Tim Vakoc
Henry Timothy "Tim" Vakoc ("VAH-kitch") (January 8, 1960–June 20, 2009) was a Roman Catholic priest and a United States Army chaplain during the Iraq War, attaining the rank of major.[1] Vakoc was the first U.S. military chaplain to die from wounds received in the Iraq War. He died on June 20, 2009, from wounds received in the Iraq War in 2004, when his Humvee was struck by an IED (improvised explosive device) as he was returning from celebrating Mass for soldiers. He was also the first documented U.S. Army chaplain seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom.[2]
Early years
Vakoc was born on January 8, 1960 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.[3] He graduated in 1978 from Benilde-St. Margaret's School, Minneapolis.[4] He graduated from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota[4] and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Seminary and priesthood
He attended Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. On May 29, 1992, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest, for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Vakoc's first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Charles Borromeo Church, in St. Anthony, Minn. (1992–1993). He later served as associate pastor of St. John Neumann Church, in Eagan, Minn. (1993–1996). He left that post to join the Army.[4]
Military service
Vakoc became an Army chaplain in 1996, receiving his commission as a lieutenant in the Army chaplain corps.[2] He was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo., where he served for three and a half years. He was then assigned as chaplain for the 44th Corps Support Battalion from Fort Lewis, Wash. The 44th provided logistical support to the Fort Lewis-based units in northern Iraq, including the Task Force Olympia headquarters and the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the Army's first Stryker vehicle brigade. The 44th was sent to Iraq in November 2003.[4]
While in Iraq Vakoc endeavored to celebrate Mass for all Catholic soldiers in the 296th Brigade Support Battalion — stationed in Mosul — no matter where they were located, in an area the size of Connecticut, sometimes for only two or three soldiers in remote outposts.[5] In a letter to his sister, Vakoc said, "The safest place for me to be is in the center of God's will, and if that is in the line of fire, that is where I will be."[5]
Vakoc was injured on Saturday, May 29, 2004 — the twelfth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood — while returning from saying Mass for soldiers in the field in Iraq when his Humvee struck a roadside bomb (IED). He sustained a severe brain injury. He was treated at an Army field hospital in Baghdad and was then evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. On June 2, 2004, he was transported to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.[2][4]
Post-injury
Vakoc received the Purple Heart in his room at Walter Reed Army Medical Center during a private ceremony limited to immediate family members, Army personnel, and then-U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, who presented the medal.[2] Due to the seriousness of Vakoc's injuries and his unstable condition, Coleman was able to expedite the granting of the award.[2]
After several months, he was transferred to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center,[6] where he lay in a coma for six months. In the late spring of 2005, he began to show signs of improvement. With the help of the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a special computer was donated so that he could communicate with others. On June 1, 2005, a flag — signed by Vakoc and his unit — was given to him. His first message to the visitors who presented the flag was "TIM 4F" (the military code for unfit for duty) and then "OK".[6]
Death
Vakoc died on June 20, 2009. His body was interred in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.[5][7]
Awards and decorations
Vakoc was awarded the following medals:[8]
Honors
On June 1, 2007, Vakoc received the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity.[9]
In spring 2011, the Father H. Timothy Vakoc Council 15269 received its charter from the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus. The council is located at Fort Carson, Colorado, and is one of more than sixty K of C military councils in the world.[10]
See also
- ^ Lasker, John (November 6, 2009). "Priests in the Military: A Controversy?". (at "Take care of my men"). CatholicMil.org. http://www.catholicmil.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1545:priests-in-the-military-a-controversy&catid=34:chaplain-testimonies&Itemid=70. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ a b c d e Minnesota Army Chaplain Timothy Vakoc receives Purple Heart", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), July 5, 2004. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ "Brave Catholic Army chaplain dies from injuries suffered in Iraq", Catholic News Agency, June 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ a b c d e "Humor and Guts: Stories abound about injured priest hero", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 20, 2004. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ a b c Drake, Tim, "Chaplain Dies After Being Wounded in Iraq" (including photo of Vakoc celebrating Mass in the field), NCRegister.com, June 22, 2009. Circle Media, Inc. (National Catholic Register). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ a b "Flag Presented to Fr. Vakoc", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 1, 2005 (posted June 6, 2007). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator - Henry Timothy Vakoc
- ^ "Chaplain Dies From Iraq War Injuries, Priest Embraced God's Will in Line of Fire", ZENIT.org, June 22, 2009 (posted on EWTNews, EWTN.com, June 23, 2009). ZENIT.org News Agency. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ "Father Tim Vakoc dies; remembered as 'a man of peace' ", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ "Catholic Man of the Month: Father H. Timothy Vakoc (1960–2009)". Columbia (magazine) (Knights of Columbus): 5. November 2011.
References
External links
- Pronechen, Joseph, "In Iraq, Soldiers Find Their Greatest Allies in Chaplains", NCRegister.com, May 30, 2004. Circle Media, Inc. (National Catholic Register). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Humor and Guts: Stories abound about injured priest hero", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 20, 2004. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Minnesota Army Chaplain Timothy Vakoc receives Purple Heart", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), July 5, 2004. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Updated on Chaplain Timothy Vakoc", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), September 2, 2004. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Flag Presented to Fr. Vakoc", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 1, 2005 (posted June 6, 2007). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Archbishop O'Brien Prays for Chaplain Timothy Vakoc at Mass for Military Chaplains", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), December 16, 2005. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Wounded Chaplain Vakoc Awarded Bronze Star, Retired From Army", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), January 15, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Priest, injured in Iraq, utters first words in over 2 years", Catholic News Agency, November 9, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Lerner, Maura, "December 17, 2006: A prayer for Father Tim: Drawn to the Minnesota priest who was gravely wounded in Iraq, a devoted circle of supporters has seen small miracles in his slow healing", Star Tribune, December 18, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Wounded Chaplain's Friends Keep Vigil", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), February 10, 2007 (posted March 9, 2008). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Army Priest Accepts His Cross", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), February 28, 2007 (posted March 1, 2007). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Chaplain Injured in Iraq Receives Seminary's Distinguished Alumnus Award", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), May 30, 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Chao Xiong, "Priest gravely wounded in Iraq in 2004 dies: Five years after being gravely wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq, the Rev. Tim Vakoc, a well-known and much-loved Roman Catholic priest from Minnesota, has died", Star Tribune , June 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Chaplain Dies From Iraq War Injuries, Priest Embraced God's Will in Line of Fire", ZENIT.org, June 22, 2009 (posted on EWTNews, EWTN.com, June 23, 2009). ZENIT.org News Agency. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Henry Timothy Vakoc / New Hope, Minnesota / June 20, 2009", Iraq/Afghanistan War Heroes, June 22, 2009. Q Madp, Portland, Ore. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Brave Catholic Army chaplain dies from injuries suffered in Iraq", Catholic News Agency, June 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Father Tim Vakoc dies; remembered as 'a man of peace' ", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Lerner, Maura, "Hundreds paid respects to the Rev. Timothy Vakoc at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Gravely injured in Iraq in 2004, he died last Saturday at 49", Star Tribune, June 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Audio Slide Show: A prayer for Father Tim", StarTribune.com, June 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Chaplain (Major) Henry T. Vakoc, Retired", caringbridge.com, August 21, 2009. CaringBridge, Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Alice Practice (June 9, 2009). "Maj Henry Timothy Vakoc". Military Chaplain. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38603062. Retrieved July 25, 2011.