First of the elite corps of parachuting parsons developed to keep step with the airborne troops was Captain Manus “John” McGettigan, a 31 year-oldd Episcopalian from Brooklyn, New York.
He was the newly assigned Catholic Chaplain for troops of the 506th PIR who joined the unit in August 1944. Father McGettigan jumped into battle armed only with the items necessary to look after the spiritual lives of his men, as the Geneva Convention forbids ministers who accompany combat troops as Chaplains to have any weapons on them. The Chaplain with captain rank, wore the narrow Ribbon Stole, not official issue around his necK; he anticipated many field services hearing Confessions and giving the Absolution.
Pictured here on a chaplain’s flag are the portable mass kit, sometimes referred to as the sick call kit, intended for use by Catholic chaplains under field and combat conditions, a red cross armband and his helmet and dog tags.
My paratrooper father writes in one of his letters sent back home to Indiana about his talks with the Chaplain and how “it really helped him.” After the passing of my mother and father in 1999 and 2010, I decided to finally sit down and read every single letter that he sent home. I was not prepared for the range of emotions and insight into their lives and letters from the greatest generation. I was given the special gift of getting to know my father before, during and after the war. After putting those letters in chronological date order, I realized that Dad had a story to tell in COMES A SOLDIER’S WHISPER, one that would whisper and resonate with all soldiers today.
My Dad was among the fortunate to survive the battles of D-Day, Carentan, Holland and the Battle of the Bulge and got to COME HOME like today’s soldiers in this beautiful soldier tribute by Ken Miles youtu.be/quaAv6YLC_E We are all connected.
COMES A Soldier’s Whisper remembering history and soldiers one day at a time….
For videos, shared stories, book excerpt or book purchase, visit www.comesasoldierswhisper.com
For COME HOME CD Purchase: itunes.apple.com/us/album/where-in-the-world-is-soope/id476677968 …
Photo/Text Source: Orange is the Color of the Day
Dedication http://youtu.be/EJ1H9N-gIU0
