United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

Page 77 text:

logical library. Sermons, he was told, must eventually result from the hammering of actual experience with men in combat upon the anvil of one's own spiritual life. The chaplain was supplied with a compact Communion kit, told what supplies would be avail- able to him in Korea, and advised not to burden him- self with too much equipment in any case. One chaplain had written back to Dreith: I packed my pack and set out on Saturday morning to hold services in the 2d Battalion the following day. For 8 days we climbed hills, each one a little steeper than its predecessor, I finally held my service one week later. I suggest that a chaplain take along as many hymnals as he can conveniently carry for 8 days up rugged mountains, in addition of course to a 60 pound pack. Chaplains Wounded Two chaplains--Eugene I. Van Antwerp and Charles S. Pigott-were wounded in action during the 4th Korean campaign. Van Antwerp received a flesh wound as the result of enemy mortar fire on 26 January. He was Hown back to the Division Hos- pital by helicopter where he received treatment. Chaplain Schwyhart, reporting to the Chaplains Di- vision in a letter dated 1 February 1951, stated: The doctors advised that he would be ready for a return to duty in about 10 days. Chaplain Van Antwerp strongly desires to return to his 7th Marines. Our chaplains become extremely devoted to their units. Chaplain Van Antwerp was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism while under fire in an engagement which began 20 January and included the period up to the time of his being wounded on the 26th. This occurred during the Division's antiguerrilla mission. His citation reads in part as follows: On one occasion, when a rifle company on patrol in the vicinity of Chiso-dong, Korea, encountered a numerically superior enemy force and was held up by intense small arms and automatic weapons fire, with complete disregard for his own personal safety he voluntarily moved forward of the front lines, over open terrain, in order to rescue a wounded Marine. Throughout the entire action, he worked tirelessly and fearlessly in assisting in the treatment of wounded Marines until he was seriously wounded by enemy fire and had to be evacuated. Chaplain Charles S. Pigott received a slight wound in the hand on 7 March. He was not incapacitated for duty. Chaplain Pigott later received a Letter of Commendation for excellent service in the line of his profession while serving as Chaplain with a Marine infantry battalion during operations against the enemy in Korea from 2 January to 10 May 1951.2 Chaplains Cited Three other chaplains were awarded citations dur- ing this campaign. Chaplain Henry E. Austin was honored with the Bronze Star and Chaplains Paul Knapp and Abner C. Cook with Letters of Commendation. Chaplain Austin served with the 2d Battalion, lst Marines at the front line in the central sector of Korea north of Wonju from 3 March to 4 April, when the Division was engaged in Operations Killer and Ripper. In his report to the Regimental Chaplain following this duty Chaplain Austin described in some detail the nature of his work. This account may be taken as typical of the activities of all Navy chaplains who lived up to the ideals and traditions of the Chaplain Corps while serving in Korea under combat condi- tions. Austin wrote: The chaplainls zone of action was the battalion aid station, and at times our battalion aid station was as close as 20 yards from the fighting, and occasionally under fire. Since joining this battalion, I can sincerely say that none of our wounded has left the front without being seen by a chaplain. Through- out this portion of time, the 2d Bn had 102 men wounded in action, three of whom died as a result of wounds. In addi- tion live men were killed in action. In four out of the eight deaths, I was able to hold a closing prayer before the men died Ctwo Catholic and two Protestant prayersj. On 11 March, the 2d Bn kicked off on a forward push which was to take the men in various rifle companies on a ridge-hopping maneuver of anywhere from 50 to 65 miles up and down the steepest and most rugged terrain I have ever walked, much less carried a full pack. At night we were all so tired that we were just able to dig our 'ifoxholesn before hitting the rack. Suffice it is to say, the terrain was terrific l On the afternoon and evening of 15 March, the battalion was under heavy fire. Chaplain Austin assisted the doctors and corpsmen in the evacuation and care of the wounded. On that night, he re- ported, it was impossible to evacuate two men . . . who were seriously wounded in the leg and groin by mortar fire. In both cases I helped Dr. Dow admin- ister serum albumen, in -addition to trying to give spiritual comfort to men who were obviously dyingf, He also helped in the evacuation of 47 wounded men that day by helicopters, 'gwhich acted as 'Angels of Mercy' . Carrying his violin with him to provide music, Austin managed during a month of most adverse conditions to hold 20 services, with an attendance of 1,71O, and 290 receiving communion. In addition the chaplain reported 33 decisions for Christ and 14 baptisms. Men travel many avenues to God, in the extremi- ties of human experience some draw near to Him through fear. In the face of imminent death, the

Page 76 text:

On ll March the new Division Chaplain, F. W. Kelly, reported to the Chaplains Division the recent arrival of Chaplains Joseph D. McDonald, Henry E. Austin, and Henry H. Hayes. Chaplain O'Connor, Regimental Chaplain, 7th Marines had been evacu- ated because of illness. Kelly continued: At present our lst and 7th regiments are moving forward, with the 5th ready in reserve. lThis was during Operation Ripper.J Our CP fcommand postl moves right along be- hind. Since we are in possible artillery range, we must wear helmets at all times, and black out at nights. The rest of the Division is strung back as far as Masan. I feel that it is better for me to be in this forward CP where I can be in Headquarters Bn .... . . . F. W. Kelly .... , . . Garson Goodman .... H. H. Hayes ..... contact with the regiments, rather than in the rear where I would be out of contact except by dispatch. Later in March Kelly reported that Chaplain Joseph P. Trddd had reported on the 15th. Having advised some of the chaplains about due for rotation that dispatches had been received on their reliefs, he reported that one looked at him like a fairy god- father who waved a magic wand. The rotation plan, he added, was having a Hue effect on the mo- rale of the chaplains. Kelly submitted the following roster on 31 March 1951. Motor Transport Bn ..... . . . Ordnance Bn ......... Engineer Bn ..... Shore Party Bn ....... Tank Bn ..............,.. . . . Amphibious Tractor Bn .... . . . Service Bn ............ lst Marines. . J. P. Trodd .,... Garson Goodman K. M. Hearn. .. K. d'A Engle. . . W. M. Hearn. . . G. C. Bingaman. A. Juntunen. . J. D. McDonald. C. S. Pigott ....... H. E. Austin ..... 5th Marines .... . . . L. R. Phillips. . . . J. M. Quirk .... S. K. Johnson ..... 7th Marines. . . . . . . E. I. Van Antwerp ...., R. L. Patton ........ llth Marines.. , .. . C. Fitzgerald... . H. H. Groover. .. H. E. Waters. . Medical Bn .......... . . . G. Reilly. . . . W. A. Rennie. . Combat Service Group .... . . . W. N. Lyons. . . J. S. Ferris ........ . . . . CDR RC . . LTJG JEWISH . . LTJG DISC . . LT RC . . CTAD from Headquarters Bnl . . LT METH . . LTJG PE . . LTJG BAP CAD . . LTJG I-:VAN at REF . . LT LUTH . . LCDR RC . LTJG BAP qsp . . LT BAP CAD . . LT CONC . . LT RC .. LT PRESBY KUSAD . . LT 'I METH . , LT RC . . LTJG METH . . LCDR RC . . LTJG DISC , LTJG BAP qsp . . LT RC . LT METH , LCDR BAP QAD Chaplain Field Training Chaplain James S. Ferris, reporting on 30 March, had informed Kelly that all chaplains ordered to the lst Division were now being routed via Marine Bar- racks, Camp Pendleton, Calif., for indoctrination and training. Camp Chaplain J. Floyd Dreith later re- ported on this program. 'Last stop before Korea, is the phrase applied to Pendleton not only by the thousands of men sent out regularly as replacements for the lst Marine Division but also by the chaplains going out to bring spiritual enlightenment, comfort and courage to those menf, Marine Corps organization, procedure, and nomen- clature, official and slang, were studied so that the chaplain might know his way around. Refresher courses in first aid and conferences with medical officers suggested ways that chaplains could be of the greatest possible service in working with casualties. And not least, there was rigorous physical training, 'Llest the hills of Korea prove too much for an in- adequate flesh no matter how willing the spirit.', Most important, the chaplain was trained in ways to render the most effective spiritual ministry. He was reminded that he would have a minimum theo- -5g,.

Page 78 text:

we if T, ' af Special Music. A quintet of marines add to the worship service which is conducted by Chaplain Henry E. Austin out of doors. values of life may stand out in clearer perspective. Some men, indifferent to other evangelical appeal, respond under circumstances when even the bravest are not ashamed to admit they are afraid. In any case men are likely to be more responsive to the min- istry of a man of God who is sharing their own ex- periences. Whatever may be the Hnal truth concern- ing ucombat conversion, there can be little doubt that the combat chaplain is in a position to influence many who would hardly otherwise come within reach of a religious ministry. Chaplain Austin was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in connection with opera- tions against the enemy while serving with a Marine infantry battalion in Korea from 19 March 1951 to 4 April 1951. The citation continues in part: Sewing as battalion chaplain, Lieutenant Austin con- sistently displayed outstanding courage and devotion to duty in ministering to the spiritual needs of the officers and men of the battalion. Frequently exposing himself without re- gard for his personal safety to intense enemy mortar, artil- lery, automatic weapons and small arms fire, he moved fear- lessly with forward elements of the battalion in order to better perform his duties. The two chaplains serving aboard the VALLEY FORGE received the Letter of Commendation for combat service in Korean waters for the period 25 June 1950 to 22 March 1951. Paul Knapp, the Roman Catholic chaplain, received a citation which states in part: By his determination to make divine services and instruc- tions available at all times of the day or night to the Catholic personnel, he rendered invaluable support to the high morale of that ship. The crew of his ship and its air group were inspired to accomplish greater achievements by his untiring devotion to the objectives of uplifting men's spirits and moraleg thus, he contributed immeasurably to the successful conclusion of the ship's mission. ..6Q,