Word Celebrity Blog

Vincent R. Capodanno



Early Life

Vincent R. Capodanno was born in Staten Island, New York, on February 13, 1929. He was the youngest of the nine children of Vincent R. and Rachel Capodanno, Sr. His father died when he was only ten years old and the family struggled to support themselves. He graduated from Curtis High School, Staten Island.

Vincent attended Fordham University for a year before entering the Maryknoll Missionary seminary in Ossining, New York. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in June 1957.
 
Father Capodanno's first assignment as a missionary was with aboriginal Taiwanese in the mountains of Taiwan where he served in a parish and later in a school. After seven years, Father Capodanno returned to the United States for a six month leave and then was assigned to a Maryknoll school in Hong Kong. 

In 1965 he sought permission to join the Navy Chaplain Corps intending to serve the increasing number of Marine troops in Vietnam.


Military Service

























Maryknoll granted his request, and Father Capodanno was inducted into the U.S. Navy.

























In December 1965, after finishing Officer Candidate School,  Father Capodanno received his commission as a lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps. He was assigned to the First Marine Division in Vietnam in April 1966.

As the chaplain for the battalion, his immediate focus was the young enlisted troops or “Grunts.”  Later transferred to a medical unit, Leutenant Capodanno was more than a priest ministering within the horrific arena of war.  He became a constant companion to the Marines:  living, eating, and sleeping in the same conditions of the men.























Capt. Strichker, Lt. Dunnigan, and Lt. (Father) Capadonno.



Leutenant Capodanno established libraries for the men. He also gathered and distributed gifts along with organizing outreach programs to help the local villagers.






















He spent hours reassuring the weary and disillusioned, consoling the grieving, hearing confessions, instructing converts, and distributing St. Christopher medals. He was respected and revered by those he served with.

Such work “energized” him, and he requested an extension to remain with the Marines.  It was during the extension time that he had requested, that Leutenant Vincent Capodanno made the ultimate sacrifice.


























At 4:30 am, September 4, 1967, 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 unit of approximately 2500 men near the village of Dong Son. The outnumbered and disorganized Company D was in need of reinforcements.

By 9:14 am, twenty-six Marines were confirmed dead and another company of Marines was committed to the battle. At 9:25 am, the commander of 1st Battalion 5th Marine requested further reinforcements.

Leutenant  Capodanno went among the wounded and dying, giving last rites and taking care of his Marines. He had been shot in the hand earlier in the day but stayed in the field with his men. Later a mortar shell exploded near him, severely injuring his arm and Wounded in the faces. Still he stayed. He ministered to all those that he could get to.

His death came from machine gun fire as he tried to help a wounded corpsman. He had 27 bullet wounds in the back, neck and head. He died faithfully performing his final act as a good and faithful servant of God.


























The recollection by former marine Ray Harton, Mike Company, 3/5 (3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment) on what happened that day -"Sometime late afternoon we heard scattered fire, we had stopped close to a small hill. Sgt. Peters came running up and told us 1st Platoon had been hit hard and we were going to help them. We ran some, walked some and approached the top of the hill and the carnage started. All I can remember is Sgt. Peters screaming, "Get that Gun!" and I was hit in the left arm that spun me to the ground, another shot shattered my rifle. I was screaming, along with other members of my squad, we were being shot at every move we made."

"The machine gun was close, 15 to 25 yards away, in a thicket, part way down the far slope of the small hill or knoll I called it. This very hard for me. I can remember seeing the North Vietnamese troops moving and coming toward me, there were Marines lying all around me, and I was calling for help, while with every beat of my fast pumping heart, my life blood was spurting on the ground. I could hear someone holler "Corpsman!" but every time I would move, that gun would shoot at me, and the other Marines. At a distance, I could see Doc Leal moving from Marine to Marine, and he was looking at me. I knew I was going to die, I was not able to defend myself, and the NVA were coming after me, that was my fear."

"Through all the noise and hearing myself scream, someone touched me. I had rolled myself on my left side to put pressure on my left arm and elbow, and someone touched me, it was Father Vince. As I looked into his eyes, all things got silent. Not a sound could be heard. No screaming, nothing but the sound of his soft voice, and the look of compassion in his eyes. "Stay calm Marine, someone will be here to help, God is with all of us this day!" "

"I could see Sgt. Peters laying on the ground, blood coming from his mouth, Corpsman Leal moving in my direction, but I was not scared any longer. I was at peace. Fr. Vince was bare headed, blood on his face and neck, his right hand was mangled with a bloody compress hastily attached. He cupped the back of my head in an attempt to raise me off my arm, when all of a sudden I heard a scream, "my leg, my leg!" and I was back in the war. I glanced over and Corpsman Leal was sitting on the ground screaming about 25 feet from me. Father Vince blessed me with his good hand and leaped up and darted to Corpsman Leal. I had come to my senses and was ready to fight, the words "Get that gun!" were still ringing in my head. I made an attempt to move when that gun opened up once more, not at me, but had caught Father Vince and Corpsman Leal and ended their lives, a long burst killed my savior, and my friends. Father Vince was gone, that image remains foremost in my mind today. And the guilt of being the cause of this God-Like Soul's death haunts me today. I got mad at God and mad at the enemy. I will not go into what happened later between me and that gun [crew]".


























Another former marine, Jack Swan shares his reccolection -  "I was at that time a L/CPL. walking point for 1st Plt., 1st Sqd., Mike Co. 3/5, 1st Marine Division, when the NVA opened up on us that afternoon. I knew Capodanno was with our company. When I got back to a bomb crater up the small hill later that night, a wounded Marine told me Capodanno was one of the KIAs wrapped in a poncho along with the other Marines who died that day."

"Early the next morning, I listened to the wounded and the still-walking talk about how Capodanno gave up his life to help the fallen wounded, bringing them to safe cover and giving last rites to the men who were dying in the field of fire. Father Capodanno cared more about the men he was with than he did his own life that day, and I honor him for that".

"I also learned that next morning that my friend Doc Leal was dead. They were both killed together. Capodanno giving last rites to a wounded Marine from 2nd Plt. and Doc Leal trying to patch the Marine up. Great men from Mike Co. died that day. They all deserve the highest honors". - Semper Fi.

His body was recovered and interred in his family's plot in Saint Peters Cemetery, West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York.

On December 27, 1968, then 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.













Honors and Awards

Lt..(Father) Capodanno was awarded the following medals:
          
Medal of Honor    
Bronze Star    
Purple Heart    
Presidential Unit Citation
National Defense Service Medal    
Vietnam Service Medal    
Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm)    
Vietnam Campaign Medal

















Medal of Honor

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

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 Co was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, Lieutenant 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 painful multiple 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 machinegun fire. By his heroic conduct on the battlefield, and his inspiring example, Lieutenant Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the US Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom.


Other Honors


USS Capodanno





The USS Capodanno (FF-1093) was named in honor of Lieutenant Capodanno.[3] The Capodanno was commissioned September 17, 1973 and was decommissioned July 30, 1993 and sold to Turkey. It was 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 HonorsIn 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 Sand Lane 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, however, was not completed until 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:

    * Capodanno Memorial Chapel, Lakeside TQ, IRAQ
    * Capodanno Chapel, Que Son Valley, Vietnam
    * Capodanno Memorial Chapel Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island
    * Capodanno Chapel, Naval Hospital, Oakland, California
    * Capodanno Street, Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island
    * Capodanno Chapel, Camp Pendelton, California
    * Modern sculpture, Piazza Capodanno, Gaeta, Italy
    * Capodanno Chapel, Ft. Wadsworth, Staten Island
    * Capodanno Building, Millington, Tennessee
    * Capodanno Chapel, Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan
    * Catholic Chaplains Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
    * Fort Wadsworth statue, Fort Wadsworth Army Chapel School.


Cause For Canonization

























On May 19, 2002, Capodanno's Cause for Canonization was officially opened, and so 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 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.


























It would be a great honor to Father Capodanno and to the United States Marine Corp, if  Vincent Capodanno would be declared to be the Patron Saint of the Marines