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Poster - Textual or Investigative

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Of the 3,535 Medals of Honor that have been awarded, only nine chaplains have received one. The last chaplain to receive this medal was Father Emil Kapaun for his service in the Korean War. Chaplain Kapaun earned this medal because of the values that flowed out of his faith and his willingness to sacrifice his life for others. He lived out his faith for Jesus and was humble, calm, and generous. I researched Kapaun through books, articles, and documents at the Jerry Falwell Library, the Liberty University Chaplain’s Museum, and the Chaplain Kapaun Museum. Kapaun started his walk with Christ as a child and decided to become a priest in high school. He was ordained a priest in 1940 after he graduated college. He joined the US Army Chaplain Corps four years later and served in India until World War II ended. He was discharged but rejoined the Chaplain Corps shortly before the Korean War began. In Korea, Chaplain Kapaun showed upmost courage and made the ultimate sacrifice. He greatly encouraged his soldiers and eventually was captured while saving a wounded man from being killed. While held in a POW camp, Kapaun showed great compassion for the other prisoners and sacrificed his own health while doing so. He built them fires, distributed food, melted snow to drink, and cleaned them. He offered to bury the dead and prayed with the soldiers every night. Chaplain Kapaun died at that prison camp after doing all he could to care for his men. He earned the Medal of Honor through the courage and compassion he showed to his soldiers during the war. This paper highlights the heroism of one military chaplain and points to the need to explore the other eight who were also awarded the Medal of Honor.

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Apr 15th, 12:00 PM

Chaplain Emil Kapaun: A Hero of Faith

Poster - Textual or Investigative

Of the 3,535 Medals of Honor that have been awarded, only nine chaplains have received one. The last chaplain to receive this medal was Father Emil Kapaun for his service in the Korean War. Chaplain Kapaun earned this medal because of the values that flowed out of his faith and his willingness to sacrifice his life for others. He lived out his faith for Jesus and was humble, calm, and generous. I researched Kapaun through books, articles, and documents at the Jerry Falwell Library, the Liberty University Chaplain’s Museum, and the Chaplain Kapaun Museum. Kapaun started his walk with Christ as a child and decided to become a priest in high school. He was ordained a priest in 1940 after he graduated college. He joined the US Army Chaplain Corps four years later and served in India until World War II ended. He was discharged but rejoined the Chaplain Corps shortly before the Korean War began. In Korea, Chaplain Kapaun showed upmost courage and made the ultimate sacrifice. He greatly encouraged his soldiers and eventually was captured while saving a wounded man from being killed. While held in a POW camp, Kapaun showed great compassion for the other prisoners and sacrificed his own health while doing so. He built them fires, distributed food, melted snow to drink, and cleaned them. He offered to bury the dead and prayed with the soldiers every night. Chaplain Kapaun died at that prison camp after doing all he could to care for his men. He earned the Medal of Honor through the courage and compassion he showed to his soldiers during the war. This paper highlights the heroism of one military chaplain and points to the need to explore the other eight who were also awarded the Medal of Honor.

 

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