United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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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.

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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.

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General supervision and making of duty and chapel schedules is the responsibility of the Regimental Chaplain, although he may dele- gate such details as he sees fit. The senior enlisted clerk is in charge of all en- listed personnel assigned to the Chaplains Section and responsible for their performance of duty, Assignments to specific duties will be made by him, subject to the approval of the Regi- mental Chaplain. Such duties include typ- ing, filing, upkeep and cleaning of chapel and offices, music for chapel services, etc. Each chaplain is to conduct such religious serv- ices and functions as his particular church requires, but planning and scheduling of same is coordinated by the Regimental Chaplain. Conclusion l. The Chaplains' Manual, NavPers 15664, 1949 edi- tion, is the guide and authority for the chaplains duties. 2. Common sense in the rapidly changing conditions of battle, remembering to pursue the goal of Bring- ing men to God and God to men under all con- ditions and at all times is the constant and unchanging form for all chaplains. O. INGVOLDSTAD, Jr. LCDR, CHC, USN. -250-