are doing is exemplified by the large church attendance in their beautiful chapels. The most conspicuous and the most central spot was selected for the location of these chapels. No other building in the area is photographed as often as they are. They stand as a constant reminder of God and His everlast- ing presence. There is an atmosphere of reverence and appreciation wherever they can be seen. The commanding officers and the men are proud of these monuments of joy - 203 and beauty because they made them possible by various means of forethought and labor. Of course they require constant vigilance for cleanliness and upkeep. The new men soon feel these Chapels belong to them. About this time Chaplain Murray I. Rothman was awarded the Letter of Commendation. Concerning this chaplain it is noted that . . . His personal warmth, initiative and keen understanding of the fighting men and their problems made his presence an important factor in maintaining the high morale of the division. As the only chaplain of his particular faith in the division, he made weekly visits to each front line regiment and battalion conducting religious service, personal con- sultations and spiritual ministration. Expressing complete disregard for his personal safety, he once visited the personnel on an outpost located far forward of the main line of re- sistance for religious consolation and ministration despite

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fi-6 ., Conference. A conference is held at the 5th Marine Regiment's officers mess. Left to right: Chaplain F. T. O'Learyg Col. E. D. Martin, Jr.g commanding officer, 5th Regiment, Chaplain S. D. Bennett, FMF Pacific chaplain, and Chaplain R. E. Jenkins. of the chapel's length. A good mixture of mud and straw was applied to this to make a very substantial wall. The upper area of about 3 feet was left open since the weather was still exceedingly hot. The roof posed the next problem, but a carton of soap was traded for a truck of straw and a thatched roof took shape. We gave it a haircut and it looked as shipshape as any Korean dwelling. A steeple topped the front of the chapel and we capped that with straw too. A Major You-ng, our S-3 officer, ran across a bell in a neighboring community. I never did learn what the barter price was but he donated that and every week thenceforth it woke him up for Divine Services. . . . a 16-foot white cross on the hill overlooking the camp made this the most significant sight for miles around. It was not long until the steps up the side of the hill were worn smooth by those who came to worship in the 2d Battalion's Memorial Chapel. One distinctive feature of the chapel was a picture which was hung over the altar. This was a print of a likeness of Christ composed of over 86,000 Korean letter characters made by a prisoner behind the bamboo curtain. The ideograms were quotations from the Gospel of Matthew by the artist which he had recalled while in prison. This picture was donated to the chapel by the Young Nak Orphanage. It is partly this work in building the chapel that is cited in the award of a second Letter of Commenda- tion to Chaplain Chambers. His additional work in the field of relief is noted, ' . . . he contributed immeasurably in the construction of ai modern battalion chapel. Constantly aware of the problems of the men whose moral and spiritual guidance was his pri- mary goal he was sympathetic, realistic and always helpful. He earned the confidence and loyalty of the officers and enlisted men with whom he was associated. On another occasion he cheerfully worked long and arduous hours in preparation for a series of Christmas parties held for Korean children and residents of the refugee center. His thorough planning and sound supervision were evidenced by the great volume of contributions received and the ultimate success of regimental area Christmas parties. His steadfast devotion to duty and dedication to a worthy cause maintained a better understanding between the Republic of Korea and United Nations Forces. Another chapel built and dedicated to those lost in the unit was that constructed by the llth Marine Artillery Regiment. It was called the St. Barbara Chapel. Col. Manly L. Curry, Commanding Of- ficer, presented a bell to the chapel. The first services were conducted by Chaplains R. N. Stretch and A. Kane. The latter was assisted in the cele- bration of the Mass by Chaplain O'Leary. The cost of the chapel was defrayed by offerings of members and friends of the regiment. The stonework was -202-

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I - fa- 1' . ,Q Saint Barbara's Chapel. Chaplain E. J. Nerthling, left, chaplain with the the llth Marine Regiment shows Chaplain S. B. Bennett, FMF Pacific chaplain the memorial plaque on the new chapel. Chaplain Bennett Pays a Call. Another Meeting. Chaplain Bennett talks with the chaplains in front of the Sth Chaplain C. E. Rains meets Chaplain Bennett in front of the Marines Memorial Chapel. CLeft to rightj Pictured here chapel of the 2d Battalion, 7th Marines. are P. A. Johnson 5 Chaplain S. B. Bennett, FMF Pacific chaplaing R. F. Jenkins, and F. A. Dowd. XX ,ta-emi 'fins-1 rem N-liiw 1 ff. ,,,, : ,it f , se f ..e.- . ' , 5 .vw Qigsw .- A . :'3!'Sff,f1 , 1 1'4 ' . 4 '- Q. . . - f-Jw 'Y ' ' .:,iZ, , ff:, i I ,.V.L if ai? ff? :.,,...,,., .' ' - : S ' , ', f-Q 'ei',. , A ,Q ' ., if HT, Ui IL- ,, Q11 .,x,1. L,,g -,e-.5 If ', , .' in- 145-'f . -, W' i' J 'U' A' i ' ' fy' Q MT gfj, t t M, . C ll ' qsy jfiifif' j V- ,F fr . he w, f'12-V, ' 6 P- . Z Q . ' 1 ,, x C If ff i' -' Qi ' 0 , La t f . H - - , . ' 'ii-iw: 4 , K 2 H' tv 'W ar 2455. 3 fe PQ.: .V 1 1 I Sim' 5 , . A Q - 1 ,,- X V D gr, Q: :HJ-'rig f Meg f'-. ' ..,, , ,,... it st X A i ?:'? . i . ev I in