“Chaplain Theodore R. Owens, World War II veteran and the first Black chaplain to earn the coveted paratrooper’s badge, typifies the dedicated contribution of the great variety of ethnic and racial groups represented throughout the history of the chaplaincy.”¹

“During World War II, clergymen of virtually every major religious denomination, ethnic background and race served in the Army Chaplaincy. Chaplain Theodore R. Owens, later to become the first Negro Paratrooper Chaplain in 1948, typified the contribution of numerous Black clergymen on both fronts through his participation in both the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ and the ‘Okinawa Campaign.'”²

“An oil portrait was recently unveiled showing Chaplain (LTC) Theodore R. Owens, Jr., first black airborne chaplain. He and Mrs. Owens were guests at a special luncheon hosted by Chaplain Hyatt. Also in the picture is Chaplain Bertram C. Gilbert, President of the Chaplain Board, which is producing a film on religion and the black soldier.”³

.

.

.

¹from a print issued by the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps in 1973, courtesy Chaplain Bob Nay.

²“A Brief History of the United States Army Chaplain Corps,” DA Pamphlet No. 165-1, September 1974, pg. 17.

³“Military Chaplains’ Review,” Vol. 1, No. 2, April 1972, pg. 58.

.

.