A military chaplain ministers to military personnel and, in most cases, their families and civilians working for the military. In some cases they will also work with local civilians within a military area of operations.Although the term chaplain originally had Christian roots, it is generally used today in military organizations to describe all professionals specially trained to serve any spiritual need, regardless of religious affiliation. In addition to offering pastoral care to individuals, and supporting their religious rights and needs, military chaplains may also advise the executive on issues of religion, and ethics, morale and morals as affected by religion. Military chaplains normally represent a religion or faith group but work with military personnel of all faiths and none. Some countries, like the Netherlands and Belgium, also employ humanist chaplains who offer a non-religious approach to chaplain support.
Chaplain saying mass aboard HMS Scylla, laying at anchor off the Normandy coast shortly after the D-Day invasion of France June 12, 1944. (British Official Photo/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)
Father John McGovern gives mass in France during World War II. (U.S. Army Signal Corps)
Captain Callum Thompson, a Canadian chaplain, conducting a funeral service in the Normandy bridgehead, France, 16 July 1944. (Library and Archives Canada)
Chaplain Homer Millford, 68th AR Reg, 6th Div., DTC in 1942
“Christmas Day services near the front, in Italy. Lt. Col. William E. King, of Kansas City, Mo., Chaplain of the 45th Division, speaks to men assembled near their Bivouac Area. Notice the Young dog by the Altar.” Venafro area, Italy. 25 December 1943.
American chaplain Rabbi Herschel Schacter conducts religious services at the liberated Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945. (Photo public domain)
Unidentified chaplain visiting with Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division in WW2. (Photo public domain)
“Soldiers kneel in snow as Chaplain F. T. Bolye, formerly with St. Andrew’s Parish, Chicago, Ill., says prayer for Infantrymen of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 424th Regiment, 106th Division, before they go into battle. 5 March 1945.” Signal Corps Photo, released by Field Press Censor 8 March 1945.
Chaplain (CPT) Guy C. Jones conducting worship service for Co C, 1st BN, 135th IN Reg, 34th IN Div 25 Jan 1945 in Tazzola, Italy.
“During prayer, the flag is lowered at outdoor Christmas Day services conducted by LT Aloysis S. Carney, Jersey City, New Jersey, at Headquarters of 120th Medical Clearing Co.” Venafro area, Italy. 25 December 1943.
The Seabees of the 111th Naval Construction Battalion give thanks on D-Day plus 12, 18 June 1944. Navy Chaplains have served around the world with Seabee battalions since their inception in 1942. Chaplains prayed and conducted regular services, using any available area including a ships deck, an apple orchard, a hand-cut hole in a Pacific-island jungle or a makeshift tent for a church. They will use a jeep, packing case or ammunition box for an altar, or a helmet for a yarmulke, the top of a mess kit for a paten or a canteen cup for a chalice. (U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Flickr)
The Chaplain Corps consists of ordained clergy of multiple faiths as military chaplains. Their purpose is to offer religious church services, counseling, and moral support to the armed forces, whether in peacetime or at war.
Ronald Reagan in film “For God and Country”
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2K. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
Military chaplains normally represent a religion or faith group but work with military personnel of all faiths and none.
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