| Vincent Robert Capodanno | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | "The Grunt Padre" |
| Born | February 13, 1929 |
| Died | September 4, 1967 (aged 38) |
| Place of birth | Staten Island, New York |
| Place of death | KIA at Quang Tin Province, Vietnam |
| Buried at | Saint Peters Cemetery, West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy Reserve |
| Years of service | 1965 - 1967 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit |
Navy Chaplain Corps 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart |
Servant of God Vincent Robert Capodanno (February 13, 1929 – September 4, 1967) was a United States Navy Roman Catholic chaplain and a posthumous recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for actions during the Vietnam War.
Biography[]
Vincent R. Capodanno was born in Staten Island, New York, on February 13, 1929. He graduated from Curtis High School, Staten Island, and attended Fordham University for a year before entering the Maryknoll Missionary Seminary in Ossining, New York. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in June 1957.
Father Capodanno's first assignment as a missionary was with aboriginal Taiwanese in the mountains of Taiwan where he served in a parish and later in a school. After seven years, Father Capodanno returned to the United States for leave and then was assigned to a Maryknoll school in Hong Kong.
Military service[]
In December 1965, Father Capodanno received his commission as a lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps. He was assigned to the First Marine Division in Vietnam in April 1966.
At 4:30 am, September 4, 1967, during Operation Swift in the Thang Binh District of the Que Son Valley, elements of the 1st Battalion 5th Marines encountered a large North Vietnamese unit of approximately 2,500 men near the village of Dong Son. The outnumbered and disorganized Company D was in need of reinforcements. By 9:14 am, 26 Marines were confirmed dead, and another company of Marines was committed to the battle. At 9:25 am, the commander of 1st Battalion 5th Marine requested further reinforcements.
Father Capodanno went among the wounded and dying, giving last rites. Wounded in the face and hand, he went to help a wounded corpsman only yards from an enemy machine gun and was killed. His body was recovered and interred in his family's plot in Saint Peters Cemetery, West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York.[1]
On December 27, 1968, Secretary of the Navy Paul Ignatius notified the Capodanno family that Lieutenant Capodanno would posthumously be awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition of his selfless sacrifice. The official ceremony was held January 7, 1969.
Cause for Canonization[]
On May 19, 2002, Capodanno's Cause for Canonization was officially opened, and he is now referred to as a Servant of God. In May 2004 the Initial Documentation was submitted to The Congregation for the Causes of Saints with CatholicMil, later renamed Mission Capodanno, acting as Petitioner and Father Daniel Mode named Postulator. On May 21, 2006 a Public Decree of Servant of God was issued by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. The statement was made by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien in Washington D.C.
Awards and decorations[]
Father Capodanno was awarded the following:
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| 1st row | Medal of Honor | Bronze Star | Purple Heart | Presidential Unit Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd row | National Defense Service Medal | Vietnam Service Medal | Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm) | Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Medal of Honor citation[]
Father Capodanno's official Medal of Honor citation is as follows:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain of the 3d Battalion, in connection with operations against enemy forces. 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. Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gunner positioned approximately 15 yards away, Lt. Capodanno rushed 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. 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.[2]
USS Capodanno[]
Certificate of Papal Blessing
Memorial to Father Vincent Capodanno
USS Capodanno (FF-1093) was named in honor of Lieutenant Capodanno.[3] The Capodanno was commissioned September 17, 1973, and was decommissioned July 30, 1993, and sold to Turkey. It became the first ship in the U.S fleet to receive a Papal Blessing when it was blessed by Pope John Paul II in Naples, Italy, September 4, 1981.
New York City honors[]
In March 1971, the Knights of Columbus, Madonna Council in Staten Island sought to have a permanent public memorial honoring Father Capodanno. In October 1974, a bill was proposed to change the name of Seaside Boulevard to Father Capodanno Boulevard; a year later, the bill was passed by the Mayor of New York.
The city of New York declared July 3, 1976, "Father Capodanno Day" and held a Mass, followed by a parade that included the United States Marine Corps Color Guard, bands from the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps, and Boy and Girl Scouts.
A monument was erected at the corner of Midland Avenue and Father Capodanno Blvd on Staten Island. It is made of light gray Barre granite, stands 8' high and 4' wide and has a bronze plaque.
Saint Vincent Chapel, Taiwan[]
Saint Vincent's Chapel was the Capodanno family's first choice as a memorial. Within four months after his death, almost $4,000 had been raised by organizations such as The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of Columbus and the Marine Corps League. The chapel was completed in 1993. It was built in the small mountain town of Thiankou with the help of Father Dan Dolan, another Maryknoller and Father Capodanno's former pastor when he was a missionary in Taiwan.
[]
The San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard dedicated Capodanno Hall on November 3, 1969. The hall serves as a Bachelor Officers' Quarters. Phillip Capodanno unveiled the plaque which describes Father Capodanno's heroic deed:
Lieutenant Capodanno made the ultimate sacrifice ministering to the wounded and dying during savage fighting in Vietnam. He has become the third chaplain in our country's history to receive the Medal of Honor and the second Navy chaplain to be so honored.
Other memorials[]
- Capodanno Memorial Chapel, Lakeside TQ, IRAQ
- Capodanno Chapel, Que Son Valley, Vietnam
- Capodanno Memorial Chapel Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island
- Capodanno Chapel, Naval Hospital, Oakland, California
- Capodanno Street, Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island
- Capodanno Chapel, Camp Pendelton, California
- Modern sculpture, Piazza Capodanno, Gaeta, Italy
- Capodanno Chapel, Ft. Wadsworth, Staten Island
- Capodanno Building, Millington, Tennessee
- Capodanno Chapel, Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan
- Catholic Chaplains Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
- Fort Wadsworth statue, Fort Wadsworth Army Chapel School.
See also[]
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
- United States Navy Memorial#Other Navy memorials
References[]
- Specific
- ↑ "Vincent R. Capodanno". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7018039. Retrieved August 7, 2006.
- ↑ The Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "Capodanno, Vincent R.". Medal of Honor citation. http://thewall-usa.com/mohrec.asp?recid=20&servid=7769. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
- ↑ USS Capodanno FF-1093 Website (March 4, 2003). "Capodanno, Vincent R.". http://www.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=8512&ck=. Retrieved November 12, 2007.[dead link]
- General
- Naval Historical Center (February 20, 2000). "US People — Capodanno, Vincent R.". Online Library. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-c/v-capdno.htm. Retrieved August 7, 2006.
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "Capodanno, Vincent R.". The Virtual Wall. http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=7769. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
External links[]
- "Vincent R. Capodanno". Military Times. http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3070. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- Biographical site for Rev. Capodanno. "Capodanno, Vincent R.". Mission Capodanno. http://www.vincentcapodanno.org. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
- Official website of the. "Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA". http://www.milarch.org/. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
The original article can be found at Vincent R. Capodanno and the edit history here.