The medal of honor, the nations highest military award for bravery, will be awa rded to the. The cause for the canonization of father emil kapaun, an army chaplain who died while in a north korean prisoner of war camp in 1951, will be officially opened on. Kaiserslautern military community, kaiserslautern, germany. Thomas kapaun phone, address, background info whitepages. The story of father kapaun and the quest to elevate him to sainthood began in september 1953. The first, which occupies the books first hundred or so pages, is the story of father emil kapaun, a kansasborn catholic priest who volunteers for service in the korean war, despite having served in world war ii, and is captured by. It was after father kapaun saw the need for military chaplains while serving at the herington air base that he felt. Emil kapaunpriest, soldier and korean war herois a rare man. The communists claimed it was a hospital, but, instead, it was known and feared as the death house. In fact, the original meaning of a hospital was a place of. The record of military chaplains is a special category in the service of god and the men who fight, even a service to their enemies, as is the witness of father kapaun s death in a prison camp reminds us.
The father kapuan story has long been in need of more widespread knowledge. John paul ii, and received the medal of honor by president obama in 20, the highest military honor awarded by the united states. We found 8 records for thomas kapaun in colorado, minnesota and 2 other states. Tricare lest we forget reenactment this may ground breaking at new va clinic soldier priest receives ultimate medal the national resource directory va homefront esgr national veterans art museum. German words for valley include tal, niederung, senkung, senke and dorf. When prisoners who knew him were released at the end of the korean war, a band of scroungy looking americans carrying emil kapaun s gold ciborium and a rugged wooden. Medal of honor for us army chaplain father kapaun bbc news.
By anya watner out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls emil joseph kapaun pronounced kay puhn was born in 1916 in pilsen, kansas. For more on father kapauns life, download the story of father. Father emil kapaun was born in kansas, the son of czech immigrants, and raised on a farm. Emil joseph kapaun april 20, 1916 may 23, 1951 was a roman catholic priest and united. A saint among us, the father kapaun guild, hillsboro free press, hillsboro, ks, 2006 about the author. It is open for tours by appointment, along with the beautiful, adjacent church. Filter by state all states current colorado 10 florida 1 minnesota 1 ontario 1. Under investigation by the vatican as a necessary step in the process of canonization, these cures witnessed by noncatholic doctors are also covered in this book. Although he had only one sibling, his family was one of the poorest in the town, and hard work and industry were necessities on the kapauns farm.
Eventually, like so many others in the camp, kapauns health broke. Emil joseph kapaun was born on a farm near pilsen, kansas, in 1916. The children and i have read james herriots treasury for children, which is a masterpiece and a beautifully illustrated book. Nov 03, 2015 father richard erikson takes a look at the life and ministry of captain chaplain father emil joseph kapaun, recipient of the medal of honor and servant of god.
In december 1949, kapaun left his parents and pilsen for the last time, bound for. Kapauns battalion, having suffered some 400 casualties among its roster of 700 soldiers, was placed in a reserve position. Emil kapaun celebrates mass for soldiers at herington air base, kan. This is the first time ive read one of his complete books. The true story of father emil kapaun, the cowboy priest from kansas who became an army chaplain and a medalofhonorwinning hero in the korean war. He attended kenrick seminary from 1936 until his graduation in 1940. Ray has heard about the push to have his uncle awarded the medal since he was a child. Kapaun, an army chaplain who died a prisoner in the korean war, are still working to have him declared a catholic saint for his lifesaving. Sharing the life of servant of god, chaplain emil kapaun, korean war hero and medal of honor winner. Father emil kapauns cause for sainthood to be officially.
A congressman from kapauns home state of kansas learned earlier this month that in one of his final acts as army secretary, pete geren recommended kapaun for the medal of honor, the militarys highest decoration. Salute january 2008 by archdiocese for the military. Jun 15, 2008 the cause for the canonization of father emil kapaun, an army chaplain who died while in a north korean prisoner of war camp in 1951, will be officially opened on june 29. Taking as our model the life of father emil kapaun, a heroic catholic priest and army chaplain, kapauns men are men who are committed to fighting the great spiritual battle that rages around us.
When american officers ordered the ablebodied to retreat, father kapaun, a 35yearold. Chinese troops, however, had infiltrated to within a short distance of them. The true story of father emil kapaun, the cowboy priest from kansas who became an army chaplain and a medalofhonorwinning hero in the korean war before being martyred in a communist pow camp. The cause for the canonization of father emil kapaun, an army chaplain who died while in a north korean prisoner of war camp in 1951, will be officially opened on june 29.
Kapaun was a chaplain in the burma theater of world war ii, then served again as a chaplain with the u. John nepomucene catholic church in pilsen, kansas houses a museum devoted to father emil kapaun. A congressman from kapaun s home state of kansas learned earlier this month that in one of his final acts as army secretary, pete geren recommended kapaun for the medal of honor, the military s highest decoration. The longer we were in the valley, the rougher it got, and the rougher it got, the gentler father. May 25, 2016 eventually, like so many others in the camp, kapauns health broke. Despite numerous testimonies confirming his bravery, the medal of honor the nations highest military honor has eluded father kapaun. Emil joseph kapaun was born on april 20, 1916, and grew up on a farm three miles southwest of pilsen, kansas on rural 260th street of marion county. Emil kapaun was born in 1916 on a rural farm in kansas, to parents of german bohemian ancestry. Kapaun was captured by the chinese in the fall of 1950, when communist forces overran the 1st cavalry division in northern korea. Father mark goldasich father mark is the pastor of sacred heart parish in tonganoxie. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. It looks like we dont have any quotes for this title yet.
The medal of honor, the nation s highest military award for bravery, will be awa rded to the priest posthumously at the white house april 11. Father richard erikson takes a look at the life and ministry of captain chaplain father emil joseph kapaun, recipient of the medal of honor and servant of god. When the ordinary becomes the extraordinary the word. Spiritual and secular mix in case for sainthood the new. He volunteered to be a military chaplain during the korean war, and after only 5 months serving in korea, father kapaun and his unit were captured by the communists. Father kapauns life in the pow camp was one of deprivation, but he always performed his spiritual and lifesustaining responsibilities with compassion and a. At 140 pages, wenzl and heying s the miracles of father kapaun is a slim book by any standard. The first, which occupies the book s first hundred or so pages, is the story of father emil kapaun, a kansasborn catholic priest who volunteers for service in the korean war, despite having served in world war ii, and is captured by. As in my past books, i have sought to explore the korean war through a combination of personal interviews with surviving participants, and archival research in london and washington. The record of military chaplains is a special category in the service of god and the men who fight, even a service to their enemies, as is the witness of father kapauns death in a prison camp reminds us. If you live outside the united states and would like to make a contribution by credit card, please contact our office at 316. Army chaplain father emil joseph kapaun, who died may 23, 1951, in a north korean prisoner of war camp, is pictured in an undated photo celebrating mass in south korea. Father kapaun had several chances to get out, warrant officer john funston later told a catholic priest who collected accounts of kapauns actions in korea, but he wouldnt take them.
Chaplain kapauns extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3 rd battalion, 8 th cavalry regiment, the 1 st cavalry division, and the united states army. Emil kapauns nephew ray kapaun, 56, will accept the medal of honor on his uncles behalf. Apr 11, 20 father kapaun had several chances to get out, warrant officer john funston later told a catholic priest who collected accounts of kapaun s actions in korea, but he wouldnt take them. When prisoners who knew him were released at the end of the korean war, a band of scroungy looking americans carrying emil kapauns gold ciborium and a rugged wooden.
Pilsen was a tiny town of less than 100 people named after the city of pizen in the czech republic. Kaiserslautern military community hosts memorial to father emil kapaun to be awarded medal of honor. The miracle of father kapaun priest, soldier, and korean war hero by roy wenzl and travis heying. Apr 09, 20 kaiserslautern military community hosts memorial to father emil kapaun to be awarded medal of honor. Father emil kapaun, class of 1940 kenrickglennon seminary. This pilgrimage is a 60mile trek over 4 days and 3 nights to father kapauns hometown of pilsen, kansas that commemorates the forced march that father kapaun and his men had to make to the prisoner of war camp in korea. The starvation and deprivations at last took their toll.
Weve also listened to the audio version as well as james herriots favorite dog stories which all the children enjoyed. Father kapaun is said to have been a heroic priest and chaplain to the men that he served. The film deftly weaves the narratives of his life, his war exploits, and his current cause for sainthood with a touching depth of emotion. Father kapaun was declared a servant of god in 1993 by pope st. He was awarded posthumously the medal of honor, the nations highest military award, and is also being considered by the vatican for canonization as a saint. This pilgrimage is a 60mile trek over 4 days and 3 nights to father kapaun s hometown of pilsen, kansas that commemorates the forced march that father kapaun and his men had to make to the prisoner of war camp in korea. Bishop christian winkelmann ordained father kapaun as a roman catholic priest for the diocese of wichita on june 9, 1940.
Apr 17, 2012 image caption though he never fired a shot, father kapaun saw as much mean action as any man in his unit. President barack obama presented the medal of honor. Mike dowe talks about why he thinks father kapaun helped so many. Emil joseph kapaun april 20, 1916 may 23, 1951 was a roman catholic priest and united states army captain who served as a united states army chaplain during world war ii and the korean war. When others were getting meaner, father kapaun was only kinder. Official facebook page for the father kapaun guild. There are enough references to drinking, smoking, women and dating, and rougher language. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. He produced and directed the film documentary the miracle of father kapaun. The miracle of father kapaun to be presented on stage in august newman university and the vagabond players will present the miracle of father kapaun, on friday, aug. This man was father emil kapaun, a kansasborn priest who served as an army chaplain in wwii and korea.
Then there are the alleged miraclesthe recent healings attributed to father kapauns intercession that defy scientific explanation. German words for father include vater, pater, zeugen, pfarrer and fuhrer. Over the next six weeks, the pows in the pyoktong prison camp began a cloaked and daring effort to save emil kapauns life. We ask you to join us in prayer and in sharing father kapauns story with the rest of the world.
His parents, enos and elizabeth hajek kapaun, were czech immigrants. I will have served as national president for a two year term, but i believe i still have much to offer and accomplish for the kwva. Salute january 2008 by archdiocese for the military services. Father kapaun guild donate now catholic diocese of wichita. The kapauns men initiative to support the 2019 kapauns men video project fund, please select kapauns men video series from the designation dropdown menu. Feb 21, 2017 emil joseph kapaun was born on a farm near pilsen, kansas, in 1916. Kaiserslautern military community hosts memorial to father. He is being awarded the medal of honor, the nations highest military award, and is also being considered by the vatican for canonization as a saint. What s more, the authors have managed to make it two books in one. Grayson is a visiting scholar in the school of philosophy at the catholic. He is a coproducer of the documentary film the miracle of father kapaun. Whats more, the authors have managed to make it two books in one. Volunteering to stay behind with the injured, he was captured by the north korean and chinese forces.
In order to win the crown of heavenly glory, the saints were expected first to carry a heavy cross in life. He had talked atheist guards into letting him hold an easter service, a favor they soon. Father kapauns life in the pow camp was one of deprivation, but he always performed his spiritual and lifesustaining responsibilities with compassion and a smile. May 31, 2014 so, narrowly speaking, the case for father kapauns sainthood rests on two relatively recent events. For more information on father emil kapaun and his cause for canonization, visit. Bishop higgins flew to wichita, ks, and accompanied father john hotze to pilsen where he was the principal celebrant for the liturgy on this 5th annual military pilgrimage to father kapauns. The miracle of father kapaun to be presented on stage in. Although he had only one sibling, his family was one of the poorest in the town, and hard work and industry were necessities on the kapauns.
From kansas to korea to rome, father kapauns story has circled. Father kapauns valley is a facebook page for information and development on the original spec screenplay father kapauns valley a biopic. Jun 27, 20 then there are the alleged miraclesthe recent healings attributed to father kapauns intercession that defy scientific explanation. Kapauns men is a program supported by the father emil kapaun guild of the catholic diocese of wichita. At sunrise on easter sunday, march 25, 1951, father emil kapaun startled pows by donning his purple priests stole and openly carrying a catholic prayer missal, borrowed from ralph nardella. Travis heying, a photographer, reporter and war correspondent for the wichita eagle, earned acclaim for his series on afghan detainees. Father emil kapauns cause for sainthood to be officially opened. Pilsen was a tiny town of less than 100 people named after the city of pizen in. Father emil kapaun right and a doctor carry an exhausted soldier off a battlefield in korea, early in the war. So, narrowly speaking, the case for father kapauns sainthood rests on two relatively recent events. Apr 28, 2017 father mark goldasich father mark is the pastor of sacred heart parish in tonganoxie. The walk is for any man, woman or child willing to walk in honor of father kapaun. The miracle of father kapaun to be presented on stage in august.