The miracle of father kapaun to be presented on stage in august. Bishop christian winkelmann ordained father kapaun as a roman catholic priest for the diocese of wichita on june 9, 1940. Nov 03, 2015 father richard erikson takes a look at the life and ministry of captain chaplain father emil joseph kapaun, recipient of the medal of honor and servant of god. The first, which occupies the book s first hundred or so pages, is the story of father emil kapaun, a kansasborn catholic priest who volunteers for service in the korean war, despite having served in world war ii, and is captured by. Kapaun is a folk hero in these parts, and devotion to him is a mainstay among local catholics, including the kear family. The record of military chaplains is a special category in the service of god and the men who fight, even a service to their enemies, as is the witness of father kapaun s death in a prison camp reminds us. Emil kapaun celebrates mass for soldiers at herington air base, kan. He attended kenrick seminary from 1936 until his graduation in 1940. I was overjoyed with the news and knew that our whole family had to go. And then as the enemy soldier watched, stunned, father kapaun.
Amazingly, father kapaun baptized some of the prisoners during his time in the camps. Father richard erikson takes a look at the life and ministry of captain chaplain father emil joseph kapaun, recipient of the medal of honor and servant of god. It was after father kapaun saw the need for military chaplains while serving at the herington air base that he. Pilgrimage to pilsen among events marking year of father. He came home after school about a month ago and told me that his class would be making a pilgrimage to pilsen. President obama awards medal of honor to father emil. The kapauns men initiative to support the 2019 kapauns men video project fund, please select kapauns men video series from the designation dropdown menu.
Vicenza, italy may 7, 2020 a small, virtual gathering of italian eyewitnesses occurred last week in the u. Kapaun, who died in a north korean prisoner of war. If you really want to make a pilgrimage to father kapauns shrine, our diocese hosts a 70 mile hike from wichita to pilsen every spring. John paul ii, and received the medal of honor by president obama in 20, the highest military honor awarded by the united states. He was awarded posthumously the medal of honor, the nations highest military award, and is also being considered by the vatican for canonization as a saint. Pilgrimage to pilsen among events marking year of father kapaun.
John paul ii, and received the medal of honor by president obama in 20, the highest. Father kapauns valley is a facebook page for information and development on the original spec screenplay father kapauns valley a biopic. For more on father kapauns life, download the story of father. It was after father kapaun saw the need for military chaplains while. Medal of honor for us army chaplain father kapaun bbc news.
Emil joseph kapaun april 20, 1916 may 23, 1951 was a roman catholic priest and united states army captain who served as a united states army chaplain during world war ii and the korean war. Emil kapaunpriest, soldier and korean war herowas a rare man. Nov 14, 2014 i dont know why it took so long for me to make the journey to father kapaun s shrine, but i can honestly thank my son, benedict, for getting me there. The cause for the canonization of father emil kapaun, an army chaplain who died while in a north korean prisoner of war camp in 1951, will be officially opened on june 29. Born of czech immigrants in the small farming town of pilsen, kansas, in 1916, emil joseph kapaun was ordained a priest in 1940 and served as an army chaplain in burma in world war ii. I am hoping to make at least part of the journey this fall with the older boys. Father kapaun had several chances to get out, warrant officer john funston later told a catholic priest who collected accounts of kapauns actions.
John nepomucene catholic church in pilsen, kansas houses a museum devoted to father emil kapaun. Pilsen was a tiny town of less than 100 people named after the city of pizen in the czech republic. President obama awards medal of honor to father emil kapaun. Kapaun is a folk hero in these parts, and devotion to him is a mainstay among. Although he had only one sibling, his family was one of the poorest in the town, and hard work and industry were necessities on the kapauns farm. Father emil kapaun right and a doctor carry an exhausted soldier off a battlefield in korea, early in the war. Carmel pray for the continued progress of father kapauns sainthood through the chaplain emil kapaun, servant of god, prayer. Army garrison italy public affairs office to recall the liberation of italy and. Chinese troops, however, had infiltrated to within a short distance of them.
The starvation and deprivations at last took their toll. The father kapuan story has long been in need of more widespread knowledge. Father kapaun guild donate now catholic diocese of wichita. Emil joseph kapaun april 20, 1916 may 23, 1951 was a roman catholic priest and united. It even includes kapaun s own voice from old radio sermons he gave. Despite numerous testimonies confirming his bravery, the medal of honor the nations highest military honor has eluded father kapaun. The walk is for any man, woman or child willing to walk in honor of father kapaun. We ask you to join us in prayer and in sharing father kapauns story with the rest of the world. The record of military chaplains is a special category in the service of god and the men who fight, even a service to their enemies, as is the witness of father kapauns death in a prison camp reminds us. Washington army news service, april 11, 20 an army chaplain, capt.
The communists claimed it was a hospital, but, instead, it was known and feared as the death house. Bishop higgins flew to wichita, ks, and accompanied father john hotze to pilsen where he was the principal celebrant for the liturgy on this 5th annual military pilgrimage to father kapauns. Emil kapaun, an army chaplain who was awarded the medal of honor in 20 for refusing to abandon u. Kapaun was a chaplain in the burma theater of world war ii, then served again as a chaplain with the u. Feb 21, 2017 emil joseph kapaun was born on a farm near pilsen, kansas, in 1916. Its hard to imagine more desperate and humiliating circumstances, yet this priest was able to demonstrate the eternal love of god even in the. Kapauns men is a program supported by the father emil kapaun guild of the catholic diocese of wichita. During the korean war, captain emil kapaun was the catholic chaplain assigned to the 3rd battalion of the 8th cavalry. Carved and painted at a studio in northern italy, the statue will eventually grace the entryway of st. Roy wenzl is an awardwinning reporter for the wichita eagle. Official facebook page for the father kapaun guild. A saint among us, the father kapaun guild, hillsboro free press, hillsboro, ks, 2006 about the author. Medal of honor awarded to army chaplain article the. The miracle of father kapaun to be presented on stage in.
The true story of father emil kapaun, the cowboy priest from kansas who became an army chaplain and a medalofhonorwinning hero in the korean war. Emil kapauns nephew ray kapaun, 56, will accept the medal of honor on his uncles behalf. The miracle of father kapaun to be presented on stage in august newman university and the vagabond players will present the miracle of father kapaun, on friday, aug. The first, which occupies the books first hundred or so pages, is the story of father emil kapaun, a kansasborn catholic priest who volunteers for service in the korean war, despite having served in world war ii, and. Medal of honor awarded to army chaplain article the united. In the camps that winter, deep in a valley, men could freeze to death in their sleep. At 140 pages, wenzl and heying s the miracles of father kapaun is a slim book by any standard. Sharing the life of servant of god, chaplain emil kapaun, korean war hero and medal of honor winner.
Less than a month later, kapaun would, without regard for his own life, save a fellow soldier from certain deathcourtesy us army. Under investigation by the vatican as a necessary step in the process of canonization, these cures witnessed by noncatholic doctors are also covered in this book. Emil kapaun was born in 1916 on a rural farm in kansas, to parents of germanbohemian ancestry. At sunrise on easter sunday, march 25, 1951, father emil kapaun startled pows by donning his purple priests stole and openly carrying a catholic prayer missal, borrowed from ralph nardella. Recognition finally for a warrior priests heroics bbc news. Kapauns battalion, having suffered some 400 casualties among its roster of 700 soldiers, was placed in a reserve position. If you live outside the united states and would like to make a contribution by credit card, please contact our office at 316. Meanwhile, the effort of father hotze and the diocese of wichita to win canonisation for kapaun, which father hotze launched in 2001, has moved to rome. Emil joseph kapaun was born on a farm near pilsen, kansas, in 1916. The story of father kapaun and the quest to elevate him to sainthood began in september 1953.
When prisoners who knew him were released at the end of the korean war, a band of scroungy looking americans carrying emil kapauns gold ciborium and a rugged wooden. At 140 pages, wenzl and heyings the miracles of father kapaun is a slim book by any standard. Italy comprises some of the most varied and scenic landscapes on earth and is often described as a country shaped like a boot. Father kapauns valley is a facebook page for information and development on the original spec screenplay father kapauns valley. The medal of honor, the nation s highest military award for bravery, will be awa rded to the priest posthumously at the white house april 11. The medal of honor, the nations highest military award for bravery, will be awa rded to the priest posthumously at the white house april 11. It is open for tours by appointment, along with the beautiful, adjacent church. Apr 11, 20 father kapaun had several chances to get out, warrant officer john funston later told a catholic priest who collected accounts of kapaun s actions in korea, but he wouldnt take them. Then there are the alleged miraclesthe recent healings attributed to father kapauns intercession that defy scientific explanation. For more information on father emil kapaun and his cause for canonization, visit.
This man was father emil kapaun, a kansasborn priest who served as an army chaplain in wwii and korea. Ray has heard about the push to have his uncle awarded the medal since he was a child. Emil kapaunpriest, soldier and korean war herois a rare man. On all souls day, november 2, 1950, this battalion of 3,000 soldiers was unexpectedly attacked by a force of more than 20,000 chinese troops. Army chaplain father emil joseph kapaun, who died may 23, 1951, in a north korean prisoner of war camp, is pictured in an undated photo celebrating mass in south korea. He had talked atheist guards into letting him hold an easter service, a favor they soon. Chases hometown of colwich is only 60 miles from where emil kapauns was born and raised, although the distance feels shorter since the region is so tightknit. As one of father kapauns comrades said when he heard the news, its about time. At its broad top stand the alps, which are among the worlds most rugged mountains. The inside story of the serial killer next door harper collins, 2007 and a coproducer of the documentary film the miracle of father kapaun travis heying, a photographer, reporter and war correspondent for the wichita eagle, earned acclaim for his. Father emil kapaun, class of 1940 kenrickglennon seminary. Jan, 2016 chases hometown of colwich is only 60 miles from where emil kapauns was born and raised, although the distance feels shorter since the region is so tightknit.
The film deftly weaves the narratives of his life, his war exploits, and his current cause for sainthood with a touching depth of emotion. What s more, the authors have managed to make it two books in one. Apr 17, 2012 meanwhile, the effort of father hotze and the diocese of wichita to win canonisation for kapaun, which father hotze launched in 2001, has moved to rome. It even includes kapauns own voice from old radio sermons he gave. Jun 15, 2008 the cause for the canonization of father emil kapaun, an army chaplain who died while in a north korean prisoner of war camp in 1951, will be officially opened on june 29. Italy s highest points are along monte rosa, which peaks in switzerland, and. This pilgrimage is a 60mile trek over 4 days and 3 nights to father kapauns hometown of pilsen, kansas that commemorates the forced march that father kapaun and his men had to make to the prisoner of war camp in korea. This pilgrimage is a 60mile trek over 4 days and 3 nights to father kapaun s hometown of pilsen, kansas that commemorates the forced march that father kapaun and his men had to make to the prisoner of war camp in korea. Monument unveiled in korea for medal of honor recipient. Korean american partisan and airborne chapter of the. Apr 11, 20 as one of father kapauns comrades said when he heard the news, its about time.
Jul 26, 20 washington army news service, april 11, 20 an army chaplain, capt. The longer we were in the valley, the rougher it got, and the rougher it got, the gentler father kapaun became. The true story of father emil kapaun, the cowboy priest from kansas who became an army chaplain and a medalofhonorwinning hero in the korean war before being martyred in a communist pow camp. Father kapaun was declared a servant of god in 1993 by pope st. Kapaun, was posthumously awarded the medal of honor, thursday, for his actions leading up to his capture as a. Father emil kapauns cause for sainthood to be officially opened. Our family pilgrimage to father kapauns home 7 qt friday. Father emil kapauns cause for sainthood to be officially. He is being awarded the medal of honor, the nations highest military award, and is also being considered by the vatican for canonization as a saint.
Salute january 2008 by archdiocese for the military. The miracle of father kapaun priest, soldier, and korean war hero by roy wenzl and travis heying. In december 1949, kapaun left his parents and pilsen for the last time, bound for japan. Italy, country of southcentral europe, occupying a peninsula that juts deep into the mediterranean sea. May 25, 2016 eventually, like so many others in the camp, kapauns health broke.