February 3, 1943

[Sparks]

https://youtu.be/tTCJ0I4V74Q

Each year on February 3rd, this day of remembrance is celebrated across the country. It honors four military chaplains who sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of their fellow service members during WWII. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 3, 2021 by Sparks

[Dric902]

Of the 3,518 Medal of Honor recipients, nine have been chaplains: four during the Civil War –John Milton Whitehead, Grancis Bloodgood Hall, James Hill and Milton Lorenzo Haney, one from World War II –Lt. Cmdr Joseph Timothy O’Callahan– one from the Korean War  –Captain Emil J. Kapaun–and three from the Vietnam War –Captain Angelo J. Liteky, Major Charles Joseph Watters and, Lt. Vincent Robert Capodanno. The Civil War chaplains were all protestants, the 20th century chaplains all Catholic priests 
 

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[Sparks]

Each of the four chaplains was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.  The chaplains were nominated for the Medal of Honor, but were found ineligible as they had not engaged in combat with the enemy. Instead, Congress created a medal for them, with the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor.

 

[Sparks]

13 minutes ago, Dric902 said:

Of the 3,518 Medal of Honor recipients, nine have been chaplains: four during the Civil War –John Milton Whitehead, Grancis Bloodgood Hall, James Hill and Milton Lorenzo Haney, one from World War II –Lt. Cmdr Joseph Timothy O’Callahan– one from the Korean War  –Captain Emil J. Kapaun–and three from the Vietnam War –Captain Angelo J. Liteky, Major Charles Joseph Watters and, Lt. Vincent Robert Capodanno. The Civil War chaplains were all protestants, the 20th century chaplains all Catholic priests 
 

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Military chaplains from four wars rest on Chaplains Hill in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.  Here's a pic of the chaplains monuments.

 

 

[Dric902]

Heavens Heroes

[railfancwb]

Thought there was a conflict in information. I was wrong. The four chaplains of February 3, 1943 were not listed among those who won the Metal of Honor because they were not in combat. Congress authorized an equivalent metal for them. I wonder if that metal has subsequently been awarded to others.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Chaplains

[Sparks]

There are memorials, chapels, and stained glass windows all over dedicated to these brave men.  

Stained glass window in the Pentagon:

 

[janice6]

3 hours ago, Sparks said:

Each of the four chaplains was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.  The chaplains were nominated for the Medal of Honor, but were found ineligible as they had not engaged in combat with the enemy. Instead, Congress created a medal for them, with the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor.

 

The governments measure of a man was different back then.  Unfortunately...............