United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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Regimental Collecting and Clearing, Chaplain Tennant. Having again reached its objective, the Brigade that night was relieved by the Army and returned to Pusan on 6 September. Q Chaplains returned with their units as follows: lfl 1, Chaplain Sporrer. 3f5, Chaplain Hickey. Reg'tf5, Chaplain Tennant. Chaplain Ingvoldstad returned independently via the cemetery and the hospital at Miryang where burial data was obtained and patients visited. X COMMENTS REGARDING PERIOD 1-6 SEPTEMBER 1. Chaplains again must be warned against going ahead of forward aid stations and also using slack time for exploring and investigating in GI fashion. While all chaplains were under some sort of fire, there is no reasonable excuse for being under Fire when away from place of duty. Though a man may be curious to see what is going on and infected with souvenir collecting, a chaplain should hold himself in check because of his value as priest or pastor. 2. Again because of rapid movement we were unable to conduct funeral services at 24-th Division, U.S. Army Cemetery, Miryang, Korea. 3. Chaplains, as troops, should keep personal gear at a minimum and in a state of readiness and neatness so that they are not caught unprepared for rapid moves. The period 6-12 September Brigade was in Pusan in warehouses on the docks. For this period chap- lains were placed: lfl 1, Chaplain Sporrer. Regiment and 1f5, Chaplain Tennant. 3X 5, Chaplain Hickey. ' - 246 Brigade and 2 X 5, Chaplain Ingvoldstad. This period was used in preparing and mailing letters to next of kin, conducting services for all units, and preparing for going aboard ships for next operation. COMMENTS REGARDING THE PERIOD 6-12 SEPTEMBER 1. Extreme care must be taken in writing letters to next of kin to assure correct official date of death and burial location. 2. With extra effort monthly reports can be accomplished. 3. Use of initiative on chaplains' part in conducting services in smaller ships and other units should be encouraged and used. 4. Chaplains should do the superhuman and refrain from non-constructive recounting of front line and aid station experiences. Much talk on part of chaplain, even though true, has an adverse effect on listeners as regards the chaplain. The chaplains connected with lst Provisional Marine Brigade conducted themselves well, gave brave and valuable ministry under fire and in bivouac, and also learned much concerning service with the Marines in attack. One chief regret was the impossibility of conducting funeral services after the last two engagements, even though graveside services were conducted by Army chaplains. O. INGVOLDSTAD, Jr. Enclosures: QAJ Type of chaplain ministration card to be placed in patient's pocket, which proved impractical. QBQ Type of letter written to next of kin by Protes- tant chaplains. QCD Type of letter written to next of kin by Catho- lic chaplains.

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nant returned with Regimental Aid, Hickey with 3X5 Marines Aid, and Sporrer with lfll Marines. 20 August. Protestant and Catholic services were conducted for Brigade and also Engineers. The Army hospital and cemetery were again visited. In the evening the Brigade began to entrain for return move to Chang-won-Masan area, arriving the next morning. E COMMENTS REGARDING PERIOD 14-20 AUGUST 1. With two Protestant and two Catholic chaplains and only one battalion at a time in the attack it was possible to have both a Protestant and Catholic chap- lain in the forward aid station at all times and also to cover the Regimental Collecting and Clearing Sta- tion with a chaplain. 2. Chaplains can and should judiciously exchange places so that a continued chaplain's ministry is avail- able and the physical demands are evenly distributed. 3. Under fire and being close to the front lines chaplains may be tempted to go forward of the aid station to do the job of a front line corpsman. A chap- lain should refrain from this because while he is assisting 1 or 2 and exposing himself to enemy fire, 8 or 10 may have been brought into the aid station from other sectors and his services may be permanently lost as a chaplain. 4. Funeral and Memorial Services were again not conducted by Navy chaplains as we departed the area prior to burial of all of our men and the cemetery was in no condition for the holding of a large service. -JE -X 'X' 'X' -li From 21 August to 31 August the Brigade was in Army reserve status bivouac area. During this time it was possible to hold daily Mass, and Protestant services were often conducted. Arrangements were made for funeral and Memorial Services at the 25th Division, U.S. Army Cemetery, Masan, Korea, for all of our men buried there as a result of our first action 7-12 August. This was attended by the Brigade Gen- eral and Staff and 500 men and all chaplains partici- pated. Pictures of this service are on file in Commandant of Marine Corps fCode AOD Washington 25, D.C. It was the general's desire that an individual picture of each grave with the appropriate chaplain standing by in benediction be taken so that families could secure copies if they so desired. Such pictures were taken during this period at Masan and also at Miryang Cemetery for deaths resulting from 17-19 August action. Protestant and Catholic services were conducted for the first time at the Brigade air component located at Chinhae. Sunday, 27 August, the greatest number of services in one day feightj were conducted: Protestant and Catholic services at bivouac area for all of Brigade there, at Masan for Medical Detachment and Service Battalion, at Chindong-ni for 11th Marines who were on detatched duty in support of Army, and at Chinhae for the air components. COMMENTS REGARDING PERIOD 21-31 AUGUST 1. While the physical strain of combat, travel, and diarrhea causes a chaplain to want mainly to rest and write personal letters in bivouac, he should move about among his troops. This can be done, with chaplains attached to a regiment, by eating each meal with a different battalion. It also helps the troops to understand that the chaplain does not belong to only one particular battalion or only to Regimental H Sz S. A chaplain attached to a regiment should be able to feel at home in any battalion and should use time in bivouac area to help the troops understand this fact. 2. Facts concerning next of kin, ofiicial dates, and burial records can and should be compiled during this bivouac time, even though letters cannot now be written. The morning of 1 September 1950 a warning order to return to Miryang for assistance in another Naktong breakthrough was received. In the afternoon the move began and was completed early the next morn- ing. The afternoon of 2 September Brigade moved forward close to Yongsan. Sunday, 3 September 1950, 2X5 Marines went into attack, followed by 1X5 Marines. This day chaplains were placed thus: 215 aid stations, Chaplains Hickey and Ingvoldstad. Regimental Aid, Chaplain Tennant. lfll and 2f5, Chaplain Sporrer. Monday, 4 September, 3f 5 Marines passed through into the attack and Chaplains Hickey and Ingvoldstad moved to 3 f 5 aid station. That night Chaplain Ingvoldstad moved to 1X5 aid station as they went into attack in the morning along with 3f5. Tuesday, 5 September, Chaplains were placed: 1111 and visiting aid stations, Chaplain Sporrer. 3X 5 aid station, Chaplain Hickey. 1X5 aid station, Chaplain Ingvoldstad. -24-5-

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APPENDIX B 425 CHAPLAIN'S OFFICE, 5TH MARINES, FMF 1ST MARINE DIVISION, FPO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. CHAPLAIN,S SPECIAL ACTION REPORT, 30 AUGUST TO 9 OCTOBER 1950 1. 30 August to 6 September. 5th Marines were in reserve at Masan and in action at Miryang, Korea. This phase is covered in a previous report. During this time the chaplains were informed that there would be an amphibious landing in the near future, and that one chaplain was to accompany each battalion. 2. 6-12 September. Protestant and Catholic serv- ices were held at various dock areas at Pusan and on various ships in which our troops were embarked. 3. Chaplains were assigned and accompanied troops as follows: LT. COMDR. O. INGVOLDSTAD, JR., 2X5 on Uss OAVALIER QAPA 375. LT. w. G. TENNANT, 1X5 on Uss HENRICO KAPA 455. LT. QJG5 B. L. HIOKEY, 3X5 on Uss FORT MARION KLSD 225. 4. Services were held aboard ship at sea. 5. At Inchon, Korea, on 15 September 1950 chap- lains landed with battalion aid stations. Chaplain Ingvoldstad received a minor shrapnel wound. 6. 15-17 September. Because of rapid advances and separated sectors of battalions, no interchange of chaplains between battalions was possible, nor were services able to be held. 7. 18-19 September. Catholic and Protestant services were held in 2X5 and 3f5. 8. 20 September. The Han River was crossed and the Regiment advanced toward Seoul, chaplains re- maining with respective battalions. 9. 22 September. Chaplain Tennant was wounded by mortar shrapnel and evacuated. Division Chap- lain was requested to send a replacement. 10. 23 September. Lt. L. R. Phillips, CHC, USN, joined Regiment. Chaplains were then assigned as follows: LT. COMDR. O. INGVOLDSTAD 175 and 2X5 aid station. LT. L. R. PHILLIPS Regimental aid station. LT. fJG.5 B. L. HICKEY 3X5 aid station. On this day heaviest casualties to date were received by 2X 5, 91 passing through the aid station and many dead were unable to be removed from the Held of action. This action continued the following day for 2 X5 with 125 casualties, but moderated on 25 Septem- ber with 65 casualties and advance to outskirts of Seoul. 11. 26 September. Protestant and Catholic serv- ices were again held in Regiment, 1 X 5 and 375. 12. 27 September. 375 reached Capitol Building in Seoul and mopping up activities continued to 29 September. 13. 29 September. Chaplains were reassigned as follows: LT. COMDR. O. INGVOLDSTAD, JR., Regi- ment. LT. L. R. PHILLIPS, 2f5. LT. CjG.5 B. L. HICKEY, Regiment. This enabled Chaplains Hickey and Ingvoldstad to work on letter to next of kin while Chaplain Phillips accompanied 2X 5 on a separate mission some 10 miles away from Regimental Headquarters. 14. 30 September-4 October. Mopping up in Seoul and advance northwest of Seoul, farthest point being 18 miles, reached by the 3d Battalion. 15. 5 October. 5th Marines moved to assembly area, Inchon, preparing to embark for next operation. COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PERIOD 1. In spite of the confusion of loading ships, chap- lains could and did hold numerous services so that all units had opportunity for worship before being separated on ships not having chaplains. 2. Opportunity was also given so that each man could have his own personal Testament. or Prayer Book. The Chaplains Section of Pusan Base Com- mand was very helpful and generous in giving needed supplies. Catholic and Protestant chaplains should be concerned and prepared to offer supplies to men of each other's faith. E 3. Assignment of chaplains to definite battalions for an operation seems to be the best way to operate. However, in a regiment going through several opera- tions it is best to rotate the chaplains between the battalions so that men of various faiths in each bat- talion may have the closer services of a chaplain of their own faith at some time during the campaign. 4. In this operation it was not possible for chap-