United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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APPENDIX C HEADQUARTERS FLEET MARINE FCRCE, PACIFIC Cfo FLEET POST OFFICE, sAN FRANCISCO 28 MARCH 1951. Fleet Marine Force, Standing Operating Procedure Pacific for the Chaplain Service of General Order No. the Fleet Marine Force, 19 Pacific 1. The following procedure will be used as a guide by chaplains on duty with the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. 2. General: a. The Force Chaplain is on the Special Staff of the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. He shall advise and inform the Commanding Gen- eral in matters pertaining to divine services, religious activities and interests, and personnel of the Chaplain Corps on duty in the Force. b. The Division, Air Wing, or Brigade Senior Chap- lain is normally assigned as Division, Air Wing, or Brigade Chaplain on the Special Staff of the Com- manding General. He shall advise his Commanding General on the assignments and activities of the chap- lains within the Division, Air Wing, or Brigade. He will coordinate and generally supervise the work of these chaplains. c. Unit chaplains have the same functions in their organizations as the Division, Air Wing, Brigade, and Force Chaplains, as concerns the advising of corn- manding officers about the religious provisions for the unit. d. Specific duties of chaplains assigned to Marine Corps units are given in the Marine Corps Staff Man- ual, paragraph 241. 3. In Bivouac or Garrison: a. The functions of the Chaplain Section will be carried out in accordance with the Chaplain's Manual CNavPers l5664jg Navy Regulations, article 08073 BuPers Manual C-12202, C-12205, Staff Manual fl948j NAVMC 1022-DPP, and current directives of the Chaplain's Division of BuPers. b. Chaplains will engage in field training with the organization to which attached. c. Chaplains will be used in Character Guidance Lectures. They will seek opportunities for showing religious and morality films issued by the Navy Department. d-. Prior to operations in the field, chaplains will procure the portable ecclesiastical equipment issued -251 by the Chaplains Division, BuPers. Care should be taken that each chaplain has enough consumable altar supplies for at least one month's use. The Division or Wing Chaplain will procure replacements through regular supply channels. Arrangements should be made for the following items in the field: a portable typewriter with ofiice supplies, a small 2.9 cubic foot field desk, and two camp stools. 4-. In Combat Operations: a. Duties of chaplains between the ports of embar- kation and assault beaches: Q15 The Division chaplain will arrange by consulta- tion with the Embarkation ofiicer for at least one chaplain to sail on each ship ftransport, LST or LSDJ if practicable. Some ships will have ship's chaplains, either Protestant or Catholic, which will be taken into consideration in the distribution of chaplains. Q21 The unit chaplain will schedule religious serv- ices and other religious activities after consultation of the commander of troops, commanding officer of the ship and the ship's chaplain, if one is on board. C3j Chaplains should be placed in rooms with few- est room mates, or be afforded a place for consultation, because of the number of men who desire to talk in private. Q45 Chaplains should make their location aboard known by a sign in the passageway outside their room or office. C55 Prior to sailing, the troops' chaplain will con- fer with the ship's chaplain regarding the amount of religious supplies aboard which will be available for his use at sea. C61 Chaplains will assist, where needed, with the entertainment and recreational program aboard ship for troop personnel. UQ Troops will expect some special service of wor- ship on the eve of debarkation. Upon approval of the Commanding Officer, and in cooperation with the ship's chaplain, a Mass for Catholics and a Com- munion or other service for Protestant personnel should be scheduled. A Jewish service should be ar- ranged if numbers warrant. b. Duties of chaplains in the assault phase: Clj In an amphibious operation, each chaplain will go ashore with the echelon assigned, usually with the unit Aid Station, equipped for immediate minis-

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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-

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tration. As soon as practicable after landing, each chaplain of the Division will establish liaison with the unit Personnel Section and Surgeon. C 21 Upon landing, the Division Chaplain establishes liaison with the Division Personnel Officer fG-lj, Surgeon, and Graves Registration Officer. He obtains from the Division G-4 the location of the Division Cemetery. He establishes and maintains contact with Field Hospitals in Division area. He coordinates the combat ministration plan for chaplains of the Division, and makes recommenda- tions for replacement of chaplain casualties. He assists the Graves Registration Officer in co- ordination of all graves registration and burial activity. He provides for proper religious rites for burial of the dead in the Division area. f3j The Regimental chaplain lands with the eche- lon to which assigned, equipped for immediate ministrations. He establishes liaison as soon as practicable with the Adjutant, S-1, Regimental Surgeon, Graves Reg- istration Section Chief, and other chaplains of the Regiment. He obtains information as soon as possible from S-1 as to the location Of the temporary Regimental cemetery. He establishes and maintains contact with the Reg- imental collecting section, and the Battalion Aid Stations. He provides for proper religious rites in the burial of the dfeceased personnel in the Regimental area. He establishes and maintains contact with Field Hospitals in support of the Regiment. He and the other chaplains should visit daily the Field Hospitals and when required take names of the more seriously wounded, communicating with the parents of the wounded relative to their condition. He performs Divine Services as prescribed by the Commanding Officer, whenever and wherever practicable. He will make special effort to insure that chap- lains are present whenever companies or battalions come out of the front lines to go into rest or reserve areas and also when reserve companies Or battalions are about to move into the front lines. C4-J The unit chaplain's battle station during com- bat will most generally be the Battalion Or Regimental Aid Station. CSD An additional chaplain will be available from the supporting elements of the Division or the Divi- sion chaplain's pool for each infantry regiment during the assault phase. This provides four chaplains, one for each Battalion, and one for the Regiment. Fol- lowing this, the additional chaplain will resume his previous duty in the Division. C61 During combat operations, unit chaplains will communicate frequently with the Division chaplain by telephone or guard mail. They will keep their im- mediate commanding Ofhcer informed at all times of their whereabouts. Q75 Unit commanders will provide transportation as necessary to enable chaplains to execute their duties. f8j When practicable an ind'ividual picture of each grave with the appropriate chaplain standing by in benediction should be taken, so that families may se- cure copies if desired. c. Duties On Conclusion of Landing and Assault Phase: CU At the close of operations unit chaplains will prepare letters of condolence to next of kin of those lost in action. These letters will be properly chan- neled through the command. The ofiice Of the Divi- sion chaplain can assist a unit chaplain by looking up the following information relative to each person deceased: fab Name, rank, serial number. fbj Date of death, place of burial, and religion. fcj Name and address Of next of kin. fd-J Name of ofhciating chaplain at burial service. f2l At the close Of an operation, the Division chap- lain, with the approval of the Commanding General, should arrange for a memorial service to be held at the Division cemetery Or in other cemeteries where Divi- sion dead are buried. 5. Conclusion: Common sense in the rapidly changing conditions of battle, initiative for which there is no substitute, and the reminder to pursue the goal Of bringing men to God and God to menu under all conditions, are the constant criteria for every chaplain. BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL SHEPHERD: C. BURGER, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps DISTRIBUTION: Chief of Stag Case 1. Case 2, A, B, C, D, E, G, X, Y. Case 3. O-F-E-I-c-I-A-L: QSQ C. C. Henderson, C. C. HENDERSON, Major, USMC, Adjutant. -252-