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| Should Chaplin Kapaun Be Awarded the Medal of Honor? |
| 2009-10-14 |
| Army agrees Kansas priest worthy of Medal of Honor TOPEKA, Kan. -- A Kansas priest already under consideration for sainthood has won the endorsement of the Army's top civilian leader to receive the Medal of Honor. The Rev. Emil Kapaun was a captain and chaplain in the Army in Korea and taken prisoner in 1950 when the Chinese captured his unit. Kapaun continued to serve the men's needs, risking his life to provide them with food and water amid squalid conditions. Kapaun, a Roman Catholic, died in a prison camp in 1951. In one of his final acts as Army secretary, Pete Geren, wrote Rep. Todd Tiahrt, of Goddard, Kansas, saying he agreed Kapaun was worthy of the honor. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also endorsed Kapaun's honor. Seven chaplains have received the Medal of Honor. From www.frkapaun.org: About Father Kapaun Father Kapaun, was born in Pilsen, Kansas in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas on Holy Thursday, April 20, 1916. He was ordained as a Priest for the Diocese on June 9, 1940 and entered the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps in 1944. Separated from the service in 1946, he re-entered the Army in 1948 and was sent to Japan the following year. In July of 1950 Father Kapaun was ordered to Korea. On November 2 of that same year he was taken as a prisoner of war. In the seven months in prison, Father Kapaun spent himself in heroic service to his fellow prisoners without regard for race, color or creed. To this there is testimony of men of all faiths. Ignoring his own ill health, he nursed the sick and wounded until a blood clot in his leg prevented his daily rounds. Moved to a so-called hospital, but denied medical assistance, his death soon followed on May 23, 1951. The Diocese of Wichita and the Vatican have begun the formal process that could lead to Father Kapaun's canonization. In 1993, it was announced that Fr. Kapaun would receive the title of "Servant of God". |
| Posted by:Sneagum Elmoling1262 |
| #4 I know of at least one priest who was awarded two Silver Stars for valor in combat, one in France and the other in Korea. Medics are awarded the MoH, why not chaplains? Father Kapaun has the DSC. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2009-10-14 22:16 |
| #3 As I understand it--and I could be wrong--the MoH is not only for heroism in combat. I believe that several people have received it for unusual courage in resisting the enemy as POWs. For example, I think that Admiral James Stockdale received it for heroism as a POW. |
| Posted by: Some guy 2009-10-14 11:59 |
| #2 NB - Seven chaplains have received the Medal of Honor. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-10-14 10:32 |
| #1 While he was indeed a good guy, the MoH is reserved for combat soldiers, which is why it is not presented to intelligence agents, civilian contractors, or Obama, even though he would like one to add to his collection, alongside his Nobel Peace Prize, his Order of Lenin, his 1st Place Cannabis Cup, his Westminster Best In Show Award, his NAACP Image Award, His Emmy and Oscar and MTV music video award and Pulitzer Prize. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-10-14 10:29 |