United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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APPENDIX B Q15 FIRST PROVISIONAL MARINE BRIGADE FLEET MARINE FORCE QREINFORCEDQ CXO FPO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. 14 JULY-l2 SEPTEMBER 1950. 14 july 1950-Embarked aboard ships with, lst Marine Brigade. Chaplains and assignments for shipping: Lt. Comdr. Otto E. Sporrer, Catholic, I lth Marines. Aboard USS PICKAWAY., Lt. William G. Tennant, Protestant, 3X5 Marines. Aboard Uss PICKAWAY. ' i Lt. Bernard L. Hickey, Catholic, 2X5 Marines. ,Aboard USS GEORGE CLYMER. Lt. Comdr. O. Ingvoldstad, jr., Protestant, 1X5 and HSXS Marines. Aboard' USS HENRICO. The faith of ship's chaplains was taken into con- sideration so that, as far as possible, a Catholic and Protestant Chaplain were in each transport. The HENRICO was the only ship that had no Catholic chaplain for the trip, but when it was forced to stop in San Francisco for emergency repairs, Comdr. D. F. Kelly, Catholic, of Alameda Naval Air Station was invited aboard on 17 and 19 July to hear confessions and say Mass. . During the remainder of the trip on the HENRICO daily Protestant Vesper Services were conducted by the chaplains and daily Rosary Services were con- ducted by two of the Marine Catholic ofhcers. This latter was done with the assistance of the chaplains. On the PICKAWAY and CLYMER daily Mass was held and Protestant Services were held on Sunday. On the PICKAWAY the chaplains initiated and assisted in conducting several Happy Hours. All ships arrived in Pusan, Korea, the evening of 2 August 1950. COMMENTS REGARDING CHAPLAINS WITH TROOPS AND ON TRANSPORTS l. Protestant chaplains, in the main, should be more aggressive to conduct daily devotions, vespers, or Bible studies. Under proper leadership Protestant men respond well. 2. Determined effort should be made to see that chaplains are either placed in rooms with fewest possible room mates, or are afforded a place for con- sultation, because of the number of men who desire to talk in private. 3. Chaplains should advertise their presence 52253320-ffSUlf1T T aboard. A'temporary cardboard sign in the passage- way outside their room is a great help. 4. Transport chaplains should carry all types of religious material far above their normal needs to accommodate troops and troop chaplains whose gear, of necessity, must be placed in holds. They should anticipate needs of embarked troops. One ship was completely out of New Testaments before the trip was completed. Immediately after arrival in Pusan, troops debarked and made a night movement to Changwon. At this time chaplains were assigned and made movements with: i '2,f5 MafinQswLt. 4 jgq B. L. Hickey. 3X5 MarinesfLt. VV. G. Tennant. - Brigade Rear Echelon-Lt. Comdr. O. Ingvoldstad. naving been turned in to Sick Bay, which remained .n Pusan. lfll MarinesfLt. Comdr.O. E. Sporrer. During the period 3f6 August the chaplains ren- dered services with the units to which they were attached and also other units in the bivouac area. On 7 August the troops went into their first action south and west of Masan, Korea. At this time chap- lains were assigned as follows: 3X5 MarinesfLt. ljgj B. L. Hickey. lfll Marines-Lt. Comdr. O. E. Sporrer. Bw Medical Co. at MasanfLt. W. G. Tennant. Rear Echelon, at Pusan-Lt. Comdr. O. Ingvold- stad. First casualties were received and chaplains were under fire for the First time. This engagement con- tinued for the period 7-13 August. During this period Chaplains Hickey and Sporrer covered the forward aid stations, Chaplain Tennant covered the Navy and Army evacuation centers and cemetery at Masang Chaplain Ingvoldstad covered the Army evacuation hospital at Pusan. through which all of our patients passed on their way to the hospitals in Japan. Chaplain Ingvoldstad was released from medical treatment on 12 August and that day joined the forward aid station, having made arrangements with the Army chaplains to conduct Catholic and Protestant and Jewish services for the Rear Echelon in Pusan.

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REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION lst Provisional Marine Brigade .... ..... - M-, vw, 2 August-V6 S1-ptr-mbf-r 1950 ' lst Marine Aircraft Wing ..... ..-, -- -W 3 August l950g26 February 1951 lst Marine Aircraft Wing ...E,..,... .... - , 27 February 1951-11 June 1953 lst Marine Division CReinforccdj-Aa -, 15 Scptembvr-27 Septembvr 1950 lst Marine Division QReinforcf'dj-,- -- 26 Octobi-r 1950-27 July 1953 Hospital Ships: USS CONSOLATION -.... I... .... ........E... - - 1 1 August 1950-31 August 1951 USS HAVEN .......... .... ,... ....,.... - - l 8 October 1950-25 June 1952 1 USS REPOSE ...,.... -- 16 Sf'pt:'mbt'r 1950-319 July 1951 7th Fleet .,,.......,w,......,.,........... .. ,.......,.,.....I......,.,........ 1 july 1950a27 july 1953 Plus certain Task Force commands, certain Flc-ct Activities commands, Flf-et Air Wing SIX, certain Surgical'Tcams, and other smaller and specializcd units, for specified dates, QSourccs: U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual CNAVPERS 15,790 Rcvisc-cl 1953, and further rcvisvd by current Official Change Memorandalg Caglc and Manson, The Sea War in Korea C1957l: Montross and Canzona, U.S. Marine Operations in Korea Q1954- J. i C l -242g

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COMMENTS CONCERNING PERIOD 7-13 AUGUS'1' 1. While chaplains in the field are, and should be, given great freedom of movement in order to render services where most needed, they must, at all times, keep their immediate command informed with up-to- the-hour information as to their whereabouts. Prac- tical knowledge of various types and means of communication should be had and utilized. 2. Protestant chaplains should be more alert to conduct worship services whenever opportunity affords, without waiting for Sunday. 3. It is valuable to have a chaplain at each battalion aid station, the collecting and clearing station, and the hospital. This would have taken six chaplains in this operation. Where a choice must be made, it is preferable to have a chaplain with the forward aid stations, not only for the wounded but the morale of the troops who are entering the engagement and see the chaplain up close with them. 4. Chaplains must give an air of calmness and assurance, give of their faith and courage, give their church's ministry and beware of asking operational questions, repeating ill-founded rumors, and becoming 'farnateur strategists. A chaplain in combat must give, give, give of the best he has! 5. Where chaplains must cover much mileage to reach separated units, a jeep of his own is invaluable. However, alertness and initiative can get him around much also, although not with much, or any, church gear. 6. Chaplains should know the location and activity of units other than their own and think of chances for services of worship for them. Use of operational maps and communications makes this feasible. 7. Chaplains should be cognizant of the duties of the Graves Registration Office and alert to check on the accuracy of their records. Chaplains should main- tain their own record of burials for future reference in letters to next of kin. They should ascertain the ojicial dates of death so that no discrepancies occur between their letters and the official death notice. 8. Chaplains should have a note book for jotting down names and services rendered, especially to seri- ously wounded or dead, in aid stations. Slips of paper with checkoff list of services rendered and placed in patients' pockets are not practical. 9. Chaplains should remember that, in a way, they are personal representatives of the next of kin and act accordingly. 10. Navy chaplains are not able to conduct funeral services for all of their own men because Army chap- lains cover Army cemeteries and also operationaf demands delay their return to the cemetery. However they can secure the records of which chaplain and when the funeral services were conducted for their own men. . . ' . On 14 August the Brigade was ordered to proceed as quickly as possible to Miryang for assistance in the Naktong breakthrough. They arrived at Miryang 15 August. ' 1 Chaplain Ingvoldstad, having been assigned a jeel: and trailer, traveled independently via Pusan wherd additional Catholic and Protestant religious supplies were obtained from our reserve and the Army. Two Protestant and Catholic services were held on 16 August and at 2000 the troops began to move forward. 17 August. 2X5 Marines went into attack at 0800. In the afternoon 1X5 Marines continued the attack. During this day over 300 casualties were handled in the forward aid station. Chaplains Ingvoldstad and either Sporrer or Hickey were in the forward aid sta- tion all day, with Chaplain Tennant at the Regimental Collecting and Clearing Station. That night Chap- lains Tennant and Hickey were in the forward aid station, Chaplain Ingvoldstad at Regimental Col- lecting and Clearing, and Chaplain Sporrer with 1f11 Marines. 18 August. 1X5 Marines continued the attack and later in the morning 3X5 Marines went into attack, taking the third and final objective with light casual- ties. 2f5 Marines in late afternoon moved forward through 1X5 Marines and secured objective two. Dur- ing this day and and night chaplains were placed as follows: Chaplain Ingvoldstadh1f5 aid station, 3X5 aid station, 1f11 Marines for church 2X5 aid station for night. Chaplain Sporrer-1f11 Marines and visited all aid stations. Chaplain Tennant-Regimental Collecting and Clearing Station. Chaplain Hickey-visited all aid stations, mostly with 3X5 aid station. 19 August. The Brigade was relieved by the Army and returned to Miryang. Chaplain Ingvoldstad vis- ited the Army cemetery at Miryang and obtained records, also visited the Army hospital and Naval Operating Unit and patients there. Chaplain Ten- M244-