Wednesday, January 21, 2009

True Valor of an Army Chaplain

  Yesterday, I wrote about the majestic welcome of a new Archbishop in Philadelphia at the turn of the 20th century, and the accompanying pomp and ceremony of the entire event.  Everything about that event fills the soul with greater admiration towards the Church.

    Today, I am writing about another side of the glory of the Church.  This side is all about loving God even more than life and proving it by one's deeds.

    I am reading a book titled, "Days of Valor" by Robert L. Tonsetic.

    In 1966 Father Angelo Liteky of Norfolk, Virginia entered the U.S. Army as a military chaplain.  Father was a member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, in Winchester, Virginia. 

    Father was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he soon volunteered for duty in Vietnam.

    While in Vietnam, Father Liteky could have stayed in the rear, but instead, he went out into the field as often as he could.  He considered it to be his duty to be with the soldiers wherever they went.

    In early December of 1967 the unit that Father was a member of was engaged in an intense and bloody confrontation with communist forces.  There were numerous casualties.

    During the battle Father heard the screams of the wounded and made his way to the thick of the fighting to help the wounded and to give last rites to the dying.

    Witnesses described Father's actions.  While the soldiers sought cover, Father Liteky walked calmly from wounded soldier to wounded soldier despite explosions and bullets whizzing all around him. 

    He knelt over the deceased giving the last rites of the Church and then calmly began assisting or sometimes carrying the wounded to the safety of the rear where they could be treated for their wounds.  When accompanying the wounded Father always kept his body between the enemy and the wounded soldier. 

    A Lieutenant Wayne Morris reported that he, "never saw the Chaplain try to protect himself... he seemed to be everywhere and his presence inspired and awed myself and my men."

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