My Fighting Congregation

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by CHAPLAIN WILLIAM. Foreword: THE STORY of the service of our army chaplains goes back to our American Revolution, when General George Washing ton appointed the first clergyman as a chaplain. Since 1776, in peace as well as in war, clergymen of all faiths have served in the armed forces. Never before, however, in the history of our nation has there been so great a need for the spiritual guidance of the Church than in this world struggle against the forces of brutality and aggression. For this is a war against hatred, persecution, and godlessness a war against a combination of evil men who would take from us the very liberties for which our forefathers came to this land. If we are to succeed in this titanic battle for God s truth and justice on earth, then we must be guided by His wisdom and strength ened by His power. Just as have all Americans, so the members of the various religious faiths have given generously of their personnel so that in our camps, at home, at bases throughout the world, particularly In the midst of battle, our men may have near tliem, whenever possible, a clergyman of their own faith. Although the experiences of only one of our chaplains are used by the writer, Christopher Cross, in My Fighting Congregation this vividly mirrors the work of all our chaplains now serving throughout the world. My Fighting Congregation I hope will give the people a clearer understanding of the work of our chaplains and of the for clergymen of faith, courage, and self-sacrificing devotion, WILLIAM R. ARNOLD. Introduction: I AM NO book-writing minister, I told the Doubleday, Doran Company when they suggested that I write about my experiences as a chaplain with the United States Army Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific. I want to be just as honest with my readers as I was with the publishers, I have merely related to Christopher Cross those incidents, observations, and experiences that seem important to me, Mr. Cross has organized the material into this book. We hear much about how our Army is the best fed and best clothed in the world. This has given great comfort to millions of parents, wives, and relatives of our servicemen. Often when I was privileged to help an American soldier I thought how happy his folks would be to know that their boy s spiritual needs are also satisfied even though he is thousands of miles from home. It is my hope that by relating my experiences Americans everywhere will gain new comfort from the knowledge that i their boys are Acre is a chaplain within call to a service to them in prayer to give comfort to the sick and troubled and to give buxial whenever possible according to the dictates of their own religion, to those of our must die. no while I was on the Pacific, in Java, and Australia. There was little time for that. I have, therefore, had to on letters, my memory, and to a large extent on the co-operation of the men of the I9th Bombardment Group who returned, and the relatives of those who did not In this invaluable assistance was given by Colo nti Richard Carmichael, Major John H. M. Smith, Staff Henry Vierow, Lieutenant Alva S. HascaD, Lieu-James Worley, and many others. For their co-operation my sincere gratitude to Chaplain William R...