uncertain, I'd say, "I don't know the answer; but let's talk
about the question." It helped them. It helped me. To be
receptive and honest with the young Marine who shares
from the depths [of his soul] is basic ministry.
battalion are armed, except the chaplain, one less com-
batant makes little difference in firepower. But it
makes a world of difference in spiritual ministry.
The chaplain's weapon is the Word of God.
cent Capodanno, who a few weeks later perished
in a fi refi ght. What was the impact on you?
On Operation SWIFT, Father Capodanno hitched a
ride and was being flown by helicopter to the battle
area. His destination was a hastily assembled medical
aid station. Enemy ground fire forced the choppers to
land short of their goal. As troops made their way by
foot, an overwhelming North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
force attacked. Casualties were heavy. Chaplain Capo-
danno crawled from man to man, praying with the
wounded, comforting the fearful. The hunks of shrap-
nel that tore into his shoulder and blew away part of
his left hand couldn't deter him. The NVA withdrew
and regrouped. Later, as the company was being over-
run again, Capodanno deliberately shielded a small
cluster of wounded Marines and a Navy corpsman from
the sights of a North Vietnamese machine-gunner. He
received 27 gunshot wounds in the back and was killed.
swer was in the question. "It was precisely because he
loved life--the lives of others--that he freely gave his
own," I replied. "Jesus said, `Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"
(John 15:13 KJV). (Vinnie Capodanno was the bravest
chaplain I've ever known. He was awarded the Con-
gressional Medal of Honor posthumously.
nam, we were all ministers, one to another."
What did you mean?
goes on.
wield a weapon. He carried life-sustaining water for
the troops. In the Marine infantry units I served,
each man was a Gunga Din, a "grunt water carrier,"
making personal sacrifices for his buddies, regardless
of the cost, which was often extremely high. We are
called to be present for one another... but more so on
the field of battle.
lains ample opportunity to live out their sermons about
faith, courage, charity and sacrifice. Most chaplains I
knew in Vietnam walked the second mile, faithfully.
spective of their denomination. Maintain a gung-ho
spirit. Work harmoniously with others. Don't dis-
rupt. Don't compete. Help your outfit become one.
As a servant of God, do your work faithfully, gladly, for
the sake of others. Everything else will fall in place.
Corps and edited for space. It originally ran on Nov. 8, 2013,
and can be read at chaplaincorps.navylive.dodlive.mil
have been "spiritual bearers of faith, hope, compassion
and healing" for troops during wartime.