For Veteran's Day: Jesuit Military Chaplains

Yes indeed, there are Jesuit military chaplains.

Here is an article that is slightly dated, but no less impressive because of that fact. It features Jesuit military chaplain Fr. Paul Shaughnessy, SJ. The article is called U.S. Chaplains Lend Spiritual Aid in Iraq. Well worth a read.

There is also a Jesuit who served six years as a military chaplain whose name is Captain Fr. Jack McLain. Here's a slightly dated article about him. As far as I've been able to tell, he is now in Australia working on his tertianship. (Please correct this information if you know differently.)

And here's an even more dated article about Lt. Com. Fr. Robert Keane, SJ, who served as a navy chaplain. I have not been able to find any information as to whether or not he is still in active duty. (The article is about halfway down this page, which also mentions Jesuit reserve chaplains, including Frs. Larry Smith and Mike Barber, both with the navy.)

This might be a well-known story that I have somehow missed, but I stumbled upon an amazing story about the role of a Jesuit priest in the famous Iwo Jima Flag raising ceremony. I found the story on a terrific website called Catholics in the Military. The entire story is a must-read, but here's an excerpt:

Jesuit Father Charles F. Suver, a native of Ellensburg and a 1924 graduate of Seattle College, celebrated Mass prior to the famed flag raising. What’s more, the idea to plant the Stars & Stripes atop the 550-foot volcano was hatched six days earlier in the priest’s shipboard cabin, according to the late Jesuit Father Donald Crosby’s 1993 book, “Battlefield Chaplains: Catholic Priests in World War II.”
Father Suver, a Navy chaplain, was among 19 Catholic chaplains and 58 chaplains assigned to minister to the three Marine divisions that wrested Iwo Jima from the Japanese in the war’s bloodiest battle in the Pacific, Father Crosby said in his book.

On the eve of the landing assault, the then 38-year-old chaplain gathered with friends in his cabin after supper to chat.

“One young officer in the group said that if he could take an American flag from the landing craft, perhaps someone could hoist it on top of the volcano…,” Father Crosby wrote.
“Challenged a young lieutenant, ‘Okay, you get it and I’ll get it up there.’ Not to be outdone, Suver added, ‘You get it up there and I’ll say Mass under it.’

“Six days later he would keep his promise.”
But it would be a long six days.

Read the rest here.

Comments

[Paul Lincoln]

At the young age between 1958 to beginning 60's. I considered myself as "Jesuit Military Chaplain." Basically what the "Jesuit Military Chaplain" used to do in the past was to encourage or entertain the boys in the field. Jesuit Military Chaplains were active during the World War II and Korean War. Their style of preaching was different from any pastor or priest. Like in the Bible "Our Lord Jesus Christ" focused his preaching strictly for the poor and lowly. That is what "Jesuit Military Chaplain" meant to be.

[khall356]

That may be so, and it's well and good, but if I were dying on a battlefield, the ONLY thing that would be on my mind was that I wanted a priest to find me before I expired -- to give me Last Rites, not a sandwich.

[Paul Lincoln]

Last thing the soldier will say, "Where is my mother?" or "I want my mother." Or any person that he loves the most. Last rites are given when the priest is around. As Catholic, you can baptize the person by water. I baptize you in the name of the father and of the son and the holy spirit. Even if you not a catholic priest. You can proform this ritual.

[Tanya]

I am interested in any resources on Jesuit chaplains in the Korean War, for a project I am working on.

[Bill Kennedy]

I write today in remembrance of the Jesuit chaplain at West Point Military Academy. Rev. John A Langton, S.J. who presided over my parents wedding in the chapel there in 1929. He was born April 19, 1885, was ordained June 6, 1914 and died this day (August 11)in 1946.

[Paul Lincoln]

Well, I don't care if anyone who believes me or not. At the present moment I am 51 years old and I cannot prove what they asking for.