United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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The Flag PIO issued this communique: from CTF 77 TOR PIO X RELIGIOUS SERVICES ON SUNDAY ARE A USUAL ROUTINE FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE ON LAND BUT TO SEAGOING MEN, SCATTERED IN FORMATION WITH A NAVAL TASK FORCE THEY KRE SOMETHING SPECIAL X PARA X TODAY, NITH TASK FORCE 77, OPERATING IN THE FAR EASTERN WATERS ON TRAINING EXERCISES, 'IEARLY EVERY SHIP IN THIS UNIT WAS AF- FORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THE WORD THAT RELIGIOUS SERVICES WOULD BE HELD X vIANY OF THE SMALLER SHIPS DO NOT HAVE A IHAPLAIN ABOARD AND HELICOPTERS WERE .ISED TO FLY 6 NAVY CHAPLAINS FROM CAR- KIERS AND A CRUISER TO DESTROYERS OF THE 'ORCE X THE AERIAL SKY PILOTS CONDUCTED 9 SERVICES FOR THEIR SEAGOING CONGREGA- TIONS IN MESS HALLS, RECEPTION ROOMS AND JN HANGAR DECKS X Xdmiral johnson stated that the willingness of the :haplains concerned to travel by helicopter and high- ine in order to conduct services has been an inspira- :ion to all hands. Chaplain Joseph M. Broadley 'eports on his circuit riding during this period While attached to the Staff of Commander Landing Ship 'lotilla ONE, and in the Far East, I followed the practice mf riding on different ships of the Flotilla CLST, ARL, .SMRJ. During October 1953, I spent 2 weeks on the .SMR 401 while it was on patrol along the west coast of iorea. To my knowledge this type ship had not had a haplain aboard for duty, other than to conduct Divine Norship, prior to this time. Chaplain Kenneth D. Killin of the BATAAN car- 'ied a small kit which he had made himself for the murpose of holding services for small groups. A number of chaplains assisted the fleet as they had n the past. Chaplain Thomas D. Parham is men- ioned as conducting Character Education lectures 'or Destroyer Squadron 22. Chaplain Daniel Sil- fer reports that he conducted Jewish services over a erritory extending from the Formosa Straits to Korea. He also found time to coach a football team, the Kokosuka Seahawks. Chaplain Hedges Capers in the SICILY tells of the ine group of Christian laymen which he had on ioard The active participation of the men on the USS SICILY vas unusual. We had a group of approximately 15 who onsistently took part in all worship services. For the Sun- lay services, one man would read the scriptures, another vould lead in the responsive reading. This same practice :revailed in the Tuesday night Bible class. The Thursday iight fellowship hour was conducted exclusively by the men vith previous assistance by me. I used to end this meeting vith closing remarks. The Saturday night prayer meeting was conducted solely by the men. The Sunday evening service was conducted by the men. My only contributions took the form of advice and coaching beforehand. This entire program was carried on while we were at sea and in foreign ports. Hospital ships continued in the area. Chaplain O'Leary in the HAVEN indicates that he aided a number of servicemen of different nationalities. MSTS Chaplain James R. Spaid speaking of the daily newspaper aboard his ship had this item of interest, On a number of occasions we have carried United Nations troops fPuerto Ricans, Ethiopians, Greeks, French, Turks etc.j, and in each instance a special effort was made to condense the world news, fdraw upj schedules of religious and other activities that would be of interest to these men and published fthemj in the regular daily paper in their own re- spective languages. While on board the GEN. WM. BLACK QT-APl35j, we carried the French Battalion from Inchon, Korea to Saigon, Indo-China fduring the last week of Oc- tober 19531. Since these were the only troops aboard we published the entire paper in French and English in columns side by side. In this way the French troops had an op- portunity to pick up a little English and our Military Depart- ment and Crew were able to study the equivalent in French. The men seemed to appreciate this effort on the part of the newspaper staff which also happened to be staffed by French- men with the exception of my yeoman. Chaplain Russell A. Cervin wrote a lengthy pic- ture of the work of the MSTS Chaplain called To Korea and Back? The closing paragraphs capture the feeling of the troops as they went to, or returned from Korea. Early in the summer of 1951 a process of rotation of troops in Korea began. Prior to that time many of our ships returned to the United States without passengers. Before that time everything was going the other way. Since that time we have carried full loads both ways. Embarkation of troops leaving the States for Korea has its sorrows. I've seen women cling to their men and have to be forcibly pried loose from them so they could board the vessel. Just after pulling away from the dock an of- ficer of many years in the Army said to me one day, After being in the Army as long as I have you are supposed to be tough. But I'm not very tough right now. A tear glistened on his cheek as his wife and child were standing on the dock straining for a last glimpse of husband and father. The attitudes of men going to combat are different from those of the men returning from it. On the way over they are somewhat tense as they face an unknown future. There is a certain amount of effervescence in church going which is sloughed off on the way home. Outbound church serv- ices are crowded with habitual churchgoers plus those with foxhole religion. On the way home the men who have always gone to church are present plus a number of others who have found a vital religious experience on the way over -209-

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Gift From the Fleet. Chaplain john J. Burns, left, and Chaplain Allen Jones both of the lst Marine Air Wing exhibit money orders received from the VALLEY FORGE for the Memorial Orphanage. all faiths. Handicapped by the widespread dispersion of Wing units, he traveled throughout the combat area to establish a close and effective liaison between the chaplains of outlying units and the Wing chaplain's office . . . His talks to civic organizations in Korea and Japan promoted good will and mutual understanding between the Wing com- mand and the populace of these two countries. Dedicated to the humanitarian principles embodied in the precept of his faith, he was instrumental in the purchase of rice land for undernourished Korean orphans and the delivery of tons of clothing and food to needy civilians in the combat zone. His untiring efforts resulted directly in greater health, com- fort, and welfare for hundreds of helpless Korean families, thereby greatly enhancing indigenous friendship for all friendly forces in Korea. With the departure of Chaplain Jones the new Wing Chaplain, Jeremiah F. Gearan, Roman Catholic, took over the spiritual leadership of the command. Another chaplain decorated with the Bronze Star at this time was Chaplain Harry F. Fenstermacher. It is recognized that His endeavors permitted the purchase of rice land for hungry Koreans and the delivery of clothing and toys to needy civilians in the combat zone. Working in close liaison with Korean military personnel, he was instrumental in help- ing to establish the Chaplains Corps for the Republic of Ko- rea Navy. Dedicated to the humanitarian principles embodied in the precept of his faith, his activities resulted in greater health, comfort, and welfare for helpless Korean families and orphans and enhanced goodwill for all United Nations forces. A Letter of Commendation was awarded Chaplain - 208 Joseph F. Cloonan calling attention to the fact that he . . . . provided inspirational guidance in ministering to the spiritual needs of men in the forward area. He was instru- mental in the direction of the successful operation of a spe- cial Catholic orphanage at Pohang, Korea. Enhancing good will through his ceaseless endeavors to aid needy civilians, he personally delivered hundreds of packages of food and clothing to destitute Korean families. Dedicated to the hu- manitarian principles embodied in the precept of his faith, Lieutenant Cloonanis activities resulted directly in greater comfort and welfare for many helpless Korean families and orphans, and enhanced the morale and efficiency of the lst Marine Aircraft Wing. One other award of the Commendation Ribbon was made to Chaplain Francis P. O'Malley which noted that his . . . endeavors assisted in the construction of a school for a Korean orphanage and the delivery of clothing, food, and milk to needy civilians in the combat zone. He gave vall uable and untiring assistance as a member of the Korean! Rehabilitation Board which controls the building of schools, milk stations and sanitation facilities for Korean refugees and orphans. Dedicated to the humanitarian principles em- bodied in the precepts of his faith, his activities resulted in greater health, comfort, and welfare for helpless Korean families and orphans and enhanced goodwill for all United Nations forces. The wing also built chapels. As Chaplain James B. Martin expressed it, Our Marine Air Group has been working its way out of the mud. Fortunately, in 3 months we were able to give the men a newly painted and 100 percent enlarged chapel, seating 154. It is converted to two small chapels for weekly and private devotions. No one under the same circum- stances has a nicer religious arrangement, anywhere in the lst Marine Air Wing. Chaplain Samuel B. Bennett had previously stated that this Chapel-MAG-1 1-was too small, but plans were being made to enlarge it. Forces Afloat The continual problem for chaplains afloat was the matter of coverage. During October through De- cember, at the invitation of RADM, W. D. Johnson, Chaplain Herbert C. Albrecht of the KEASARGE functioned as coordinator for all the ships in Task Force 77. Dispatches were sent out to the ships inviting them to send in requests for services prior to 1200 Friday. Chaplains were then scheduled for the extra services. . . . the admiral issued a regular operational plan for Sundays to move chaplains around in the task force mostly by helicopter. Chaplains were hopping all over the task force in accordance with this Sky Flight Planf'

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or on the field of battle. Though the attendance going home is not quite as large, it is often more stable. When leaving the States for Korea the men are more serious in attitude than the men returning, though those coming home are more mature. Especially is this evident in the harbor at Inchon. Going down our gangway headed for a long period of duty in Korea the men are serious and quiet. But when the LSU,s pour out the homecoming troops on the floating dock there are wild shouts of joy and a great deal of joking and laughter. I took some pictures of the dock full of happy soldiers waiting to climb our gangway. Everyone yelled and waved and wanted to get into the act. They were filled with relief and joy at leaving Korea. Rest and Rehabilitation One of the problems that existed among troops should be mentioned. This had to do with R and R QRcst and Rehabilitationj . Chaplain James A. Whit- man, BaptCAj , ComNavFe Chaplain, writing in March states that the lst Division and the 1st MAW send men to Japan for R and R continually. Chaplain Whitman insisted on the necessity of the proper brief- ing of newly arrived chaplains because of this problem. This R and R situation is a most serious problem effecting American prestige in the whole Far East. I feel this brief- ing is very vital and most important to the moral welfare of the men the chaplain will serve in Korea. Part of the brief- ing process is to encourage the chaplain to go to Tokyo where he contacts chapel centers, religious leaders and tries to get a fair picture of what worth-while things servicemen can do in a city like Tokyo. CMost men gravitate to Tokyo no matter where their R and R transportation drops them off.l The Far East Command Chaplains' Committee, of which I am a member, is trying desperately to determine how to improve the R and R program and how to help servicemen better use their time spent in Japan, especially those who come for 8-day periods from Korea. Far East Chaplains of Army, Navy, and Air Force are all sure that much of the problem must be solved through the leadership and on the spot knowledgel' of chaplains serving units in Koreag and this character training must be done largely before the briefing given to men just before jumping to Japan for leave. End of Campaign The campaign was over. Many of the Reserve chaplains had already or were planning to return to civilian activities. As has been noted most of the men now with the divisions and the airgroups were new. An audit of the Korean coniiict reveals that out of . . . the nearly 950 chaplains who were on active duty during the time of the Korean hostilities-i.e., from June 1950 to the cease-fire agreement of July 1953-166 Navy chaplains had served with the Marines in Korea and ap- proximately 150 others served aboard U.S. ships in Korean waters, making a total of about 316. This was 35 percent of the total Corps. Chaplain Samuel B. Bennett answers the question that many people in the United States were asking, 'iWhat are the chaplains doing now that hostilities have ceased?', It is not a difiicult question to answer, because it is what they always do in peace time. Chaplain Bennett's reply was They are ministering to the needs of the men. These needs are not peculiar to Korea and japan. Perhaps there is more sensitivity toward God and our homes because they are so far away. I know there is a constant hunger for companionship and fellowship. This gives the chaplain an opportunity to be close and offer guidance and give assurance that God cares and that each person counts. Korea must still be occupied. The needs of the civilian population were crying to be met. The prob- lems of all occupation troops were now to descend upon the chaplains. In most cases a great deal of the attention of the men was directed toward helping others and in the process their own problems faded into insignihance, something of the magnitude of these projects is now to be considered. -210-