O Callahan (FF 1051) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 1 1 - L5 I-5 A, FATHER J GSEPH T. O'CALL HAN ather Joseph T. O'Callahan, namesake of our ship, was a devout man who believed 0 ' that all things should be done for the greater glory of God. Joseph O'Callahan was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He attended Wes- ton College and headed the Mathematics Depart- ment at Holy Cross until August 7, 1940 when, as a Jesuit Priest, he was commissioned Lieutenant C ju- nior gradej in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps. LTJG O'Callahan's first tour of duty was at Naval Station, Pensacola, Florida, where he taught Calculus. From there, he was transferred to USS RANGER where he served for two and a half years, including a tour that involved the invasion of North Africa. On March 2, 1945, LCDR O,Callahan reported aboard the aircraft carrier USS FRANKLIN CCV-135 as ship's Chaplain. At 0707, March 19th CSL Joseph's Dayj, while on patrol 50 miles from Kobe, Japan, Japanese planes dropped two 500- pound bombs on the flight deck of the USS FRANKLIN. The initial blasts killed everyone in the hanger deck, spilled 17,000 gallons of fuel, set off explosions of 1000-pound bombs, and resulted in fires that burned fore and aft on three decks. During the disaster, Father O'Callahan restlessly tended the injured, inspiring emergency crews to make repairs, and was the lead man on a fire hose that entered a burning turret filled with ammunition. Even though wounded himself, Father O'Callahan refused any personal aid. As CDR Stephen Jurika, Navigator of the FRANKLIN observed: O'Callahan was everywhere, leading men, officiating at last rites, manning hoses and doing the work of 10 men. Barely afloat, USS FRANKLIN was towed back to Pearl Harbor, with 823 of her sailors dead and nearly 500 injured. During the initial tow and transit to port, Father O,Callahan kept spirits alive by singing, dancing, joking with the crew, and leading prayer services. He kept this up for three long days and nights without allowing himself time to sleep. For his unquestioned spirit and heroism, Father O'Callahan was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in the White House on January 23, 1946, by President Harry S. Truman. He is the only Roman Catholic Navy Chaplain ever to be so distinguished. Q Commander 0,Callahan was discharged November 12, 1946, and returned to Holy Cross College. While teaching philosophy, he suffered a stroke in December of 1949. A slow but steady decline in -his health followed. While he was writing his book, I WAS CHAPLAIN ON THE FRANKLIN, Hollywood produced a movie named Battle Stationsv, depicting the story of the FRANKLIN's tragedy and The Padre of the Flat Topsv, portraying him under a fictional role. The movie and Father O,Callahan's book were both released to the ublic. Dlfiring the reading of a Mass at breakfast on St. Patrick's Day, Father O'Callahan suffered another stroke, passing away March 18, 1964 at St. Vincent's Hospital, Worchester Massachusetts. Throughout his life, Father Joseph T. O,Callahan remained a man guided by religion and memories. He was buried with Naval ceremony at Holy Cross, Massachusetts. His coffin was wreathed with his two greatest treasures, a vow crucifix, which he received in 1942, and his Congressional Medal of Honor.

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