Vincent R. Capodanno

Vincent Robert Capodanno
  A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. The ribbon is similar in shape to a bowtie with 13 white stars in the center of the ribbon.
Nickname(s) "The Grunt Padre"
Born (1929-02-13)February 13, 1929
Staten Island, New York
Died September 4, 1967(1967-09-04) (aged 38)
Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam
Buried Saint Peters Cemetery, West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy Reserve
Years of service 1965 - 1967
Rank Lieutenant
Unit Navy Chaplain Corps
3rd Battalion 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Battles/wars Vietnam War †
Awards Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal w/ Combat "V"
Purple Heart Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ silver star

Vincent Robert Capodanno (February 13, 1929 – September 4, 1967) was a Roman Catholic priest who was killed in action in 1967 while serving as a United States Navy chaplain assigned to a Marine Corps infantry unit during the Vietnam War. He was a posthumous recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty.

Biography

Vincent R. Capodanno was born on Staten Island, New York, on February 13, 1929. He was the tenth child of Italian immigrants.[1] He graduated from Curtis High School, Staten Island on February 4, 1947, and attended Fordham University for a year. In 1949, he entered the Maryknoll Missionary Seminary in Ossining, New York.[2] He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on June 14, 1958.

Father Capodanno's first assignment was in 1959 as a missionary was with aboriginal Taiwanese in the mountains of Taiwan where he served in a parish and later in a school.[3] After seven years, Father Capodanno returned to the United States for leave and then was assigned to a Maryknoll school in Hong Kong.

Military service

On December 28, 1965, Father Capodanno received his commission as a lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps. He then requested to serve with the Fleet Marine Force (FMF), in Vietnam. After some training to serve within the Marine Corps, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, First Marine Division in South Vietnam, in April 1966.[4] In December, he was transferred to the 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division until his year's tour was completed, and then extended for another tour of duty in South Vietnam.[5]

In June 1967, he arrived in Vietnam, and in July was assigned 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. In August, he was assigned to H&S Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in Vietnam. On September 4, 1967, at 4:30 am, 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 Army (NVA) unit of approximately 2,500 men near the village of Dong Son. The outnumbered and disorganized Company D of the 1st Battalion was in need of reinforcements. By 9:14 am, 26 Marines were confirmed dead, and two rifle companies from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines was committed to the battle. At 9:25 am, the commander of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine requested further reinforcements.

When he heard that two platoons of M Company from his battalion was taking casualties and about to be overrun by the enemy, Father Capodanno went among the wounded and dying Marines of Second Platoon, helping them and giving last rites. He was wounded in the hand, arms, and legs. Refusing medical aid, he went to help a seriously wounded Navy corpsman and two wounded Marines only yards from an enemy machine gun and was killed;[6]15 Marines and 2 corpsmen also were killed.[7] His body was recovered and interred in his family's plot in Saint Peters Cemetery, West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York.[8][9]

On December 27, 1968, 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.[10]

Cause for canonization

On May 19, 2002, Capodanno's Cause for Canonization was officially opened, and 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, later renamed Mission Capodanno, 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. On October 13, 2013 Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D. of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA presided over the formal renewal of the opening of the Cause for Beatification of Father Capodanno. Archbishop Broglio announced at this time that the newly established Father Vincent Capodanno Guild would serve as the Petitioner of the Cause and Dr. Ambrosi as Roman Postulator.[11][12]

Military awards

Father Capodanno's awards and decorations include:

A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars
V
Bronze eagle atop globe covering anchor
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal w/ Combat "V" Purple Heart Medal Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal w/ FMF Combat Operations Insignia and three  3⁄16" bronze stars
Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross) w/ Palm and Frame Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions) w/ Palm and Frame Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 1960- device

Medal of Honor citation

Father Capodanno's official Medal of Honor citation is as follows:

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

LIEUTENANT VINCENT R CAPODONNO

UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following

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 multiple painful 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.[13]


/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

Honors and namings

USS Capodanno

Certificate of Papal Blessing
Memorial to Father Vincent Capodanno
Another memorial to Father Vincent Capodanno, Fort Wadsworth, New York

USS Capodanno (FF-1093) was named in honor of Lieutenant Capodanno.[14] The Capodanno was commissioned September 17, 1973, and was decommissioned July 30, 1993, and sold to Turkey. It became the first ship in the U.S fleet to receive a Papal Blessing when it was blessed by Pope John Paul II in Naples, Italy, September 4, 1981.

New York City honors

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 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 Midland Avenue 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 was completed in 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

See also

References

Specific
General
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