A Shepherd in Combat Boots.

Here is the reason Fr. Emil Kapaun gave:

When I was ordained, I was determined to ‘spend myself ’ for God. I was determined to do that cheerfully, no matter in what circumstances I would be placed or how hard a life I would be asked to lead. This is why I volunteered for the army and that is why today I would a thousand times rather be working, deprived of all ordinary comforts, being a true ‘Father’ to all my people, then to be living in a nice, comfortable place but with my conscience telling me that I am an obstacle to many.~ Fr. Emil Kapaun 1944 to his bishop

He wrote this to his Bishop in 1944 just before entering the Army in WWII. He was asking to be removed from his hometown parish in Pilsen, Kansas. He understood that it was hard for some of the people who had known him all his life to accept him as their spiritual leader.

He felt called to be a chaplain (entered the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps in 1944) and served as one in Japan, 1948. In 1950 he was sent to Korea and later that year was captured and entered a prisoner of war camp.  Fr. Kapaun is remembered for his self giving service to the other men in the camp. He took care of them and risked his life many times to bring them food and water. He encouraged the men, administered the sacraments and cared for their needs. He was often punished by his Chinese captors simply because of the strength of his character and the hope he brought to the other men. I believe that Fr. Kapaun would have thought of them as his children because from what I have read about him he took his priestly vocation to heart and wanted to be a “true father” to them. He did so until he got too sick and was confined to a “hospital” where he died.

We felt that Brian’s song Prisoner of Jesus was a perfect tribute to Fr. Kapaun. We made this video after a pilgrimage to his home town Pilsen, Kansas:

Today Fr. Emil Kapaun receives the Medal of Honor.

This has been a long time coming. I am so filled with joy today to see Chaplain Kapaun receive the medal of honor. Now we just need to work on his Cause for Sainthood. Fr.Kapaun has been given the official title of Servant of God by the church.  We often ask for his prayers from heaven for our specific needs and we named our homeschool after him: Fr. Emil J. Kapaun Home Study School. He has been very inspiring to this Army family.

You can read more about Fr. Emil Kapaun in the long awaited book The Miracle of Fr. Emil Kapaun. Another book you may like is A Shepherd in Combat Boots: Chaplain Emil Kapaun of the 1st Cavalry Division.

Fr. Kapaun is the last chaplain featured here on Harrington Harmonies as part of:

Army Chaplain Emil Kapaun from Army Chaplain Corps
Official Army Site on Fr. Emil Kapaun: Medal of Honor Recipient
The Miracle of Fr. Kapaun – Documentary
A Chaplain’s Story- love this story as we were stationed in Kieserslautern.
Wendy Lewis painting of Fr. Kapaun
Miracle of Fr. Emil Kapaun: Wichita Eagle

Linked for: Thankful Thursday, Saints and Scripture,

The post Fr. Emil Kapaun- Servant of God, Peacemaker, Chaplain appeared first on Dymphna's Song.

Prisoner of Jesus by Brian Harrington:

In honor of a wonderful chaplain we want to share a song today. My husband wrote the song many years ago.We’ve been so very inspired by the life of Fr. Emil Kapaun lately. Fr. Kapaun was an Army Chaplain who served in the Korean War and died there after having given so much of himself for the other POW’s. We felt the song was so wonderfully descriptive and true of Fr. Kapaun. Brian also put together a sort of “virtual pilgrimage” to his song: Prisoner of Jesus by Brian Harrington (c) 2006 All Rights Reserved.

You may also like to read about other chaplains as part of my series on:

[Listen to Our Music ]

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Let me share with you about Fr. Vincent Capodanno . I am grateful for his service and all those who serve in our military. The testimonies that I read from his fellow Marines were heart felt and you can just tell that they loved him.

Fr. Vincent Capodanno

 

I am just there with them – I walk with them and sit with them; I eat with them and sleep in the holes with them – and I talk with them – but only when they are ready to talk. It takes time, but I never rush them.~ Fr. Vincent Capodanno to his division chaplain, David Casazza.

Because of his ability to stay close to the men he served and to endure the same hardships, he earned the name The Grunt Padre and a book titled such was written about him. I haven’t read it yet, but now I sure would like to.

He’s remembered for the actions of selfless sacrifice to the men he served while in Vietnam. In his final battle there even after being wounded twice himself, he continued giving last rights, aiding the wounded and encouraging them.

He’s quoted as saying:

How important it is that someone fill this role to minister to servicemen on and off the battlefield and to make God present to them there! To endure what they endure and suffer as they suffer for the sole purpose of supporting and aiding them is the role of the Military Chaplain. Fr. Vincent Capodanno was one such man and a dedicated priest who so willing lived out the Lord’s words: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

Important dates on Fr. Capodanno:

• Born Feb. 13, 1929
• Ordained June 7, 1958
• Served as Missionary to aboriginal Taiwanese for 7 years
• 1966 commissioned as U.S. Navy Chaplain and reported to 7th Marines in Vietnam
• Fr. Capodanno dies Sept. 4, 1967 during Operation Swift while ministering to a wounded marine even after being himself wounded in the face and arm/hand.
• Jan. 7, 1969 he is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition for his actions in Vietnam, Operation Swift.
• May 21, 2006 Fr. Vincent Capodanno is officially recognized by the Catholic Church as Servant of God– the first step toward beatification.

I am truly grateful for Fr. Capodanno’s love and example of selfless service. It gives me strength and courage. I’m also grateful today for:

• Snow.
• Deployments: how they bring us closer together and keep us grateful for one another.
• Homeschooling and all it’s flexibility during sickness and deployments.
• My Na Na’s Homemade Chicken Soup making me feel better.
• Our military men and women. Especially our chaplains for enduring with us.
• Guardian angels.

and Linked up @: The Army Chap’s Wife

Relevant Resources:
Mission Capodanno
You Tube Video: Remembering Fr.Capodonno- Interview with Fr. Capodanno’s Brother
Maryknoll Video about Fr. Capodanno– Excellent summary of his life of service.
The Grunt Padre
Biography Fr. Capodonno: Archdiocese for the Military Services

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