Today is the anniversary of Servant of God Vincent Capodanno's death in 1967 in the Vietnam War.
Fr. Capodanno was a Maryknoll missionary priest who served in Taiwan and Hong Kong before volunteering to become a Navy Chaplain to the Marine Corps.
"The Grunt Padre" quickly earned the hearts of the men he served by living among them, serving them, praying with them, consoling them, and distributing St. Christopher medals.
Rather than seeking safety, he would sneak out with patrols or on board helicopters to be with the units most likely to experience heavy fighting, much to the consternation of his commanders who were tasked with keeping him alive.
On September 4, 1967, Fr. Capodanno snuck onto the last helicopter headed to reinforce an embattled Marine outfit on a grassy knoll in the Que Son Valley. After several hours of pulling Marines to safety, praying with them, and granting them the Last Rites, Father Capodanno was killed running to the aid of a fallen Marine. In 1969 he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his sacrifice.
We pray that like Father Kapaun, Father Capodanno may one day be recognized as a saint, and we entrust our prayers to both of these holy men. Servants of God Kapaun and Capodanno, pray for us!
Father Vincent Capodanno Guild
Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
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