FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Fr. Vincent Capodanno ~ 30 October 2017

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Fr. Vincent Capodanno

Info from this website.

           

Servant of God Vincent Robert Capodanno (February 13, 1929–September 4, 1967) was a United States Navy chaplain and a recipient of America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor - for actions during the Vietnam War.

Vincent Capodanno was born in Staten Island, New York, on February 13, 1929. He graduated from Curtis High School in Staten Island, New York and then attended Fordham University for a year before entering the Maryknoll Missionary seminary in New York. He was ordained a 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. Father Vincent Capodanno's relatives now reside in Delaware & Florida, the youngest known is his great nephew who is a successful banker in Florida Ross Capodanno.

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 2500 men near the village of Dong Son. The outnumbered and disorganized Company D was in need of reinforcements. By 9:14 am, twenty-six 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 and taking care of his Marines. Wounded once in the face and having his hand almost severed, he went to help a wounded corpsman only yards from an enemy machinegun 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.

On December 27, 1968, then 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.

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.

On May 19, 2002, Capodanno's Cause for Canonization was officially opened, and so 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 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.

---

Memorials

USS Capodanno

USS Capodanno (FF-1093) was named in honor of Lieutenant Capodanno. The Capodanno was commissioned September 17, 1973 and was decommissioned July 30, 1993 and sold to Turkey. It became the first ship in U.S fleet to receive a Papal Blessing when it was blessed by Pope John Paul II in Naples, Italy, July 4, 1981.

 New York City

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 a three-mile (5 km) section 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 Sand Lane 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, however, was not completed until 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.

Capodanno Hall, San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard

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, RI
    * Capodanno Chapel,Naval Hospital, Oakland, CA
    * Capodanno Street, Naval Base, Newport, RI
    * Capodanno Chapel, Camp Pendelton, CA
    * Modern sculpture, Piazza Capodanno, Gaeta, Italy
    * Capodanno Chapel, Ft. Wadsworth, Staten Island
    * Capodanno Building, Millington, TN
    * Capodanno Chapel, Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan
    * Catholic Chaplains Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington,
               VA
    * Fort Wadsworth statue, Fort Wadsworth Army Chapel School.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[luvie]

Oh, nooooooo....he would NEVER think of sammiches! Much! :)

[radu]

Ham sammiches are mighty good, no doubt!

Hubby’s ready for Thanksgiving to get here. I always go to Honey Baked Hams to get a nice ham and freeze a lot of it in small packs. He breaks a pack out here and there throughout the next few months to enjoy. I don’t eat meat other than fish and seafood so it’s all his.

[luvie]

I’ll bet he IS ready for some good ham for himself! Is Honey Baked Hams a store there? I’ve heard of glazing them with honey, but just in a generic way.

Guess I’d better go. The benadryl I took for allergies a bit ago is having me practically a zombie. LOL! I was sleepy before that, but now I’m going to go to sleep one way or the other.

See ya tomorrow night!

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[radu]

Yes, it’s a store chain and is very popular. I’ve never tried one of their hams but everyone I know loves them. I like them because I don’t have to bother baking a ham myself. LOL! I just have the rest of the goodies to deal with. A woman and her son come here each fall to gather a bunch of pecans under our trees and she makes all kinds of holiday treats with them. They usually bring us a pie and one or two other treats so desert is taken care of.
We had a good amount of rain this year and the trees are loaded with very tasty pecans. She’ll have more than enough to play with.

Good night ad sleep well. I hope your allergies don’t bother you so much tomorrow.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/morning, Mooch...he was a great hero; a good read. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Is Blue safe from falling things?

Sending you and your neighbors prayers of safety!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...hope you are enjoying time with family.

You and Bo have a great Monday!

I’m off to bed.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Mondays are the best as we learn about heroes and servants of God.

[beachn4fun]

TO THE

FR CANTEEN

Good morning, Everyone.

Good morning to our

AWESOME

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Thank you, Star (and Ma), for preparing the Canteen
for today's activities.
What an interesting story.
We don't hear much about the clergy during wartime.
God rest his soul.

Well, good news is
that I can finally see and use my fotki graphics;
the bad news is they're all listed
as media and with numbers instead of names, so
it will be hard to identify them simply by their URL.

Fingers crossed today, will be closure on the gas fireplace;
we are waiting for final inspection.

Okay, so seems God does not want to play favorites
and decided to hit the east/northeast with severe weather.
Hope all FReepers came through okay.
Other than a lot of rain,
we are okay here at the homestead.

Had fun on Saturday...
binge watched all episodes of Stranger Things.
It felt like a "pajama day"
except for the chores early on.
Anyone who likes Steven King's IT, will like this series.

So, come on in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea;
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. How’s it going?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning EG ((HUGS))

All is well. It’s windy but the sun is shining.

Howz it out your way?

[left that other site]

This morning has dawned bright and windy. Blue is fine, but some neighbors had their screen-house smashed and upended in the wind.

Some scary moments last night as I heard brances falling on my roof, but all is well this morning!

Thanks for your prayers.

[luvie]

Ok...here's my story.
...and I'm stickin' to it!
This kid with a blanket
told me there was a Great 🎃 Punkin
....and he'd bring gifts and stuff.
So here I sit
looking like a fool
because he never showed up!
I was hoping for a mousie or two!
Anyhooooo.....🦉.....hope y'all have
a great Halloween Eve!
And don't be duped by a cute kid!
(((((hugs))))

[E.G.C.]

It's going OK. We're under a Wind Advisory again. Hopefully no power blinks like the last event. Crossing our fingers.

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How's it going?

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

All is well here...windy here, too. Supposed to be another cold front blowing in. Not much change in temperature yet except that the wind makes it seem chillier. And really, 59 isn’t that cold.LOL!

Hope you keep your power. It’s always a pain when it goes off. Where will you and Bo be going this afternoon? Did you have a good time yesterday? Any critters to be found?

[E.G.C.]

No critters but a good walk through the tall grass. Doing Chisolm Trail Park later today.

[luvie]

Have fun!

[Kathy in Alaska]

So glad all of you were ok...nasty weather!!!