National Civil War Chaplains Museum

Boxer or chaplain? Before he became a chaplain, John G. Burkhalter`s passion for competition propelled him to the world of professional boxing. Burkhalter’s career in the ring only lasted one year, but during that time he maintained an impressive record of 12-3-2. Burkhalter’s early experience in boxing could not have prepared him for the violence he witnessed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.

In 1942, Burkhalter joined the Army and became a chaplain the following year. The newly minted Chaplain Burkhalter was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division whose members became known for their selfless service and bravery in the D-day operation and later at the Battle of the Bulge. Having been awarded the Purple Heart and both the Bronze and Silver Stars, Burkhalter became the most highly decorated chaplain of the D-Day invasion.

Burkhalter’s exemplary service continued into the Korean War. A report to his commanding general dated 5 April 1951, states, “Chaplain Burkhalter has been untiring in his efforts to provide religious council and services to the members of this command…. It is evident that Chaplain Burkhalter is doing an exceptional job and performing his duties in such a manner as to reflect credit upon himself and upon the Chaplains’ Corps.”

Burkhalter’s grandson, Joe Giove, contacted the Chaplains Museum last year and offered to share some of his memorabilia. In November 2024, museum staff traveled to his mother’s home and acquired a sizable collection from Chaplain Burkhalter’s service as a chaplain including the photographs you see here. Follow us and stay tuned for more about Burkhalter’s heroism and about coming additions to our exhibits from this collection.

If you or your family members have items related to military chaplaincy that you are willing to donate or loan to the Museum, please use the contact form on our website to let us know!

Photo 1: Chaplain Burkhalter comforts a wounded soldier.

Photo 2: Chaplain John G. Burkhalter

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Enduring love isn’t only for the movies – just look at Captain Thomas McAdams and his wife, Anita. McAdams served during the Vietnam War until February 28, 1969. Only 27 years old, he was injured in a military aircraft and rushed to a field hospital on orders from Major General George Patton (son of the WWII general, Patton Sr.). A chaplain officiated his funeral.

Anita Foster Carroll, McAdams’ wife, was devastated. As a grieving widow and single mother, she struggled to continue without her husband. With the help of her friends and family, including Mrs. Patton, Anita was able to accept her new life while remembering her husband’s legacy. She is now remarried and is the mother of three daughters.

She honored her late husband’s memory and recounted her healing process in her work “My Gold Star Experience.” The short collection of events is a powerful testament to the emotional toll of experiencing a military death in the family.

Here in the museum, we exhibit several letters written by chaplains, including two from the Civil War. Chaplains still serve the home front by communicating with the families of the deceased. To learn more about how chaplains interact with service members and their families, visit the museum!

Photo 1: Photo 1: Tom and Anita were introduced by Tom’s younger sister. They had two daughters and seven years of marriage. Courtesy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/36013/THOMAS-A-MCADAMS/page/3/.

Photo 2: Photo 3: Anita was the daughter of an Army officer and, as such, was used to military life when she met Tom. By seventeen, she had lived in seventeen different places! Courtesy of Melissa Gaona, WDBJ7 News, https://www.wdbj7.com/2024/11/29/local-woman-shares-her-gold-star-experience/.

Photo 3: During McAdams’ short career, he developed a reputation as “an ambitious...personable individual.” Courtesy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/36013/THOMAS-A-MCADAMS/page/3/.

Photo 4: Conducting funerals is part of chaplains` duties, as seen in the photos of McAdam`s funeral.



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“As the sandstorm passed, fire sporadically appeared, devouring various parts of the city. And one man looked on, lamenting the destruction and loss of life.”

While it may sound like something from the pages of scripture, the description above is actually a modern account of one chaplain’s experience in Afghanistan. In his book, A Table in the Presence, Chaplain (Lt.) Carey H. Cash shares many compelling stories of how God worked through his military ministry. From the heartbreaking loss of a friend and fellow servicemember to the miraculous recovery of a lost Bible (you’ll have to read it to learn more!), Chaplain Cash’s story is full of emotional highs and lows.

So many of Cash’s words resonate with us, but some are especially compelling: “With tears in their eyes, [Marines] came. They came to hear God’s Word, to receive Holy Communion, to pray for their brethren...And God, who honors the simple faith our most elementary steps toward Him, met us...The audacity of it all! Peace amidst war.”

Museum student workers have access to many fascinating resources in the course of our research. Currently, we are developing a research guide with scholarly sources pertaining to chaplains and their ministry. Check out our website or come into the museum to stay updated! Leave a comment below if you’ve read and loved Cash’s book as much as we do. Or maybe you have a book about chaplains to recommend.

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