Blog Archives
6 June 1944: D-Day
On 6 June 1944, the largest amphibious combat assault in history took place as Allied forces landed in Normandy by air and sea. Among them were 13 chaplains who parachuted in with the airborne troops and many more who landed on the beaches. Here are four videos that talk more about some of these chaplains who were with the troops on D-Day:
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This 7-minute videos tells the stories of several chaplains who jumped and landed with the D-Day troops.
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This 3 1/2 minute video tells the story of Chaplain Ignatius Maternowski who, after jumping into Normandy with his unit, became the only chaplain killed in action in D-Day, while trying to establish a joint American-German medical aid station to care for Allied and enemy wounded.
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This 4-minute video tells the story of Chaplain Francis Sampson who jumped into Normandy along with his unit, nearly losing his life in a river, then to a German firing squad, before continuing to minister to the wounded, dying and fighting.
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This 3 1/2 minute video tells the story of Chaplain Joseph Lacy who proved himself, caring for the physical and spiritual needs of his Ranger battalion as they landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day.
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On This Day in Chaplain Corps History
On 6 June 1944, the largest amphibious combat assault in history took place as Allied forces landed in Normandy by air and sea. Among them were 13 chaplains who parachuted in with the airborne troops and many more who landed on the beaches. In this episode of “On This Day in Chaplain Corps History,” the stories of some of those chaplains are told.
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Chaplain Death Toll Is 24; 3400 Serving Overseas
31 July 1944: Twenty-four Army chaplains have been killed to date, the War Department announced yesterday and 33 have been taken prisoner. Some 3,400 chaplains are now serving overseas.
Meanwhile SHAEF announced the names of 13 chaplains who jumped with the paratroopers in Normandy on D-Day from four to six hours before the first seaborne unit landed. They were:
Capts Raymond S. Hall, Episcopalian, the first jumping in the U.S. Army, who was injured; George B. Wood, Episcopalian; Matthew J. Connelly, Catholic; Robert H. Hennon, Baptist; John J. Verret, Catholic; James L. Elder, Baptist; Ignatius P. Maternowski, Catholic; killed in action; Kenneth M. Engle, Methodist; Francis L. Sampson, Catholic; Joseph Andrejewski, Catholic; Tilden S. McGee, Baptist; John S. Maloney, Catholic, awarded the DSC; and William Reid, Methodist.
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“The Stars and Stripes,” Vol. 4, No. 231, July 31, 1944, pg. 5.
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Original, from The Stars and Stripes, 31 July 1944 (TCK Archives)
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The Chaplain Kit 