The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Dissertations Fall 12-2016 Bearing the Double Burden: Combat Chaplains and the Vietnam War John Donellan Fitzmorris III University of Southern Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations Part of the History of Religion Commons, Military History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Fitzmorris, John Donellan III, "Bearing the Double Burden: Combat Chaplains and the Vietnam War" (2016). Dissertations. 904. https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/904 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BEARING THE “DOUBLE BURDEN”: CHAPLAINS IN COMBAT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR by John Donellan Fitzmorris III A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School and the Department of History at The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Approved: ________________________________________________ Dr. Andrew Wiest, Committee Chair Distinguished Professor, History ________________________________________________ Dr. Günter Bischof, Committee Member Professor, University of New Orleans ________________________________________________ Dr. Brian LaPierre, Committee Member Associate Professor, History ________________________________________________ Dr. Heather Stur, Committee Member Associate Professor, History ________________________________________________ Dr. Kyle Zelner, Committee Member Associate Professor, History ________________________________________________ Dr. Karen S. Coats Dean of the Graduate School December 2016 COPYRIGHT BY John Donellan Fitzmorris III 2016 Published by the Graduate School ABSTRACT BEARING THE “DOUBLE BURDEN”: CHAPLAINS IN COMBAT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR by John Donellan Fitzmorris III December 2016 Throughout the period of the Vietnam War, soldiers and Marines of the United States Military were accompanied into the combat zones by members of the clergy who were also part of the military. These chaplains attempted to bring God to the men in the field by providing spiritual and moral support through worship services and certain counseling duties. A number of chaplains, however, believed so strongly in their ministry that they refused to simply stay “on base” and instead shouldered their packs and journeyed with their troops into the most perilous combat zones. In so doing , these combat chaplains took upon themselves a “double burden” in that they not only bore upon themselves the spiritual and moral well-being of their troops but also suffered the same hardships, privations, and consequences of seeing and experiencing the worst that combat had to offer. As a result, combat chaplains underwent a transformation in the field that changed them from mere sacramental ministers in military uniform to “wounded healers” who advocated for their troops—both during and after the war. In experiencing the horrors of combat, suffering the loss of friends, struggling with the sagging morale of their men as well as their own, and dealing with the moral conflicts posed by the fog of war, combat chaplains became committed to the idea of peace and justice after the war, took a leading role in recognizing and treating post-traumatic stress in themselves, and—as a result— ii were able to reach out to their fellow veterans and offer them the opportunity to affect their own healing. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In the case of dissertations and other works of this sort, the phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants” applies quite accurately. Those familiar with me would not want me standing on anything of theirs, but I must acknowledge their tremendous help and support in the completion of this work. My first thanks must go out to the chaplains who provided the foundation of this study. Their service, sacrifice, and—in more cases than not—heroism was matched in the field only by their tremendous faith and dedication to the spiritual and emotional well-being of their troops. Their generosity of time and patience with my interviews and constant phone calls and e-mails with further questions is but a mere fraction of the time they have spent in their ministry to the men (and now women) in uniform that have fought our wars and continue to fight our wars. Their work continues to this day, and I am proud to be able to call many of them my friends. I must also give thanks to those who served on my dissertation committee and forbore my constant queries and delays in getting to the finish line. I am sure that not many “non-traditional students” like myself came your way, but you all were never flinching in your support and suggestions to make this work meet the standards. Professor Andrew Wiest of the University of Southern Mississippi chaired my committee and became a cherished friend along the way. His folksy demeanor shrouds a keen intellect that the administration of the university and the academic community at large has finally started to recognize. He has forgotten more than I shall ever know about the Vietnam War, and it has been his influence that has driven this dissertation from the academic angle. Professor Kyle Zelner of USM lent his keen eye for detail as well as his iv own considerable knowledge of war and society to provide some excellent foundational work. Professor Heather Stur has been a good friend whose studies in the Cold War and foreign policy have allowed me to view the role of the chaplains from a different and refreshing perspective. Professor Phyllis Jestice, my “Viking Queen” now of the College of Charleston, was always there to help me bring the religious aspect of this work into clearer focus. Professor Brian LaPierre, whose studies in the global aspects of communism have also been a valuable resource. Lastly, Professor Günter Bischof, the Marshall Plan Scholar and Director of Center Austria for the University of New Orleans was the individual who first turned my attention to the value of oral history and how it could contribute to a scholarly work. All of their “ministrations” to my labors have been honest, thorough, and worthy of their professions. Thanks also go out to Professors Andrew Haley, Michael Neiberg, Max Grivno, Louis Kyriakoudes, Curtis Austin, and William K. Scarborough, and Mrs. Shelia Garris Smith and Mrs. Cynthia Warren, all of whom have been more than patient with me, offered their help without reserve, and have helped make the University of Southern Mississippi truly a gem among history programs. The great and hard-working faculty of the University of New Orleans also deserve a ton of credit, giving me the impetus to finish my Masters work and then later allowing me to work while also completing this dissertation. My chair, Professor Robert Dupont, and Professors Gerald Bodet, Andrew Goss, Andrea Mosterman, Nikki Brown, Connie Atkinson, Mary Mitchell, Allan Millett (himself a veteran of the Vietnam War), Raphael Cassimere, Warren Billings, and James Mokhiber are all part of a still-great History Department faculty. Thanks also go out to Sherrie Miller and Gertraud Geissner of Center Austria for making my life much easier than I deserved while working at UNO. v Another round of thanks go to Professors Craig Bauer and Mark Kuss of Our Lady of Holy Cross College—my other home—during this project. They were never shy about encouraging me to the point of demanding that I finish, and I am grateful to them for that. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Professor James T. Hardy of Louisiana State University, a reader for this dissertation, my very first professor of History, and the man responsible for me going into this profession at last. (He is truly the one to blame!) Timothy Taylor in the Museum and Archives at Fort Jackson, South Carolina gave excellent help and friendship as well as Stan Fanaras at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. They were never reluctant to help me find documents and photographs and took a genuine interest in the work I conducted. Finally, among academics, thanks must go out to the late Professor Stephen Duffy, Professors Earl Richard, Robert Gnuse, Dennis Janz and the faculty at Loyola University’s Department of Religious Studies for convincing me that my studies would be best served by changing direction and pursuing another course of study. The credit goes all to them, and only the errors I claim for myself. vi DEDICATION We do not give enough credit to those who started us down the road to whatever our careers may be, so I must give thanks to all my wonderful teachers at St. Dominic Parochial School in New Orleans, especially Mrs. Nellie Schott, whose firm belief in me never let me waver and helped me develop the grammar skills that would serve me well; the late Noonie Folse, who combined just enough gentleness with a stern demeanor to keep me on track; and the late Marguerite Foley and the late Father Reginald Masterson of the Order of Preachers, whose simple faith and guidance contributed to the start of this odyssey. Kudos also to the excellent teachers at Jesuit High School who would not tolerate my teenage indolence and demanded that I fulfill my potential, especially Professor Stephen L. Pearce, Messrs. James Woods and Robert Fecas, and Fathers Tony Ozzimo, Thomas Hoffman, and Nicholas Schiro of the Society of Jesus. I also must give thanks to the friends in my life who have stood steadfastly beside me in the best and worst of times. My two college roommates and best friends Stephen Millet and Christopher Hebert and their much lovelier, better halves Tara and Stacey. They combined the warmth of their homes with never-ending encouragement. Drs. Cherie and James Bragg for being wonderful friends who never refused me even the smallest requests.