Chaplains Memorial

Chaplains Memorial. . , This memorial was dedicated in 1979 by the Knights of Columbus of the 1st Pennsylvania District of the Calvert Province to honor four Catholic chaplains who had received the Medal of Honor. Since then, one Catholic and four Protestant chaplains have been added - thanks to Freedoms Foundation's Valley Forge Chapter, as well as local individuals, businesses and veterans groups., Four served during the Civil War, one each in World War Il and Korea, and three in Vietnam. Two of them, Fathers Emil Kapaun and Vincent Capodanno, are undergoing the process for canonization as saints in the Roman Catholic Church., [Chaplain bios, left to right], John Milton Whitehead , 15th Indiana Infantry , Stone[s] River, Tennessee , Dec. 31, 1862 , "Went to the front during a desperate contest and unaided , carried to the rear several wounded and helpless soldiers.", Francis Bloodgood Hall , 16th New York Infantry , Salem Heights, Virginia , May 3, 1863 , "Voluntarily exposed himself to a heavy fire during the thickest , of the fight and carried wounded men to the rear for treatment , and attendance.", James Hill , First Lieutenant, 21st Iowa Infantry , Champion Hill, Mississippi , May 16, 1863 , "By skillful and brave management captured , three of the enemy's pickets", Milton Lorenzo Haney , 55th Illinois Infantry , Atlanta, Georgia , July 22, 1864 , "Voluntarily carried a musket in the ranks of his regiment , and rendered heroic service in retaking the Federal works , which had been captured by the enemy.", Joseph Timothy O'Callahan , Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy , Attack on USS Franklin , March 19, 1945 , "With the ship rocked by incessant explosions, with debris , and fragments raining down and fires raging in ever-increasing , fury, he ministered to the wounded and dying, comforting and , encouraging men of all faiths; ...he manned a hose to cool hot, , armed bombs rolling dangerously on the listing deck ...despite , searing, suffocating smoke which forced men to fall back gasping.", Vincent Robert Capodanno , Lieutanant, U.S. Navy , Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam , Sept. 4, 1967 , "When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds , to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he , steadfastly refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the , corpsmen to help their wounded comrades and, with calm vigor, , continued to move about the battlefield as he provided , encouragement by voice and example to the valiant Marines.", Emil Joseph Kapaun , Captain, U.S. Army , Unsan, Korea , Nov. 1-2, 1950 , "Shortly after his capture, Chaplain Kapaun, with complete , disregard for his personal safety and unwavering resolve, , bravely pushed aside an enemy soldier preparing to execute , Sergeant First Class Herbert A. Miller. Not only did Chaplain , Kapaun's gallantry save the life of Sergeant Miller, but also , his unparalleled courage and leadership inspired all those , present ...to remain and fight the enemy until captured.", Angelo Liteky , Captain, U.S. Army , Bien Hoa Province, South Vietnam , Dec. 6, 1967 , "In a magnificent display of courage and leadership. Chaplain , Liteky began moving upright through the enemy fire, administering , last rites to the dying and evacuating the wounded ...[D]espite , painful wounds in the neck and foot, Chaplain Liteky had personally , carried over 20 men to the landing zone for evacuation during , the savage fighting.", Charles Joseph Watters , Major, U.S. Army , Dak To Province, South Vietnam , Nov. 19, 1967 , "Unarmed and completely exposed he moved among, as well as , in front of the advancing troops, giving aid to the wounded, , giving words of encouragement, and administering the last rites , to the dying ...Chaplain Watters was giving aid to the wounded , when he himself [was] mortally wounded."