While researching the post10 Heroic Battlefield Medics , I came across a couple of enthralling stories about military chaplain and their wartime exploits . Those stories were file away for later , and they grew into a list of storey that merit to be told and remember . They are submit here in more or less chronological order .
1. Anthony Rey
Some contemporaries write of the Mexican - American War as one of U.S. Protestants against Mexican Catholics . President Polk responded to such allegations by charge two Catholic priests to function as military chaplains . Father Anthony Rey , a Jesuit from Georgetown University with no military background or preparation , participated in the battle of Monterrey in September of 1846 . He be given to the spite on the battlefield and render last rites to the death . subsequently , process in north Mexico , he venture out of the U.S. fort to minister to the local , despite warnings of the danger . In 1847 he say a mass at the village of Ceralvo , and never made it back . His body was found a few day later , jab through by lances . He was mourn by both the U.S. troop and the Mexicans he served .
2. Horatio Stockton Howell
Presbyterian minister Horatio Howell was chaplain of the ninetieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War . Most military chaplains at the clip wore clerical black , but Howell preferred a regulation captain ’s uniform . On the first day of the conflict of Gettysburg , July 1 , 1863 , Howell was serving at the infirmary set up at a Christian church in Gettysburg when he rifle to the door and was confronted by a Confederate soldier demanding his giving up . The minister began to indicate that he was a non - combatant and not subject to capture , but was shoot and killed , credibly due to the uniform .
3. John P. Chidwick
Father John P. Chidwickwas the chaplain serving on the battleshipUSS Mainewhen it exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898 . Tensions were already gamey , and this incident was the electric discharge that begin the Spanish - American War . Father Chadwick knead tirelessly through the night torescue injured sailorsand tend to their injury . He was the last man to impart the ship . Two days by and by , Chadwickconducted the funeral ritesin Havana for those who died .
4. John B. DeValles
Father John B. DeValles earned the nickname the " Angel of the Trenches " during World War I. He ventured into No Man ’s Land in France to search for hurt and drop dead soldiers , and ministered to both the Allies and the Germans . During one raid , he did not return and was detect unconscious and wounded , next to a dead soldier he had tried to serve . DeValles ' wounds make his wellness to digest , but he stay to dish up in France until 1919 . He died a class afterward , never having wholly recovered from his wartime fire . France awarded DeValles the
Croix de Guerreand Legion of Honor
. Only a half - hour before he died , DeValles was notified that he would be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross . It was
pin on him at his funeral
in New Bedford , Massachusetts . The funeral carried full military honors , and all township flag were fly at half - staff . A school in the town was mention in his accolade .
5. Colman O’Flaherty
FatherColman O’Flahertywas an Irish immigrant who was school in Canada and then worked to install several school in South Dakota in the early 20th century . When World War I began , he joined up and was sent to France as a chaplain with the the 28th Infantry . O’Flaherty was shot and killed while helping the wounded on the front lines on October 1 , 1918 . He was awardedthe Distinguished Service Cross posthumouslyfor over-the-top heroism in action mechanism .
6. Francis P. Duffy
Canadian - bornFather Francis Duffyserved in the Spanish - American War , and turn back to service in 1916 to accompany troops in Mexico . Then during World War I he minister to soldier on the front agate line in France . During battle , Duffy dole out first tending and last rite as well , often under heavy fire . For his Robert William Service and braveness , the priest was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal . After the war , Duffy served as pastor of Holy Cross Church near Times Square in New York until his dying in 1932.Duffy Squarein the urban center ’s dramaturgy territorial dominion is named after Father Duffy . He was portrayed by Pat O’Brien in the 1940 filmThe Fighting 69th . Father Duffy is visualize on the rightfield .
7. John G. Burkhalter
Rev. John G. Burkhalterwas a professional bagger who became a southerly Baptist minister in Florida in 1932 . He then earned a degree in account and immediately link the military when he fine-tune in 1942 . Burkhalter was assign as a chaplain with the First Infantry andlanded in Normandywith Allied force-out during the 500 - Day invasion on August June 6 , 1944 . In October , Burkhalter worked to go back the hurt and drained during the Battle of the Bulge . He went missing for several week and was find in a Gallic hospital , having support several brain woundsduring the battle . Burkhalter was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star as well as a Purple Heart for his activities under blast . After the war , he stayed with the army , eventually help in the Korean War . Burkhalter retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1969 . In 1992 , he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery .
8. Francis L. Sampson
If you ’ve run into the movieSaving Private Ryan , you might be surprised to discover that the literal submarine sandwich who reunitedthe soldier Private Ryan was based onwith his remaining family was a chaplain . Father Francis L. Sampsonwas " The Paratrooper Padre " with the 101st Airborne Division who climb up into Normandy on D - mean solar day , landing behind foeman lines in a river . He dove to the bottom to recover his equipment because he could n’t lose his Mass kit . Sampson was once captured but was save from being blast by an foeman social unit loss leader who was Catholic . He ministered to friend and enemy alike , and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his activities in France . Sampson then go into action in Holland , where his chute startle landed him again in water -a castle fosse . He was captured by Germans during the Battle of the Bulge andimprisoned near Berlin for four months . That clique was liberated by the Russians in 1945 . But that was n’t the end of Sampson ’s heroics -he went on to attend to in Korea , then stayed with the U. S. Army to train other chaplain andeventually became Chief of Chaplains . He retired with the rank of Major General anda slew of medalsin 1971 . But that ’s not all ! Father Sampson wasthenappointed to channelize the USO , and he spend the rest of the Vietnam War visiting military personnel with amusement tours . He died in 1996 at the age of 83 .
We ’ve only made it to World War II , and there are other expansive stories from the war in Korea , Vietnam , and more late conflicts . Those are found in the post12 Heroic U.S. Military Chaplains .
