There are nine military Chaplains who are recipients of the Medal of Honor.

I have previously profiled Chaplain CAPT Joseph O'Callahan (USN), who served in World War II, and CPT Father Emil Kapaun (USA), who served and perished in Korea.

Three Chaplain recipients of the Medal of Honor were for their service in Vietnam, and this is the first in a series on those Chaplains.

Vincent Robert Capodanno Jr. was a Catholic priest who was killed in action while serving as a Navy chaplain with the 5th Marines. He had already completed one tour and returned for a voluntary six-month extension.

Vince was a native of Staten Island, New York, the youngest of 10 siblings born to his Italian immigrant parents, Robert and Rachel Capodanno. His Archdiocese for the Military Services profile notes that he learned the “dignity of hard work, pride of family, strength of ethnic solidarity” at an early age.

He graduated from Curtis High School in 1947 and then took night classes at Fordham University while he worked as an insurance clerk. In 1949, he enrolled at Maryknoll Missionary Seminary in Ossining, New York, and completed adjunct studies in Illinois and Massachusetts, graduating in 1953.

His profile continues, “After nine years of intensive preparation in theology, academics, and basic survival tactics to fulfill the order’s mission to ‘Go and Teach All Nations,’ Vincent completed his seminary training and was ordained in 1958 by Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York.”

He first served as a missionary to the Hakka-Chinese people in the mountains of Taiwan, but “The American involvement in World War II impacted Vincent personally with three of his brothers serving in the military,” and “fostered in him a profound patriotism and overt faith.”

Thus, after six years in the mission field, he sought permission to join the Navy Chaplain Corps to serve the growing number of Marines deployed to South Vietnam.

In 1965, after finishing Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps and requested to serve with the Fleet Marine Force. In 1966, he deployed with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division before being transferred to the 1st Medical Battalion for the remainder of his tour.

Vince gained the nickname “The Grunt Padre” because of his willingness to serve on the front lines, much in the “Radiating Christ” spirit of World War One French Jesuit priest Father Raoul Plus, whom he had studied in Seminary. As his bio notes: “Father Capodanno was more than a priest ministering within the horrific arena of war. He became a constant companion to the Marines: living, eating, and sleeping in the same conditions of the men.”

In June 1967, then 38-year-old Chaplain Capodanno re-upped for six months, returned to Vietnam, and in August was assigned to H&S Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

On 4 September 1967, during Operation Swift in the Thang Binh District of the Que Son Valley, his battalion’s Company D was attacked by a large force of 2,500 PAVN fighters. When Vince got word that two platoons of M Company were taking heavy casualties, already 26 Marines killed in action, he went to assist the wounded and dying Marines of 2nd Platoon.

His Medal of Honor citation details his actions:

In response to reports that the 2d Platoon of M Company was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, LT Capodanno left the relative safety of the company command post and ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleaguered platoon. Disregarding the intense enemy small-arms, automatic-weapons, and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded. When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he steadfastly refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the corpsmen to help their wounded comrades and, with calm vigor, continued to move about the battlefield as he provided encouragement by voice and example to the valiant marines.

His citation continues: “Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gunner positioned approximately 15 yards away, LT Capodanno rushed in a daring attempt to aid and assist the mortally wounded corpsman. At that instant, only inches from his goal, he was struck down by a burst of machine-gun fire.”

His citation concludes: “By his heroic conduct on the battlefield, and his inspiring example, LT Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom.”

In the end, LT Capodanno suffered 27 bullet wounds. He died the way he lived, faithfully and fearlessly serving others.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Vincent’s death, EWTN and the Capodanno Guild collaborated to produce an award-winning documentary on his life, “Called and Chosen.”

Notably, while with the 7th Marines, Vincent became close friends with Marine 1stLt Fred Smith, who would later found FedEx. Fred says of his friend: “Words can’t adequately describe my feelings about Father Capodanno. He was a great man, and a lot of people owe their lives to him. I loved Father Capodanno. He was a model of everything you’d ever want to find in a military chaplain. He was one great guy, and I think about him a lot. They didn’t have any medals big or ornate enough for his brand of man.”

LT Vincent Capodanno: An ordinary man faced with extraordinary circumstances, he summoned the greatest measure of courage to place his life in imminent peril to save others. Your example of valor — a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty — is eternal. Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.

“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776

Follow Mark Alexander on X/Twitter.

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