Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-03-15
Rev. Father Kelly, Of 27tn piYisioa
Pays Tribute to Heroic
Americans.
American Chaplains Much Beloved
by Soldiers aud Regarded as
Brothers.
AN KNEW THEIR pANc9R.

HOW American solfierS IN France
met death was told the. other day by
the Rev. Father Il. A. KeYsy. chap
lain OF the Fwenty-seventh Division.
who praised warmly their devotion,
unselhshness, and courage.
II can speak Intimately" he said,
"only of the boys of the 27th Divi-
sion, but l feel certain that what
say of the boys of the 9th Division
can be truthfuliy said of the boys
of every division which this great
nation sent into foreign lands TO
battle with the foreign foe .r
ITO begin with, none OF them was
ignorant, at any time, of the danger
in which he stood-to0 many
around them were falling, victims OF
shells, of grenades. machine guns.
and rifles. All those things played
their part IN bringing to our ranks
death, but not destruction The
best sermon which the boys received
on preparedness for death was their
first view of a real battlefield. Here
they saw those with whom they had
associated,t those whom they called
their pals, those with whom they
lived. fellows from their own in-
mediate section, laid PROSTATE by
the heavy hand OF death. What
could be more natural than that
they should realize from this the
imminence OF the danger which
hourly surrounded them?
$50 it was that before each battle
we found the lads not only Willis
but anxious, TO make their peace
with their God above. praying to
Jehovah OF the Thpnders. Lord God
Of Battle Tor His aid, begging Him
TO gn8fd them, to ka|de tnfu 4fs
% protect them, II pfrcA3sIce. s 8
frequently happeoet, they were isi4
row ~ q. mot u 5 =.
enemy, we always found IN them.
without variance, a spirit OF perfect
resignation 10 the will OF God; their
thoughts were with those whom
they had left behind; thoughts
Allied with human kindness. with
gratitude and with love.
''But they thought other things.
They thought of the sacrifice they
were making. and their prayer ut
tered before the battle for guidance
and protection now became pray
er that their sacrifice so Willingly
made might not be in vain. 1t was
wonderful sight, so frequently TO-
see those men horribly mangled in
sistently put aside the services OF
| the doctor with the words, you
can't help me; I'm done for. Some
of the others can go back on the
| lob. Attend TO them The sacri-
fee, the valor, the bravery OF such
| lads can never be recountsd, can
never be amply told, for it dedies
power OF tongue OF pen TO paint,
with actual yividness. scene aStef
scene OF the battles and their re-
suits.
at Is for me a happy privilege to
be able to say that ministered TO
hundreds OF the wounded and dying.
call IL a privilege, for privilege Il
was to perform for these wonderful
Youngsters those sacred acts which
were to help them 10 obtain hap
by hereafter.
GAS to the attitude OF the Amer
L lean soldier toward the chaplain,
can say that the American chaplain
ia much beloved By his men because
OF the fact that their interests be-
come his interests; their trials his
trials, their joys his joys. and their
sorrows his sorrows. He becomes
an intimate part of the conscious
makeup OF each and every man. He
knows them intimately; he knows
| them we'll; he knows them moi as
an officer knows a soldier; he
knows them from the plane or
friendship. making their relations
not strained. not guarded and
guided ever by the thought OF an
officer and an enlisted man. but
sealed and set with a mark OF
friendship and affection.
Wherefore, you find that the
work of an American chaplain IS
fruitful in and out OF the line,
wherever his men happen 70 be; his
work is neither parable nor Action,
but is founded on acts and deeds
which are at all times practical and
beneficial.
II know Of no status in life
where a man receives such return
for his labor as does the chaplain
liaboring for the enlisted personnel
OF our American Army Honor they
give with their whole hearts and
souls; affection and devotion they
give in proportion as they receive
They are always kind. they are al
ways considerate; ever ANXIOUS 70
\ help, ever anxious to comply. will
ling always to learn not only martial
but religious tactics. resulting In
That which begets. at all times, a
splendid type OF soldier"