United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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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-

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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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lains without jeeps to move to battalions other than their own for services. 5. The system whereby the Division chaplain was able to replace a wounded chaplain in less than 24 hours was very commendable. 6. The Regimental Aid Station also acted as a Clearing and Collecting Section of the Medical Bat- talion. In this arrangement it is very desirable to have four chaplains to a regiment so that one chap- lain could be at Regiment at all times. 762 casualties were handled by Regimental Aid during the period 15-30 September. 7. Burials were accomplished un-der supervision of the Division chaplain by chaplains of supporting or- ganizations. In a shorter or less extended operation it would be well if chaplains of units to which the deceased belonged could also conduct their funeral services. 8. It was commendable that a Division Memorial Service was conducted prior to departure from the area. 9. The system of assembling all next of kin and burial information by the Division chaplain was of invaluable help to regiments whose personnel records are not available in combat. 10. Chaplains again did their best to conduct themselves and offer their services in a manner of inspiration and helpfulness to the men of this command. ll. During this period the Chaplains Section operated in accordance with the following: STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR CHAPLAINS SECTION I. MISSION A. To bring men to God and God to men by: l. Providing adequate spiritual and moral leadership. 2. Making adequate provisions for formal worship services. B. Under the Commanding Oflicer to assist in maintaining a high state of morale. II. ORGANIZATION A. Table of Organization Ui denotes wartime complement onlyj . Position Rankfrale Servzce Nb. MOS Church Regimental chaplain . LCDR ....... 4100 ....... Assistant reg't chap- LT . 4100 . . lain. Chaplain? . . . . LTJG . 4100 . . Clerk ..... . . CPL . 5243 . . .. CPL . 5243 Clerk .... ., - 248 Clerk? ............. CPL .. 5243 .. B. Present Organization Regimental chaplain: O. Ingvoldstad, jr. LCDR 223739 4100 LUTH Assistant Chaplains: L. R. Phillips ..... LT 381175 4100 CONG B. L. Hickey ...... LT-IG 527073 4100 RC Clerks: E. R. Buhman .... SGT 1087908 5243 RC P. B. Barger ...... PFC 649497 5200 METH III. OPERATION A. Regimental Chaplain 1. The Regimental Chaplain is a member of the Commanding Officer's Special Staff. As such he a. Is present at all Staff Conferences which in- clude the Special Staff. b. Advises the Commanding OHicer in mat- ters relating to the Chaplains Mission. c. Acts as representative of the Commanding Oflicer in those matters relating to the Chaplains Mission. B. Assistant Chaplains 1. The duties of the Assistant Chaplain are: a. To conduct such religious services and functions as his church requires. b. To assist the Regimental Chaplain in the accomplishment of the Chaplains Mission. C. Regarding Embarkation 1. Regimental Chaplains should maintain a full supply of consumable, nonperishable church equipment crated and ready at all times for embarkation. This would include: 1,000 New Testaments CAmerican Bible Society preferred because of prayers and hymns inserted which makes it possible to be used for field servicesj . 500 Protestant Prayer Books 500 Catholic Military Missals 500 Rosaries 200 Field Hymn Books 1 Portable Field Organ 2. The church affiliation of ship's chaplains are then taken into consideration so that, insofar as possible, a Protestant and Catholic chaplain may be on each transport. 3. Chaplains' oiiice equipment in Line No. 2 ma- terial for shipping. As such it may or may not be available during the voyageg but by personally contacting the regimental embarka- tion oflicer, certain pieces of equipment can be made accessible for use during the trip and combat loading. D. Regarding Debarkation 1. Chaplains debark and go ashore in company with the aid station of the battalion to which they are operationally attached. 2. Supplies and equipment of minimum nature, de- pending on operation, accompany them. 3. Remainder of supplies are to accompany Ad- ministrative Section of Regiment.