United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

Page 266 text:

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.

Page 265 text:

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-

Page 267 text:

E. Under Battle Conditions l. It has been found advisable to have one chap- 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. lain and clerk with each battalion. Chap- lains and clerks remain administratively attached to Regimental Headquarters and Service Company but are attached to the bat- talions for operational control. Assignments are made by Regimental Chaplain. At op- portune times chaplains are rotated between battalions so that each battalion may have the benefit of each chaplain's particular ministry. Chaplains may, and should, use their initiative to visit other battalions so that both Protes- tant and Catholic services are frequently in each battalion. If possible the Regimental Chaplain should be informed beforehand, but in any event he should always be informed as as soon afterward as possible, of the services that are held by the Assistant Chaplains. Although there is no Table of Equipment for the Chaplains Section, the equipment necessary for this type of operation for each chaplain is: a. Jeep and trailer, in which are carried: b. One typewriter, chest, and office supplies. c. One portable altar kit Qsupplied by Navyj. d. Adequate Testaments, Prayer Books, and religious supplies fsupplied from re- ligious sourcesj. e. One portable organ and hymn books fsup- plied by Navyb. f. Two camp stools. In addition to clerical and musical abilities, chaplain's clerks should be qualified jeep drivers and, as far as possible, be assigned to chaplains of similar faith. The chaplain's base of operation shall be the aid station of the organization to which he is op- erationally attached and in no case shall he leave the battalion without notifying proper authority in the battalion. It has become a cherished custom and tradition for Marines to hold a Memorial Service for their departed comrades before leaving the theater of action. These and funeral services are normally conducted under the supervision of the Division Chaplain. At times the Regiment may be on a separate mission and these services will be conducted by the Regiment. A tested and satisfactory type of combined Funeral and Memorial Service is as follows: Setting: One Marine who knew the departed stands at the head of each grave. Funeral party assembles at foot of cemetery, chaplains facing funeral party. Service: 1. Catholic Prayers, Scripture. 2. Protestant Scripture, Prayers. Regimental Chaplain says: Let us all kneel in honor and memory of our departed comrades while the chaplains go to each grave for the graveside service . fFuneral party and Ma- rines at each grave kneel.j -249- 3. Chaplains go to respective graves for graveside service. Regimental chap- lain says: Let us stand. 4. Catholic Prayers, Scripture. 5. Protestant Scripture, Prayers. 6. Lord's Prayer by all. 7. Benediction. 8. Firing of three volleys. 9. Sounding of Taps. If it is to be a Memorial Service only, No. 3 of the Service may be: Regimental chaplain says: Let us all kneel in honor and memory of our departed comrades while the chaplains lead us in prayer. fFu- neral party and Marines at each grave kneel while chaplains turn and face toward graves and offer prayers of intercession and blessing.D 7. Letters to next of kin should be written by the chaplain m0st closely connected with the de- ceased. Copies of such letters are sent to the Division Chaplain. Letters are not mailed directly to the next of kin, but are sent, signed and unsealed, in a larger envelope to: Commandant United States Marine Corps fCode DGUJ Washington, 25, D.C. where they are mailed. This is to prevent letters being mailed to next of kin who have not been officially notified. Extreme care should be taken that dates and grave num- bers are the same as the official records show. F. In Bivouac or Rest Area 1.A Chaplain's Office for all chaplains of the regi- ment is maintained in a centrally located, easily accessible position. It should be so ar- ranged that each chaplain has a private room for consultation and outer office for clerks. Although there is no Table of Equipment for the Chaplains Section, the equipment neces- sary includes desks, typewriters, file cabinets, chairs, and book cases sufficient to accommo- date the staff. If the bivouac area is unimproved, three storage tents should be pro- vided: one to be used as office and the other two together to form a chapel. 2. The Regimental Chapel should also be located in the central part of the Regimental Area, close to the Chaplains Office, and used only for religious services. These services would include daily Catholic Mass, Protestant Bible classes and week-day services, in addition to the Sunday services. 3. While it is desirable that chaplains are out visit- ing the units of the regiment, at least one chaplain is to always be in the office during working hours. When battalions have their own Mess Hall, the method of regularly con- tacting each battalion is for each chaplain to spend the hour or two preceding and follow- ing the noon meal with a different battalion each day.