Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-04-10
A YEAR AS AN
ARMY CHAPLAIN.
First Of a Series of Articles
Written Specially For
The Clarion.


The writer on the 9Th day of March
was honorably discharged from the army
having completed almost years service
as Chaplain in the United States Army.
1t was year of real activity. A chap
lain in war times is about as busy as any
man could wish to be. There are no
eight hour days for him.
All chaplains must be ordained minis
ters and between 81 and as years of age
when commissioned. During the war in
order to receive an appointment as chap
lain one had to present five letters of
testimonial from prominent men, an en-
dorsement from his denominational COM
mittee on chaplaincies and a recommenda-
tion from the committee representing
the Federal Council of Churches. If
these were satisfactory to the War De-
partment the applicant was then given
a mental and physical examination by a
committee of army officers. Upon the
recommendation of this committee the
appointment would be made by the Ad-
infant General. A chaplain was COM
missioned with the rank of First Lieuten-
ant. Under existing regulations chap
lain must serve seven years before be-
coming eligible for promotion. The
highest possible rank is that of Major.
The indications are that in the near fut-
ure congress will remove this seven year
clause and will also make it possible for
chaplains to attain the rank of Colonel.
By law there is to be one chaplain for
every 1900 officers and enlisted men.
However, during the war the full quota
was never reached. For instance there
were 1900 chaplains in France when hos
Titles ceased. To conform with the law
there should have been 1900.
Chaplains were appointed from every
denomination. The number from par
ticular denomination was in proportion
to it's numerical strength in America.
Chaplains are not commissioned in any
particular corps of the army as are other
officers. Instead they are assigned and
transferred at will by the Adjutant Cen
eral. A chaplain serving with the Inf
antry today may to morrow be transferr
ed to the artillery, signal corps, calvary,
the engineers, etc.
Like any other person in the army the
chaplain is amenable to full military dis
cipline. He wears the officers uniform
but in the place of the insignia of rank
on the shoulders he wears silver latin
cross. While giving due Difference to all
with higher rank than his owu he is ans
werable only to the commanding officer
of the organization to which he is assign
ed. In most cases such commanding
officer is Colonel.
A chaplain 8 work is varied according
to circumstances. Of course, his religious
work comes first He must conduct at
least one service every sunday, visit the
sick and bury the dead. He is the spirit
ual adviser of his men, accessible at all
times. In addition to this specifically
religious work he usually has many other
duties. When a regiment is in the field
he is the mail officer having charge of
both incoming and outgoing mail. Then
often, as in my own case, he has charge
of all entertainment for the men, is direc-
tor both of educational work and athle-
tics, and supervises the running of one
or more canteens where the men may
buy confections, tobacco, toilet articles.
etc.
In battle chaplain is non -combatant.
He is always unarmed yet usually ac-
companies his men in the thick of the
fighting in order to render any possible
assistance to the wounded. Before 60
ing to the front every American chaplain
was given thorough course in dressing
and caring for the wounded. In his field
belt which was the same as that carried
by an army doctor he had a set of surgi-
cal instruments and variety of med
cines. During the war four American
chaplains were killed in action, several
died later of wounds and number from
disease.
The writer was commissioned on the
18th of March, 1918 In compliance with
orders l reported at Fort Warren, Mass,
March 25th for duty in the Coast De-
fense of Boston. There are SIX Forts in
the Boston harbor. l was assigned to
Fort Andrews but expected to cover
Forts Warren and Revere also. There
were only two chaplains in the harbor.
With motor boat it was possible to go
from fort to fort in very short time.
Practically all the regiments of heavy
artillery that were sent to France were
in the various coast defenses
along the Atlantic and Pacific. In Sept
ember 1917 one battalion of heavy artill-
cry left the Boston Coast Defenses for
France. In March 1918, the 55th Regi
ment sailed. May 9Th, 1918 the War
D apartment issued orders to have an
other regiment formed there. 1t was to
be the list Artillery of the Coast Artill-
cry Corps. To that regiment was as
signed as Chaplain and with it | remain
ar nntil it's disba ndinp at Camp Deyeus