Emil Kapaun

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.

Kapaun was a chaplain in the Burma Theater of World War II, then served again as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in Korea, where he was captured.

He died in a prisoner of war camp.

Emil Joseph Kapaun was born on April 20, 1916, and grew up on a farm 3 mi southwest of Pilsen, Kansas, on rural 260th Street of Marion County, Kansas.

His parents, Enos and Elizabeth (Hajek) Kapaun, were Czech immigrants.

He graduated from Pilsen High School in May 1930.

Kapaun also graduated from Conception Abbey seminary college (College of New Engleberg; Conception Seminary College) in Conception, Missouri, in June 1936 and Kenrick Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1940.

On October 9, the division crossed the 38th parallel into North Korea, capturing the capital of Pyongyang and advancing to within 50 mi of the Chinese border.

Throughout the months of fighting, Kapaun gained a reputation for bravely serving the troops, rescuing the wounded and dead, and ministering to the living by performing baptisms, hearing confessions, offering Holy Communion and celebrating Mass on an improvised altar set up on the front end of a Jeep.

Several times his Mass kit Jeep and trailer were destroyed by enemy fire.

In letters home, he shared that he was thoroughly convinced that others' prayers helped him survive.

The United Nations forces progressed northward but were met by a surprise intervention by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA).

On June 9, 1940, Kapaun was ordained a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Wichita by Bishop Christian Herman Winkelmann at what is now Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.

He celebrated his first Mass at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Pilsen, Kansas.

In January 1943, Kapaun was appointed auxiliary chaplain at the Herington Army Airfield near Herington, Kansas.

In December 1943, Kapaun was appointed priest.

Kapaun entered the U.S. Army Chaplain School at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts in August 1944, and after graduating in October began his military chaplaincy at Camp Wheeler, Georgia.

He and one other chaplain ministered to approximately 19,000 servicemen and women.

He was sent to India and served in the Burma Theater from April 1945 to May 1946.

He ministered to U.S. soldiers and local missions, sometimes traversing nearly 2,000 mi a month by jeep or airplane.

He was promoted to captain in January 1946.

He was released from active duty in July 1946.

Under the G.I. Bill, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Education at Catholic University of America in February 1948.

In September 1948, he returned to active duty in the U.S. Army and resumed his chaplaincy at Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas.

In December 1949, Kapaun left his parents and Pilsen for the last time, bound for Japan.

In January 1950, Kapaun became a chaplain in the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, often performing battle drills near Mount Fuji, Japan.

On July 15, 1950, the 1st Cavalry Division and Kapaun embarked and left Tokyo Bay sailing for Korea, less than a month after North Korea had invaded South Korea.

The 1st Cavalry Division made the first amphibious landing in the Korean War on July 18, 1950.

The Division was soon moved up to help slow the North Korean Korean People's Army (KPA)'s advance until more reinforcements could arrive.

The Division engaged in several skirmishes with the KPA but had to retreat each time.

Kapaun and his assistant learned of a wounded soldier stranded by enemy machine gun and small arms fire during one of these retreats.

Knowing that no litter bearers were available, the two braved enemy fire and saved the man's life, for which Kapaun was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with a "V" device for valor.

The KPA continued to push the U.S. forces back into a perimeter around the port city of Pusan.

Kapaun continued to make the rounds to encourage and pray with the troops of the 8th Regiment.

His main complaint was lack of sleep for several weeks at a time.

Finally, in mid-September and after the landing at Inchon, Kapaun and the rest of the United Nations Command forces broke out of the perimeter and pursued the KPA northward.

In 1993, Pope John Paul II declared him a Servant of God, the first stage on the path to canonization.

In 2013, Kapaun posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea.

He is the ninth American military chaplain Medal of Honor recipient.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced Kapaun's body was accounted for on March 2, 2021.