Near Phoenixville in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Chaplains Memorial

Medal of Honor Grove

— Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge —

Chaplains Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 20, 2023

1. Chaplains Memorial

Inscription.

Chaplains Memorial. Medal of Honor Grove. , In past wars, chaplains have been known for their heroism in battles at sea and in the field. Many suffered wounds, some were killed in action, some died as enemy captives., And like members of their flocks, some chaplains have been awarded our nation's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor., In the history of the United States, four priests have been awarded the Medal of Honor. To these four chaplains and to all military chaplains who served their God by serving their fellow man in the Armed Forces, this stone is emplaced on this hallowed ground as a perpetual reminder to all who gaze upon it that they loved God more than their country but "they loved their country more than they loved their lives.", Presented October 6, 1979, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Joseph T. O'Callahan , Commander, Chaplain Corps , United States Navy , U.S.S. Franklin , near Kobe, Japan , 19 March 1945, Vincent R. Capodanno , Lieutenant, Chaplain Corps , United States Navy , 1st Marine Division , Republic of Vietnam , 4 September 1967, Charles J. Watters , Major, Chaplain Corps , United States Army , 173rd Airborne Brigade , Republic of Vietnam , 19 November 1967, Angelo J. Liteky , Captain, Chaplain Corps , United States Army , 199th Infantry Brigade , Republic of Vietnam , 6 December 1967 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [Chaplains later added to monument], John M. Whitehead , Chaplain, US Army , 15th Indiana Infantry , Stone[s] River, TN , 31 December 1862, Francis B. Hall , Chaplain, US Army , 16th New York Infantry , Salem Heights, VA , 3 May 1863, James Hill , 1st Lieutenant, Chaplain , US Army , Company I, 21st Iowa Infantry , Champion Hill, MS , 16 May 1863, Milton L. Haney , Regimental Chaplain , US Army , 55th Illinois Infantry , Atlanta, GA , 22 July 1864, Emil Kapaun , Captain, Chaplain Corps , United States Army , 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment , Unsan, Korea , 2 November 1951.

In past wars, chaplains have been known for their heroism in battles at sea and in the field. Many suffered wounds, some were killed in action, some died as enemy captives.

And like members of their flocks, some chaplains have been awarded our nation's highest decoration for valor—the Medal of Honor.

In the history of the United States, four priests have been awarded the Medal of Honor. To these four chaplains and to all military chaplains who served their God by serving their fellow man in the Armed Forces, this stone is emplaced on this hallowed ground as a perpetual reminder to all who gaze upon it that they loved God more than their country but "they loved their country more than they loved their lives."

Presented October 6, 1979

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Joseph T. O'Callahan
Commander, Chaplain Corps
United States Navy
U.S.S. Franklin
near Kobe, Japan
19 March 1945

Vincent R. Capodanno
Lieutenant, Chaplain Corps
United States Navy
1st Marine Division
Republic of Vietnam
4 September 1967

Charles J. Watters
Major, Chaplain Corps
United States Army
173rd Airborne Brigade
Republic of Vietnam
19 November 1967

Angelo J. Liteky
Captain, Chaplain Corps
United

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States Army
199th Infantry Brigade
Republic of Vietnam
6 December 1967
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[Chaplains later added to monument]

John M. Whitehead
Chaplain, US Army
15th Indiana Infantry
Stone[s] River, TN
31 December 1862

Francis B. Hall
Chaplain, US Army
16th New York Infantry
Salem Heights, VA
3 May 1863

James Hill
1st Lieutenant, Chaplain
US Army
Company I, 21st Iowa Infantry
Champion Hill, MS
16 May 1863

Milton L. Haney
Regimental Chaplain
US Army
55th Illinois Infantry
Atlanta, GA
22 July 1864

Emil Kapaun
Captain, Chaplain Corps
United States Army
3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment
Unsan, Korea
2 November 1951

Erected 1979 by the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree, Calvert Province, First District of Pennsylvania.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 19, 1945.

Location. 40° 6.326′ N, 75° 28.448′ W. Marker is near Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, in Chester County

Chaplains Memorial<br>Honor Roll image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 20, 2023

2. Chaplains Memorial
Honor Roll

. Marker is in the Medal of Honor Grove on the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1601 Valley Forge Road, Phoenixville PA 19460, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Chaplains Memorial (here, next to this marker); Ancient Order of Hibernians Monument (a few steps from this marker); Irish-born Medal of Honor Recipients (a few steps from this marker); Arizona Medal of Honor Recipients (a few steps from this marker); Immigrant Medal of Honor Recipients (a few steps from this marker); The Medal of Honor Grove (within shouting distance of this marker); 75th Infantry Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Medal of Honor Grove Map Dedication (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Phoenixville.

Also see . . .
1. Medal of Honor Chaplains (National Medal of Honor Museum). (Submitted on September 9, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. (Submitted on September 9, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Medal of Honor Chaplains (National Medal of Honor Museum). (Submitted on September 9, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 20, 2023

3. Chaplains Memorial
Honor Roll

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 20, 2023

4. Chaplains Memorial
Honor Roll

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 20, 2023

5. Chaplains Memorial
Honor Roll

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 20, 2023

6. Chaplains Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 60 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 9, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.