ORA L HISTORY T RAN S C RIP T
CAPTAIN FREDERICK WILLIAM MEEHLING
Chaplain Corps, United States Navy
(Retired)
Commander H. Lawrence Martin
Chaplain Corps, United States Navy
Interviewer
ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM Chaplain Corps United States Navy
1984
15 in Series CAPTAIN FREDERICK WILLIAM MEEHLING, CHC, USN
ii FOREWORD
Of rural mid-American background, Frederick W. Meehling attained early in life church-going habits that were instru mental in his developing an earnest faith in God and a desire to serve God through the Roman Catholic priesthood. His quest for an education took him to Innsbruck, Austria, and kindled
in him a desire to travel that could not be satiated in the small Indiana parish to which he was assigned upon ordination.
His solution to that dilemma was to enter the naval chaplaincy.
Chaplain Meehling's genial personality, sense of humor, and penchant for storytelling are evident throughout this
interview. With dramatic flourish he vividly portrays such
scen~~ ~shi~ ~ather's marriage proposal to his mother, his
own strategy in persuading his bishop to permit him to enter
~he chaplaincy, his trip across Virginia to report for active
dut~ at Norfolk, and his encounters with fellow chaplains,
commanding officers, and others.
His love for the Navy and the Marine Corps is
unquestioned. Chaplain Meehling was popular with enlisted
personnel and was sought out by them. Few if any chaplains
have ministered to more recruits.
From boyhood Chaplain Meehling has been understanding and
tolerant of those of other faiths. While studying for the
iii - . prle~thb~~ in Europe in the thirties, he attended the
Protestant World Council on Faith and Order. As a member of
the Chaplain Corps he was ecumenical in attitude and practice.
Bad health occasioned Chaplain Meehling's retirement
after little more than twenty years of service. He wondered
then if he had long to live, but since has made several world
tours and has been active in parish work. Presently in his
eighties, he delivers a homily at daily mass at the cathedral
in San Diego.
This oral history transcript has much to say about the
naval chaplaincy during the
iv · PREFACE
volume contains the reminiscences of Frederick W.
Meehling, reflecting his personal recollection at the time of
the'interview. No attempt has been made to confirm the historical accuracy of the statements made.
'I'h~-':::fecader is remin:ded that he is reading a transcript of
c-":"'-" • " :. > the spoken word. The interviewee has had the opportunity to
" /."~ ~ , ." . rria.ke slight additions, deletions, and changes as desired,
prifl'cipally in the interest. of accu~acy; and the editor has ~~'~~>'minimal but important revision, largely in the interest of
clarity; but no attempt has been made to arrive at a polished
'literary style.. Editorial notes are made in brackets. In this
way?also,when feasible, the first names and middle initials
upplied in first or sole instances where persons are
t.hework more readily available to researchers whose interests
may be limited.
Copies of this interview will be deposited in several
-research locations:
Naval Historical Center Operational Archives Branch Building 57 Washington Navy Yard Washington, DC 20374
v rps Historical Center tn:,Oral History. Building 58 . \'lashington Navy Yard. Wa~hingt6ni DC 20374 ,*,;;?;'cJa~iair/{kesour~~Board , ~;·.c 6500-HamptonBlvd.. . ""~,~:r:r:,-Norfolk "" VA 23 508 jJl;"<"(~!~~¥h~~~~ii~J~:" .,. .,' Naval Educatiori'and 'Training 0284
(Roman
10022
., ,'. rights iricopyrights have been assigned to
the Nav~,acting on
l'nistorywill never supplant written history, it
advantages:' (1 ) it presents the human element;
contributions of many who would never write;
behind the scenes, telling the why and the how as
when. and the where; ,( 4 ) it provides clues for
research; .and (5 ) it supplements other collection
vi -- ..... '. . <" .:' '.'
." '. " ".... '..... :. ':': .. .. oral history transcriptwfll· be a worthwhi lecontribution in of these W0~
H. LAWRENCE MARTIN Commander, CHC, USN Head, Chaplain Corps History Branch . Office of the Chief of Chaplains
vii CONTENTS
FOREWORD iii
Rear Admiral Neil M. Stevenson Chief of Chaplains . U. S. Navy PREFACE. .' . LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS. . -. ..
A SUMMARY OF THE LIFE AND CAREER OF FREDERICK W~ '. MEEHLING . xiii
, THE"SERIES THUS FAR. xv
THE YEARS BEFORE: FROM ASPIRING YOUTH TO PARISH PRIEST. 1
~OUTH. CHILDHOOD AND EARLY . . 1 ;Fami ly I nf luences--A One-Room School--High School and Friindship with Gene Davison--Visits to ~arshall and Churchly Influences--To the Army ring World War I, With Studies at the Univer sity'of Illinois .
iE'S"F6R THE PRIESTHOOD . 12
Mon'asteryNear Louisville, Kentucky--A Novitiate' in Syracuse, ~ew York~-Innsbruck, Austria--To Rome ~/;,.,,:;£....:y«. -Discouragement and Return Home--Secular Work- [Back to the Universit~ of Illinois--Struggles to . ;Meet Expens~s--Scholarship to Innsbruck--Attendance 0at the Protestant World Conference on Faith and ;jf:9rder-~Travels to Lourdes, Paris, and Lis ieux- 'Ordination i 1929
20
turn"to the bnitedStates--Observance of the Navy .;:.~;>;:'''''''''> Ships in New York Harbor--Visit to Father Wilson, Former Pastor--Assistantship in a Parish in Anderson, Indiana--Decision to Enter the Naval Chaplaincy--persuading the Bishop--Trip to Norfolk to Report for Active Duty
viii ",:;:/tl§SCQLORADO (13 B 45) (1934- 3 7)
'A, Predecessor ,Who Drank' TOOMuch~+AnO~fic~r,wh DidN6t,Like Chap1a i ns--:-At tempt to Ma ke" ChaplaiI1 Meehl i ng'theSh ip' sService Of f icer--Oh· . ";~;,;,::,,,,:;::;,~>:: Presenting an Attractive Altar--Relations VHth'< he COrTlllla nd--Retreatat Sierra Madre Monastery":"'7 ;;()n.Dang i ng. Pr iest~",,!: .
QUANTtcO, . ~~APpr e9'{~t,e~n'f6i~-'M~'rinEi's -: ';:Pr'a:'f s e·. ~:Stantor:{,;w.;Salisbury"';'"':"'Virginia I S
~~~r~~~,,;.g:~~,-t~t'-',~,;:;;j,:f;]¥',~~>;;;,{;"; "ii';,.':S ,. " S,HENDERSON (API .(1939:"40) -.If;.~il,,-~i~~;~i.'~~;;~~:::':~~J;~:~'~~:;.:~·~':·';~:~>~.~,. _ , " _ -:j .:~ ,",._: Demands of An,.Exa ing Skipper--Travels in the rient--:Entertainment in Hawaii--Capuchin Fathers nd<.Seminarianso,nGuam--A Night Ashore in Shanghai} '.
,<,.' • S;.:,T;6~'cl\tOOSA:tCA3 7)
ih'~,~i:-esidentEmbarked--The Pres ident Attends ~~ryices-"':"'The Duke ofWindsor'Aboard-;"To~isbon, ,;:~T.aking'A'mbassador,,··aI}'d:Mrs. Leahy--Ashore' in :,Mayaguez--Taking Pres ident Roosevelt to Arge ntia ~B y to Meet With Winston~thurchi1l-~InaConvoy Iceland--PatrolBetweeri. Iceland and Greenland "-'.,.C·'?>";~'. -::--Celebration of Christmas--Return to Portland- with a Task Force to Scapaflow--The Admiral O~~rbo~rd--Action on 4 July--Danger, Prayer and Deliverance--:A Service of Thanksgiving
STATION, BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND 67
, . . The Statlon Under Construction--A Dispute Over Chapel Facilities--A Pyrrhic Victory
ix NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS ( 1 9 4 3.- 4 4 )...... 69
Another Ministry to Recruits--Typical Problems in Counse1ing--Chap1ain Meeh1ing Referred to as "A Sailor's Chaplain"
LATER MINISTRY AS CHAPLAIN: THE SECOND TEN YEARS. ,71
SiCOND PROVISIONAL B, HEADQUARTERS BATTALION, USMC (1944) AND THIRD MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE (1944-45). . . .. • . . . . • 71
~eroism of Eli T. Reich in the USS SEA LION~ Voyage in' the Transport USS SEA CORPORAL- Mini~try to the Marines on Tinian--Trip to Saipan -:-With,the Marines on Guam',
)P~;IL.ADELPHIA NAVY YARD, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA ~ ~ ('1945) ... . '_0, •• • • ••• • • • • • •• 75
J ~.~~., • "}"2;Prbmot~d to Captain--Celebrating V-J Day
MARINE BARRACKS, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA (1945-47) .. 76
, . . . Al1tnto1erant Chaplain--Commi tment to Career- Friendship With Chief of Chaplains Thomas
:NINTHNAVAI':DISTRICT AND NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS (1947-51). . • . . • • • . . . . .• 79
serving as District Chap1ain--Asociation With Chaplains Ross H. Trower and Robert W. Coe--Desire to Serve at San Diego
NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (1951-52)...... •.... 81
Another Ministry to Recruits--Sudden Orders to Quantico
"',MARINE CORPS SCHOOLS, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA (1953-54) 82
The Beautiful New Chapel Came Later--Cause for the Assignment was a Dispute of Chaplains in Renovation .of Old Chapel Office Space; A Satisfactory Solution . --Problem With Ulcers Leading to Retirement--The Retirement Event--Awards--Letter from the Secretary of the Navy,
x THE YEARS AFTER: REFLECTIONS, OBERVATIONS, ACTIVITIES. 86
Brief Pastorate at El Cajon, California--Letters of Appreciation--On Being a Storyteller--Love for the Navy--Rewards of the Naval Chaplaincy--Advice for Chaplains of Today--A Chaplain's Relationship to Command--Chaplain Meehling's Travels Since His Retirement--Contact with Cecil Roberts--Home in San Diego--Daily Ministry at the Cathedral--Con eluding Remarks, With Reference to a Gift from Former Chief of Chaplains Rear Admiral John J. O'Connor
INDEX...... 104
xi A_SUMMARY OF THE LIFE AND CAREER OF .FREDERICK WILLIAMMEEHLING'
Birth. Marshall, 1899
Education University.of Illinois st. Francis College, Syracuse, New York' University of Innsbruck,. Innsbruck, Austria Serafice College,Rome~ Italy
Ordination 26 July 1929
Civilian Ministry Assistant Pastor, st. Mary's Church, Anderson, Indiana, 1930-33
prior Military Service U. S. Army, 1918
Active Commissioned Service 26 June 1933--2 January 1954
Promot ion History· . Appointed Acting Chaplain, USN, 2 June 1933.' Commissioned Lieutenant, CHC, USN, 30 June 1937 Lieutenant Commander, 1 January 1942 Commander, 1 October 1942 Captain, 30~March1945 Duty'Assignm~rits . Naval Operating Bas~, Norfolk, Virginia, June 1933- September 1934 USS COLORADO(BB 45)~September 1934--May 1937 Marine Barracks, Quantico, virginia, June 1937- September 1939 USS HENDERSON (AP 1), October 1939--August 1940 USS TUSCALOOSA (CA 37), August 1940--September 1942 Naval Training Station, Bainbridge, Maryland, October 1942- June 1943 Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, June 1943- April 1944 Second Provisional B, Headquarters Battalion, U. S. Marine Corps, April 1944--November 1944
xiii Third Martrie:Divisro~, Flee
Phi1m~ ;~f~~l;~:~a ~~ 45 P h ii~d~~~ikt~;;t~!~~~~i~c' Ma r Ma r i ne Ba rr:a,CKs{;Quant i co, vi rg i nia'~'S:ep:te
Retirement 2 January . ~ -' A~aids" Honors and c',·,,,·;.,c,~'·;.·,,ce' .' American Defense American Cam~iign European-Africa As iat ic-Pa~jJJc .,.. World War II vi THE SERIES THUS FAR
At the time of the issuance of this oral history volume, the following transcripts in the current series were either complete (*) or in various stages of completion:
CAPTAIN ROBERT WOOD COE, JR.,CHC, USN (RETIRED) *CAPTAIN JOHN HAROLD CRAVEN, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *CAPTAIN CLIFFORD MERRILL DRURY, CHC, USNR (RETIRED) *CAPTAIN WILLIAM WILCOX EDEL, CHC, USN (RETIRED) REAR ADMIRAL FRANCIS LEONARD GARRETT, CHC, USN ( RETIRED) *CAPTAIN JOSHUA LOUIS GOLDBERG, CHC, USNR (RETIRED) CAPTAIN RAYMOND CHARLES HOHENSTEIN, CHC, USN (RETIRED) REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD GORDON HUTCHESON, JR., CHC, USN (RETIRED) ._ *CAPTAIN FREDERICK WILLIAM MEEHLiNG, CHC, USN ( RETIRED) REAR ADMIRAL WITHERS McALISTER MOORE, CHC, USN ( RETI RED) CAPTAIN GEORGE IGNATIUS PAULSON, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *REAR ADMIRAL HENRY JOHN ROTRIGE, CHC, USN (RETIRED) CAPTAIN ROBERT MARION SCHWYHART, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *CAPTAIN RODERIC LEE SMITH, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *CAPTAIN SAMUEL SOBEL, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *CAPTAIN EUGENE SAMUEL SWANSON, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *MARTHA ELLEN FONDREN THOMAS, Widow of REAR ADMIRAL WILLIAM NATHANIEL THOMAS, CHC, USN (DECEASED) *CAPTAIN MERLE NEWCOMER YOUNG, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *CAPTAIN JOHN DAVID ZIMMERMAN, CHC, USN (RETIRED)
The completed series as planned will consist of 25 volumes, with the final volume being a master index.
xv