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Posted on 07/30/2004 11:14:57 PM PDT by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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 The Grunt Padre Vincent Capodanno was born on February 13th, 1929, in Staten Island, New York. After attending a year at Fordham University, young Vincent Capodanno entered the Maryknoll Missionary seminary in upstate New York in 1949. The Maryknolls were well known for sending American missionaries overseas--especially to China and Korea.  As the communists overran China, many Maryknoll priests and bishops were imprisoned and tortured. When Capodanno finished the seminary, he was ordained a priest and received his bachelor's degree in religious instruction.  Father Capodanno's first assignment 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.  Looking for a different challenge, Father Capodanno requested a new assignment--as a United States Navy Chaplain serving with the U.S. Marines. After finishing officer candidate's school, Father Capodanno reported to the 7th Marines, in Vietnam, in 1966. When his tour was complete, he requested an extension, served in the naval hospital and then reported to the 5th Marines. He gained a reputation for always being there--for always taking care of his Marines.  At 4:30 am, September 4th, 1967 , in the Thang Binh District of the Que-Son Valley, elements of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines found the large North Vietnamese Unit, approx. 2500 men, near the village of Dong Son. Operation Swift was underway. The out-numbered and disorganized Company D was in need of reinforcements. By 9:14 am, twenty-six Marines were confirmed dead. The situation was in doubt and another Company of Marines was committed to the battle. At 9:25 am, the 1st Battalion 5th Marine Commander requested assistance of two company's of the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, "M"and "K" Company.  During those early hours, Chaplain Capodanno received word of the battle taking place. He sat in on the morning briefing at the 3rd Battalion's Combat Operations Center. He took notes and listened to the radio reports coming in. As the elements of Company "M" and "K" prepared to load the helicopters. "Fr.Vince" requested to go with them. His Marines needed him. "It's not going to be easy" he stated. As Company "M" approached the small village of Chau Lam, the North Vietnamese opened up on the 2nd Platoon, which was caught on a small knoll, out in the open. The fighting was fierce, hand to hand at times, and the platoon was in danger of being overrun. Father Capodanno went among the wounded and dying, giving last rites and taking care of his Marines. Wounded once in the face and suffering another wound that almost severed his hand, Father Capodanno moved to help a wounded corpsman only yards from an enemy machinegun. Father Capodanno died taking care of one of his men. Father Capodanno's inspiration and dedication to "his" Marines goes much further. His story continues to touch many lives even today.  In 1971, Father Capodanno received the Medal of Honor in recognition of his selfless sacrifice. Several chapels and a United States Navy fast frigate were named in his honor.       |
Citation:
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 in 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.
Thanks for the nice road trip to Washington. Road trips with you are always a blast. I'm sleepy though. Good night Sam.
Had a good time too. I love it when we can get an oldies station during the whole trip. Tired of listening to my singing right?
Thanks for profiling Lieutenant Vincent R. Capodanno.
Good Night Snippy.
Padre Bump for the Foxhole, and I ain't talking about San Diego.
Nights are fun, ummm riiiight
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
The only thing I liked about working nights was that the bosses usually weren't around to bug you. :-)
What a truly dedicated chaplain.
Thank you, Brother Capodanno. God has blessed us with the likes of you.
Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.
free dixie,duckie & sw
Morning, FRiends! Fr. Capodanno was written up in "The Word Among Us" last month, too. (www.wau.org) He's a great example of Christian service and manly virtue, the sort of priest I hope my Tom will be!
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on July 31:
1527 Maximilian II, German King/Emperor (1564-76)
1704 Gabriel Cramer, Swiss mathematician (paradox of Cramer)
1803 John Ericsson US, invented screw propeller, built USS Monitor
1816 George Henry Thomas, Major General (Union Army), died in 1870
1817 Philip Cook Jr, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1894
1825 Thomas Hart Taylor, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1901
1837 William Clarke Quantrill Col (Confederate Army)
1841 George Melville polar explorer, naval engineer
1900 Elmo Roper pollster (Roper Poll)
1901 Jean Dubuffet France, painter (Landscape with 2 Personages)
1912 Irv Kupcinet Chicago Ill, TV host (Tonight! America After Dark)
1912 Milton Friedman economist (Nobel 1976)
1919 Curt Gowdy Green River Wyo, sportscaster (ABC)
1919 Primo Levi Italy, chemist/writer (Survival in Aushchwitz)
1921 Whitney M Young Jr civil rights leader, head of Urban League
1928 Bill Frenzel, (Rep-R-MN,1971-91)
1923 Ahmet Ertegun CEO (Atlantic Records)
1932 Ted Cassidy, Pittsburgh PA, actor (Lurch-Addams Family)
1929 Don Murray Calif, actor (Bus Stop, Advise & Consent, Endless Love)
1939 France Nuyen Marselles France, actress (St Elsewhere, Diamond Head)
1943 William Bennett US Secretary of Education (1985-88)/drug czar/radoi talk show
1944 Geraldine Chaplin Santa Monica Ca, actress (Dr Zhivago, 3 Musketeers)
1946 Bob Welch rocker (Fleetwood Mac-Oh Well)
1946 Gary Lewis Jerry's son, singer, (& The Playboys-This Diamond Ring)
1951 Barry Van Dyke Atlanta Ga, actor (Lt Dillon-Battlestar Galactica)
1951 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Australia, tennis player (Wimbeldon 1971)
1957 Dirk Blocker LA Calif, actor (Baa Baa Black Sheep, Ryan's Four)
1962 Sandra "Sweetness" Hodge basketball player (Harlem Globetrotters)
The very model of a modern major-general?
free dixie,duckie/sw
LAFAYETTE, Marie Jean Paul Joseph Roche Yves Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de, French soldier, born at the castle of Chavagnac, in Auvergne, 6 Sept., 1757" died in Paris, 20 May, 1834. The family has been for more than three centuries distinguished in French history. The subject of this article was son of Michel Roche Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, colonel of grenadiers, who was killed in the battle of Min-den, 1 Aug., 1759, and Marie Louise, daughter of Joseph Yves Hyacinthe, Marquis de la Riviere. In 1768 he was taken by his mother to Paris, and entered the College of Louis-le-Grand. In 1770 the death of his mother and grandfather left him with a very large fortune. He became a page to the queen Marie Leczinska, and through her influence received a lieutenant's commission in the royal musketeers, a body of soldiers charged with the defense of the king's person. He married, 11 April, 1774, Anastasie Adrienne de Noailles. second daughter of the Duke d'Ayen, afterward Duke de Noailles.
Having been commissioned a captain of artillery in a regiment stationed at Metz, toward the end of 1776 he happened to meet at dinner the Duke of Gloucester, brother of George III., and heard of the Declaration of Independence and other events that had lately occurred in the United States. An enthusiastic sentiment of devotion to "liberty" and the "rights of man" was then growing up among youthful Frenchmen in all classes of society. Many young officers were eager to go to America, some from an intelligent interest in the cause at stake there, others from a love of romantic adventure or a desire to strike a blow at the English in revenge for the disasters of the Seven Years' War. This last motive was strongly operative at court, though opinion was far from unanimous there. Louis XVI. had no sympathy with Americans or with rebels, and was fond of repeating the humorous remark of his brother-in-law, Joseph II. : " I am a royalist by my trade, you know."
The policy of Choiseul, however, which would leave no stone unturned to undo the work of the Seven years' war and weaken the colonial empire of England, found favor with Marie Antoinette, as well as with Count Vergennes, the able minister of foreign affairs. Caution was needed, however. It was no part of the policy of Vergennes to run the risk of a quarrel with Great Britain until it should become quite clear that the American alliance was, from a military point of view, worth having. For the present, accordingly, he contented himself with sending secret aid to the Americans in the shape of money, arms, and ammunition. This aid was furnished through the agency of the famous author, Beaumarchais (q. v.), and in such a manner that the government might officially pretend to be ignorant of what was going on. In this surreptitious way as early as the spring of 1777 a large quantity of military stores had been conveyed to America, and had been followed by such officers as Pulaski, La Rouerie, and some fifty others. The Duke of Montmorency-Laval and other young nobles asked the king's permission to go to America; but it was refused, and for the sake of keeping up appearances the refusal had something of the air of a reprimand. It was necessary, therefore, for Lafayette to proceed with caution when he made up his mind, as the result of the conversation at Netz, to cross the ocean and offer his services to congress. He consulted with the Baron de Kalb, who was cherishing a similar intention. De Kalb introduced him to Silas Deane, who gave him, 7 Dec., 1776, a letter of introduction to congress, in which he alluded to the great dignity and influence of Lafayette's family, and asked for him a major-general's commission. Lafayette now proceeded secretly and at his own expense to fit out a vessel at Bordeaux, but his preparations were somewhat delayed by the necessity of making a journey to London in company with the Prince de Poix. He did not think it best to decline the invitation to this journey for fear of exciting suspicion as to his real plans. While at London, hearing of Washington's victories at Trenton and Princeton, he expressed such keen pleasure as to attract the notice of Lord Shelburne, the warm friend of the Americans. Madame de Lafayette's uncle, the Marquis de Noailles, was then the French ambassador at the court of St. James, and every word and action of his young visitor was sure to be carefully watched and weighed. After three weeks he returned secretly to Paris, leaving it to be supposed that he was still in England, while, to keep up the concealment as long as possible, the Marquis de Noailles explained his nonappearance in society by spreading a report that he was slightly ill. After three days at De Kalb's house in Paris, Lafayette went on to Bordeaux. There he learned that the court had information of his movements and had issued an order for his arrest. To avoid this he sailed with his ship to Passage, a Spanish port, where his preparations were completed.
Here he received letters from his family and the ministry which led him to return for a short, time to Bordeaux. A letter which he now wrote to the government, begging permission to proceed with his enterprise, remained unanswered. In a private letter to Maurepas, he observed that "silence gives consent," and he should go on. There was more than mere pleasantry in this. He doubtless understood well enough that the royal disapproval of his movements was in great part assumed for the sake of appearances. He set sail from Pasage, 26 April, 1777, taking with him De Kalb and eleven other officers, and landed, 14 June, at Georgetown, S. C., whence he proceeded to Charleston. After a journey of more than a month on horseback he arrived in Philadelphia, where congress was in session. Congress was at that time beset with so many applications from foreign officers in quest of adventure, and in some instances, as in that of Du Coudray (q. v.), these applications led to so much jealousy and discontent that Lafayette at first met with a rather cold reception ; but, after he had declared his wish to serve as a volunteer and at his own expense, Congress (31 July, 1777) appointed him major-general....(snip)
Much more can be found at
http://www.marquisdelafayette.net/
Ha! Thanks alfa6.
Good morning Don.
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