United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

Page 271 text:

APPENDIX D HEADQUARTERS IST MARINE DIVISION CREINFQ, FMF CXO FLEET POST OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. 19ftwh 15 Aug 1951 Annex K to Division General Order SOP, Chaplains No. 50 Standing Operating Procedure for the Chaplain Service of the lst Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. 1. General a. The Division chaplain is a member of the Spe- cial Staff, and will advise the Commanding General and staff on matters pertaining to religion and re- ligious activities. He will advise the Commanding General on the assignment and activities of the chap- lains within the Division, and will coordinate and gen- erally supewise the work of all Chaplains. b. Unit chaplains as a member of the respective special staffs will advise the Commanding Ofiicer con- cerning religious provisions and religious activities for the unit. 2. In Reserve, Bivouac or Training Area a. The functions of the Chaplain Section will be executed in accordance with Chaplains Manual CNavPers 1566455 Navy Regulations, Article 0807, BuPcrs Manual, Articles Cl2202, C12205, U.S. Ma- rine Corps Staff Manual 119485 NAVMC 1022- DPP, and current directives of the Chaplains Division of BuPers. b. Each chaplain will arrange to conduct or have conducted Divine Services on Sunday within his own area. The responsibility for the availability of both Protestant and Catholic Services for their personnel rests upon individual unit chaplains. The unit chap- lain will also arrange for attendance at Jewish Serv- ices when a Jewish chaplain is available. c. The Unit chaplain will arrange some form of daily Religious Service in his area. d. Chaplains may be employed in the presentation of Character Guidance Lectures, and will hold them- selves available to assist unit Surgeons in preventive lectures on Spiritual and Moral views of V.D. Control. e. The chaplains assigned to infantry and artillery Regiments will be retained administratively in regi- mental headquarters, for deployment in accordance with the recommendations of the regimental chaplain. 3. Chaplain duties in Combat a. Amphibious Operations. Q11 The Division chaplain will endeavor, after consulting with the Embarkation Ofiicer, to deploy his chaplains aboard the ships so as to obtain a maximum of spiritual assistance for personnel of all Faiths. He will take into consideration the fact that some ships will have chaplains, either Catholic or Protestant, regularly assigned. C2j The Unit chaplain aboard ship will schedule services and other religious activities after consulting with the Commanding Officer of Troops, the Com- manding Officer of the vessel and' the Ship's chaplain. The Unit chaplain will attempt to adhere to any schedule already arranged by the Ship's chaplain. f3l Unit Commanders will undertake to procure private quarters for the Unit chaplain where prac- ticableior, should that be impracticable, he will pro- vide some place which affords privacy for consulta- tions. Personnel will not discuss private problems in the presence of others. HQ Once the chaplain has been assigned a suitable location, he should insure that this information be made known to all personnel. C5j If possible the Unit chaplain should attempt to bring aboard sufficient religious supplies for his troops. This will not be necessary if consultation with the Ship's chaplain discloses that he has an abundance of supplies. f6j Chaplains will assist, when needed, with the recreational program aboard ship for troop personnel, but not in a degree which will affect adversely the conduct of their spiritual activities. Q7j The chaplain will plan a Special Worship Service on the eve of debarkation, with the approval of the Commanding Officer, and in cooperation with the Ship's chaplain, a Mass for Catholic personnel and a Protestant Service for Protestant personnel. Where possible, and if numbers warrant, a Jewish Service should be arranged. b. Duties of chaplains in the Landing and Assault Phase and thereafter. flj Each chaplain will land with the echelon as- signed, usually with the Unit Aid Station. This should be at the earliest moment that his presence ashore is warranted. As soon as practicable after -253-

Page 270 text:

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-

Page 272 text:

landing, the chaplain will establish liaison with the Unit Personnel and Medical Sections. f2j Upon landing, the Division chaplain, will establish liaison with the Division Personnel Oflicer, the Surgeon, and Graves Registration Oflicer. As ap- propriate thereafter he will accomplish the following: Cal Obtain from Division G-4 the location of the Division Cemetery. fbi Establish and maintain contact with field hos- pitals in the Division area and insure coverage for them by chaplains. Ccj Coordinate the combat ministration plan for the chaplains of the Division and endeavor to have avail- able ready replacements for chaplain casualties. Qdj Assist the Graves Registration Oflicer in co- ordination of all graves registration and burial activities. Cel Provide for proper religious rites for burial of the dead in the Division area. C32 The Regimental chaplain lands with the eche- lon to which assigned. Upon landing he will establish liaison with the Adjutant, Regimental Surgeon, Graves Registration Section, and other chaplains of the Regi- ment. At the earliest practicable time he will estab- lish contact with the Division chaplain. As appropriate thereafter he will accomplish the following: I aj Obtain information as soon as possible from the Adjutant as to the location of the temporary Regi- mental Cemetery. fbj Provide for proper religious rites in the burial of deceased personnel in the Regimental area, should a temporary Regimental Cemetery be established. fcj Establish and maintain contact with medical installations in support of the Regiment, making daily visit to those installations along with other chaplains. Cdl Administer spiritual aid and conduct Divine Services. fel Off er assistance to the wounded in communicat- ing with relatives in order to alleviate undue anxiety and worry. ffl Perform Religious Services where and when- ever possible. The approval of the Commanding Of- ficer will be obtained when arranging any Service which would require a gathering of a group of men. fgj Assure the availability of chaplains for men coming out of action and those about to enter combat. Q41 The Unit chaplain's ordinary battle station during combat will be the Battalion or Regimental Aid Station. Chaplains will not limit their availabil- ity by joining any small unit or individual patrol. f5l Chaplains of supporting Units will be held available by the Division chaplain to be used with forward units or for immediate replacement for chap- lain casualties. Chaplains thus used will be returned to their units when no longer needed with combat elements. C61 Unit Commanders will provide necessary transportation to enable chaplains to carry out their duties expeditiously. f7j As soon as the opportunity is afforded, Unit chaplains will prepare letters of condolence to next of kin of those lost in action. These letters will be properly channeled through the command. Should the operation be extended over a long period of time, the Division chaplain, when the opportunity permits, will process these letters. The Division Chaplain's Office will assist by obtaining the following necessary information relative to the deceased: Cal Name, rank, serial number. Cbj Date of death, place of burial. fel Religion. fdl Name and address of next of kin. Q81 At such intervals as are appropriate, the Divi- sion chaplain, with the approval of the Commanding General should arrange a Memorial Ceremony at the Division Cemetery or at a site selected by the Com- manding General. 4. Equipment fal Prior to operations in the field, chaplains will procure the portable ecclesiastical equipment issued by the Chaplains Division, BuPers. Care should be taken that each chaplain has enough consumable altar sup- plies to last for at least l month's use. The Division chaplain will procure replacements through regular supply channels. To expedite this procurement a chaplain with a rear Unit should be designated as a supply chaplain. Arrangements should be made for the following items in the field: a portable typewriter with ofiice supplies, a 2.9 cubic foot field desk, and two camp stools. 6. Collateral Duties Cal The primary work of the chaplain is spiritual and moral leadership. He will therefore not be re- quired to undertake duties of any other nature that would absorb the major portion of his time, and thus cause him to neglect his chaplain duties. BY COMMAND or MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS! V. H. KRULAK, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, OFFICIAL: Chief of Stag. ISI H. E. Hire, H. E. HIRE, Lt Col USMC, DivAdj. -254-