Chaplain History
We had a lecture today on the history of the
Corps. Amazing. We are the oldest and largest Chaplain Corps in the
world.
We are the second largest corps in the Army -
second only to the Infantry. We were authorized by General Washington to perform
religious services at a commissioned captain's pay. Here are some facts about
the Corps.
Since 1715, Apx.
25,000 Chaplains have served in the armies of the US as dual professionals:
Certified religious leaders and commissioned staff officers for God and country.
397 Lost their lives in the course of eight major wars.
Themes and Turning
Points
1. Providing Religious and
moral leadership
• 1775 –
Congress authorizes chaplain pay and grants commissions in the US
Army
• Phase one of
history
2. Struggling for Recognition
and
Resources
• 1861
• Chaplains
are authorized uniforms and recognition in Army
regulations
• First regulated
job of the Chaplain in the Civil War was to advise the Chaplain. The rest was
just expected.
3. Defining
Appropriate Roles and
Duties
• 1920
• The
Chaplain Corps becomes a branch with a Chief of Chaplains (COL until 1941)
• Eight Decades of Growth
since then
“ Military power wins
battles, but spiritual power wins wars.” George C. Marshall.
Facts about the Army
Chaplaincy
1. The army chaplaincy is
the oldest of the military chaplaincies, and predates the Declaration of
Independence by almost a year. The second Continental Congress authorized
Chaplains for the Army on 29 July 1775.
2. The Army Chaplain Corps comprises
the largest military Chaplaincy in the
world.
3. Almost 14% of all Army
Chaplains since the Civil War have received battlefield decorations. (Six have
been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor)
4. WWII marked the greatest
transformation of the Corps in two centuries.
• The Chaplaincy went from 140
on Active duty in Dec. 1941 to 8,140 chaplains by 1945.
• The Rank of Chief became two
star
• The Chief relieved
Chaplains from duties not related to direct military service (prior to this they
had to fill many staff duties which prevented them from doing their basic
services to the soldiers as
clergy)
• Worship Services and
Ceremonies
• Advise Commander,
Schoolmaster
• Librarian,
Banker, Post
Gardener
• Missionary, Defense
Counsel
• Commissary Manager,
Mailman
• Visit Sick, Keep
Clothing
Closet
• Reports/Duties As
Assigned
5. More than 2,000 books by
or about chaplains have been published. Historically the Chaplain has often been
the historian of the unit. This however is becoming less and less as the
Chaplain is more and more mobile.
6. Chaplains have traditionally
provided noteworthy leadership for the government and denominations after
service.
Posted: Thu - February 17, 2005 at 04:34 PM