ORA L HIS TOR Y T RAN S C RIP T
CAPTAIN ROBERT WOOD COE
Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Commander H. Lawrence Martin Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy
Interviewer
ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM Chaplain Corps United States Navy
1985 17 in Series Captain Robert Wood Coe, Jr., CHC, USN
ii FOREWORD
Chaplain Robert W. Coe, Jr. entered the naval chaplaincy a few. days prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and
~er\ied throughout the next twenty:-nine years in a wide variefy of assignments.•... He began his career wi th a brief period of
indoctrination at Naval Station, Newport, Rhode Island, after wh{~hheserved with Mari.ne Aircraft Group 24, at first on the
. . . WestCoastancl then on Bougainville in the Pacific theater.
His careei. involved ministry both to Navy and Marine Corps commands •.
Chaplain Coe was one of the first chaplains to benefit
from the Navy Postgraduate Program. This provided him the opportu·nity to study at Harvard Divinity School, from which he earned the Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1948.
Throughout much his career, Chaplain Coe was able to minister administratively and pastorally to many of his
fellow chaplains. Especially was this true as he served
as detailer in the Chaplains Division, Bureau of Naval
Personnel; as Force Chaplain, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific;
as Force Chaplain, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Pacific; and as Fleet Chaplain, u. S. Pacific Fleet. Perhaps Chaplain Coe's principal contribution to the Navy
was in the training of chaplains. His tour as officer in
charge at the Naval Chaplains School at Newport, Rhode Island,
iii which extended from September of 1965 to August of 1967, was at the height of the vietnarr. War. During these two years he and two other staff persons, one a chaplain and the other a line officer, taught the indoctrination course to approximately 225 chaplains.
Chaplain Coe's leadership in chaplaincy training was continued at his next and final assignment, that of senior chaplain at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California.
There he provided special training for chaplains preparing to serve with Marines in vietnam. In this task, he wisely used as resource persons those who had recently returned from tours of duty there.
Readers of this work will gain helpful insights into the
Navy and Marine Corps, and the Chaplain Corps in particular, for those years of Chaplain Coe's service. They will also receive an account of the colorful life and ministry of a faithful chaplain.
USN
iv PREFACE
This volume contains the reminiscences of Robert Wood Coe,
Jr.;~'refIecting his personal recollection at the time of the
interview. No attempt has been made to confirm the historical accuracy of the statements made.
. : . The reader is reminded that he is reading a transcript of the spoken word. The interviewee has had the opportunity to make slight additions, deletions, and changes as desired, princip~lly i~theinterestof ac~uracy: and the editor has made 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
have been supplied in first or sole instances where persons are
mentioned by their last names only.
The Table of Contents and the Index are calculated to make the work 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 Marine Corps Historical Center Attn: Oral History Building 58 Washington Navy Yard Washington, DC 20374
Chaplain Resource Board 6500 Hampton Boulevard ,Norfolk, Virginia 23508
Librarian Chaplains School Naval Education and Training Center Newport, RI 02841
- -~ - <; -. --.. - • -. - •• Head, Special Collections Nimi tz. Library U.S. Naval Academy. Anhapolis,MD 21402
Dire~t~r of Oral Hi~~ory U. S. Naval Institute A~riapolis, MD21402
The 'Congregational Christian Historical Society, Inc. 14 Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108
All"existing rights in copyrights have been assigned to the Chaplain Corps of the Department of the Navy, acting on behalf of the United States of America.
While oral history will never supplant written history, it .does have its advantages: (1) it presents the human element; (2) it enlists the contributions of many who would never write; (3) it gets behind the scenes, telling the why and the how as well as the when and the where; (4) it provides clues for additional research; and (5) it supplements other collection methods.
vi It is hoped that this oral history transcript will be a worthwhile contribution in several ~. H. L WRENCE MARTIN Commander, CHC, USN Head, Chaplain Corps History Branch Office of the Chief of Chaplains
vii TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD ...... Rear Admiral Neil M. Stevenson Chaplain Corps, U. S. Navy Chief of Chaplains PREFACE. • • • • • • • ...... LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS...... SUMMARY OF THE LIFE AND MILITARY CAREER OF ROBERT WOOD COE, JR.. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . THE SERIES THUS FAR......
SESSION ONE: 30 NOVEMBER 1982 INTRODUCTION: THE EARLY YEARS . . . . Birth and Parentage--A Family of Ministers- Influences Toward the Ministry--Educational Prep aration--ordination and Student Parish in Charlton, Massachusetts--Church Fire--Decision on Naval Chaplaincy--Commissioned in December 1941
SESSION TWO: 30 NOVEMBER 1982
BEGINNING ACTIVE DUTY: NAVAL TRAINING STATION, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND (1941-42) • • • . • • • • • • •• . ••
Reaction to Pearl Harbor Attack--Reporting to Newport, Rhode Island--Guidance from Chaplains Francis T. O'Leary and Bart D. Stephens--G. I. Insurance Lectures--The Newport Community--First Impressions as a Chaplain--Obtaining a Portable Communion and Altar Set--Encouraging Others into the Chaplaincy
FIRST DUTY WITH THE MARINE CORPS: MAG-24 (1942--44).
Marriage to Elizabeth Adelaide Miner--Children and Grandchildren--Meeting General Ross Rowell- Assigned to MAG-24--at Santa Barbara, California- The Appeal of Marine Duty--Combat Experience on
vi ii Bougainville--A Chapel Built by Seabees--Acquain tance with Richard Nixon and Joseph McCarthy- Rapid Promotions During the war--uniqueness of Marine Aviation--Deep Feelings of a Marine General
NAVAL TRAINING CENTER AT CAMP PEARY, VIRGINIA (1944-45) ••
working with prisoners--Confronting a Marine Guard and the Repercussions--sitting on Review Boards- Serving with Chaplain Wendell "A" Phillips--Attemp ted Manipulations by prisoners--Compulsory worship Attendance--A Heavy Work Load--Augmentation into the Regular Navy
SHORE DUTY AGAIN: NAVAL MINE DE~OT, YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA (1945-46). • • ...... Serving on a Naval Examining Board--Yorktown, liThe Navy's Best-Kept Secret"--A Visit by Chaplains Ackiss and Salisbury--Catholic Coverage--A Chapel-Centered Ministry--Collateral Duties
SESSION THREE: 1 DECEMBER 1982 A SERIES OF SHIPS (1946-47) •• ...... USS AUBURN--Discussions with Admiral Carl Holden- A Period of Deactivation--Rewriting an Engineering Log~-Temptation to Leave the Navy--USS ALBEMARLE--worship in the Hangar Bay--Involvement in the Recreation program--USS WYANDOT--A Cruise in the Arctic Circle--"Captain Queeg"--Visiting an Eskimo Chapel in Greenland--Ice Bound
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AT HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL (1947-48) ••••••••••••••••••• . . . . . Selection for a Full Academic Year--A Small Post War Corps--Studying Church History--preference for Latitude in SUbject Matter--Book Allowance --A Helpful and Satisfying Year--Reason for Choos ing Harvard--Benefits of the Graduate Program- Better Graduate Students at Harvard were Returnees, Despite Their Apprehensions
ANOTHER TRAINING CENTER: GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS (1948-.50) ••••••••' ••••••••••• . . . . . Brig Chaplain--Ninth Naval District--working for Chaplain Frederick W. Meehling--A Program
ix for Reserve Chaplains--Recalling Reservists for the Korean War--Family Adjustments--Selection for Promotion
SECOND MARINE DIVISION, CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA (1950-52) •••••••••••••••••••••
Depleted Numbers--working with Recalled Reservists --Resurgence of Interest in Religion--Administra tive Responsibilities--Implementing the Naval Leadership Program--Duty Preferences--Navy and Marine Corps Compared--Counseling Marines- Ministering to Staff NCOs--Relationships with ~Commanding Generals
WASHINGTON, D. C. YEARS: THE CHAPLAINS DIVISION 1952-55) ••••••••••••••••• . . . . . Environment--Recruiting Chaplains--The Herman Wouk Letter--Careful Screening of Applicants--Work with Endorsing Agents--Quotas and the Increase of Chap lains During the Korean War--Jewish Chaplains- Working as a Detailer--Procedure for Establishing a Billet--Billet Eliminations--MSTS Reductions- Congressional Inquiries--Use of Officer Preference Cards and Billet Assignments--Early Concepts of Career Patterns--Detailing senior Officers- Detailing Procedure--Changing Orders--Requests from Individual Chaplains--popularity of the Detailer--Job Satisfaction--Imbalance in Rota tion--Cuts in Officer Personnel
BACK TO SEA IN A BATTLESHIP: THE USS WISCONSIN (1955-57).
The Detailer's Choice--Problem Concerning an Ineffective Chaplain--A Good Atmosphere and Ex perience--In Charge of the Boxing Team--Making the Rounds--Family Cruises--Gun Barrel Filled with Balloons--Leadership and Loyalty Aboard Ship--Opportunities for Ministry--Coordinated Ministry with USS BOSTON
A THIRD MARINE TOUR: FLEET MARINE FORCE PACIFIC (1957-58) ••••• ...... serving as Assistant Force Chaplain--working with Old Friends--A Command Encouraging Chapel Atten dance--First Church Supper--Visit to Okinawa- Ministry of Chaplain Harold F. Menges--Early Selec tion for Captain
x STATESIDE MARINE DUTY: FIRST MARINE DIVISION, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA (1958-1960) •••••••••• . . Comparison of Camp Lejeune with Camp Pendleton- Relationship with Commanding General--The Ranch House Chapel: Furnished by Anthony Quinn--Hudson Buildings as Chapels--Participation in Field and Landing Exercises--Wearing the Marine Uniform- Marine Corps Birthday Celebration--A Visit by the Chief of Chaplains--Clergy Day
COMMANDER CRUISER-DESTROYER FORCE, U. S. PACIFIC FLEET (1960-62) •••.••••••••••••••••••
Ministry to Dependents--WESTPAC Travels and Inspec tions--writing Guidelines for Chaplains' Duties- Not Chaplain Coe's Favorite Duty--Encounter with Shipboard Bible Sales--Using Ship's Bell as Baptismal Font
SESSION FOUR: 2 DECEMBER 1982
FLEET CHAPLAIN, U. S. PACIFIC FLEET (1962-65) ••••••.
Extensive Travel--Circumstances surrounding Selec tion--Nature of the Job--Logistics--Ministry to Senior Officers--Relationship with Area Chaplains- Naval Institute Proceedings Reprint OFFICER IN CHARGE, NAVAL CHAPLAINS SCHOOL (1965-67) •• . . Assisted by Richard G. Hutcheson, Jr.--Stressing Naval Administration--wearing the Uniform with pride--Religious Pluralism--Field Trips--Guest Lecturers--Parade of Chaplains--Close order Drill- Varied Class Lengths and Schedules--Curriculum Re visions--Funding Problems--Talk About a Combined School for all Armed Forces--Planning the Advanced Course--Chaplains School Fitness Reports--Age and Prior Experience of Chaplains .
FINAL TOUR: MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP PENDLETON (1967-70).
Senior Chaplain--Chaplain's Watch List--New Chapel Pews~-Ecumenical Services and Contemporary Worship --Baptismal Commemoration Service--Dealing with Conscientious Objectors--The Problem of Granting sanctuary--Building Problems and Adverse publicity --predeployment School--Oppor~unities for Language Study--personal Response Program--Drawing from the Experience of Others--Enjoyment of Duty with the Marine Corps
xi RETIREMENT (1970) .•••.••••• ...... Retirement Ceremony--Carlsbad, California--A Variety of Hobbies
SESSION FIVE: 3 DECEMBER 1982
DIALOGUE CONCERNING THE CHAPLAINCY Intangible Rewards--Legion of Merit--Favorite Duty, USS WISCONSIN--Contributions to the Chaplain Corps--Command Relationship with Catholic Chaplains --Making the Most of Collateral Duties--Significant Chaplains--Lessons for Today's Chaplains--Advice for Civilian Clergy--The Chapel as an Extension of the Church--Comparison of the Pastorate and the Chaplaincy--Dislike of Compulsory Chapel Attendance --Comparison of Chaplains through the Years--Direc tions for the Future--Concluding Remarks
APPENDIX
LEGION OF MERIT CITATION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
INDEX • ......
xii PHOTOGRAPHS
1. Captain Robert Wood Coe, Jr., CHC, USN (1967) • • ii
2. Chaplain Coe, Shortly After Reporting for Active Du t y (1 9 4 2) • • • • • • • • • • • •• ••••• 4- A
3. Worship at Sea Aboard the uss WISCONSIN 64-A
4 . Baptismal Service, Using the Ship's Bell, While Chaplain Coe Was Attached to COMCRUDESPAC • • 82-A
5. Chaplain Coe Administers Holy Communion at Camp Pendleton • • • • • • • • • ••••••••• • 106-A
6 • Retirement Party for Chaplain Coe (1970). 115-A
Left to right: Robert III, Suzanne, wife Betty, Chaplain Coe, Stephen, Peter
xiii A SUMMARY OF THE LIFE AND MILITARY CAREER OF ROBERT WOOD COE, JR.
Birth Ashton, Maryland, 20 August 1913
Education western Maryland College, Westminister, Maryland, B.A., 1937 Andover-Newton Theological Seminary, Newton Centre, Massachusetts, B.D., 1941 Divinity School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, S.T.M., 1948
Ordination west Brookfield Association of Congregational Churches, Massachusetts, 16 June 1941
Family Marriage: Elizabeth Adelaide Miner, 17 June 1942 Children: Robert W. III Peter T. susanne E. Stephen M. Grandchildren: five
Active Commissioned Service December 1941--0ctober 1970
Promotion History Commissioned Lieutenant (junior grade), CHC, USNR to rank from 10 November 1941 (Transferred to the Regular Navy 2 June 1945) Lieutenant, 15 September 1942 Lieutenant Commander, 17 October 1944 Commander, 1 July 1950 Captain, 1 August 1958
Duty Assignments Naval Station, Newport, Rhode Island December 1941--May 1942 Marine Aircraft Group 24, Fleet Marine Force May 1942--November 1944 Naval Training Command, Camp peary, virginia November 1944--November 1945 Naval Mine Depot, Yorktown, virginia November 1945--0ctober 1946
xiv USS AUBURN (AGC-lO) October 1946--January 1947 USS ALBEMARLE (AV-5) January 1947--June 1947 USS WYANDOT (AKA-92) June 1947--September 1947 Duty under Instruction, Harvard Divinity School September 19L---June 1948 Naval Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois June 1948--July 1949 Ninth Naval District, Great Lakes, Illinois July 1949--August 1950 Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina August 1950--June 1952 Chaplains Division, Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D. C., June 1952--June 1955 USS WISCONSIN (BB-64) June 1955--July 1957 Force Chaplain, Fleet Marine Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet July 1957--August 1958 Division Chaplain, First Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, C-lifornia, August 1958--September 1960 Force Chaplain Commander Cruiser--Destroyer Force, U. S. Pacific FIe It, September 1960--November 1962 Commander Serv: ::e Force, Pac i f ic November 19 ,2--September 1965 Naval Chaplain School, Naval Schools Command, Newport, Rhode Isla~ 1, September 1965--August 1967 Senior ChaplaL , Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, August 1967--0ctober 1970
Awards and Decorat~ons American Campaign Medal Asiatic--Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Stars World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal Legion of Merit
Retirement 1 November 1970
xv 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) REAR ADMIRAL GERALD EDWIN KUHN, CHC, USNR (RETIRED) *CAPTAIN FREDERICK WILLIAM MEEHLING, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *REAR ADMIRAL WITHERS McALISTER MOORE, CHC, USN (RETIRED) CAPTAIN GEORGE IGNATIUS PAULSON, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *REAR ADMIRAL HENRY JOHN ROTRIGE, CHC, USN (RET~RED) 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) REAR ADMIRAL ROSS HENRY TROWER, CHC, USN (RETIRED) *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.
xvi