National Civil War Chaplains Museum

It’s the end of Women’s History Month, but Chaplain (Cmdr.) Karen Rector is just one of many female chaplains whose work continues beyond the annual celebration.

Now a decorated Navy Chaplain, Rector initially joined the military as an airframe mechanic to avoid going into ministry. In her own words: “I started on a path of running from God.” Working aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, she was approached by the ship’s chaplain, who told her God was calling her to the chaplaincy. His candid encouragement spurred her on to serve as a Baptist chaplain for over 25 years.

Rector has served in California, Hawaii, and Florida, but her most challenging experiences came during combat deployments in Afghanistan. Losing a Marine during this time was a heartbreaking experience that deepened her wisdom and strength, shaping her into the chaplain she is today.

Rector prefers not to be labeled as a “female chaplain,” but simply as a chaplain committed to serving the spiritual needs of Naval officers. In 2013, the Military Chaplains Association named her the Chaplain of the Year. Beyond the awards and recognition, Rector’s passion for helping others remains at the heart of her “most exciting and fulfilling ministry.”

The Chaplains Museum celebrates the work of many female chaplains, and we do it year-round! Come visit and discover the stories of female trailblazers like Ella Hobart-Gibson and Diana Pohlman-Bell, along with many other chaplains who have sacrificed in service!

Image 1: Rector ministering to a sailor aboard the USS Hué City. During her service at Naval Station Mayport, Rector was named the 2013 Chaplain of the Year award by the Military Chaplain’s Association.

Image 2: Rector leading services for men in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps, www.dvidshub.net/image/128084/combat-logistics-battalion-3-keeps-faith-with-first-religious-service-deployment.

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This Vietnam Veterans Day, the Chaplains Museum honors the courageous servicemembers who fought in the Vietnam War.

During the dark moments of the Vietnam War, chaplains uplifted the spirits of both troops and Vietnamese civilians through many avenues, including the Chaplain Civil Action Program. Bishop W. Angie Smith praised the program`s impact, noting instances of "high morale” in North Vietnam, where the CCAP thrived.

Many chaplains fearlessly served alongside their troops, risking their lives. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. bears the names of sixteen fallen chaplains, and the memorial website acknowledges that "thousands more served their country and fellow man."

In 2017, President Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, establishing March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This date marks the disestablishment of the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam and the release of our last prisoners-of-war in 1973.

Visit the Chaplains Museum to view Vietnam War artifacts, such as Army chaplain Calvin Garner`s kit and flag, and learn more about the inspiring work of chaplains overseas.

Image 1: Hospital Corpsman Ronald L. Williamson treats a Vietnamese child’s infected leg. They are surrounded by children from the village of An Tan. Courtesy of the National Archives.

Image 2: Chaplain Francis L. Garrett (right) donates funds for an orphanage to the senior Buddhist priest of Da Nang. The funds were raised through the Chaplain’s Civic Action Program in the Marine Corps. Courtesy of the National Archives.

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Eighty years ago, Jewish chaplain Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn delivered a powerful speech over a cemetery of fallen Marines, a message that crossed an ocean to resonate with America.

Assigned to speak at the 5th Marine Division’s nondenominational service honoring all fallen servicemembers of the Battle of Iwo Jima (February 19–March 26, 1945), Gittelsohn faced resistance from some Protestant and Catholic chaplains who opposed a Jewish speaker. His audience shrank to a small Jewish service. Refusing to let his friend be silenced, Protestant chaplain Warren Cuthriel shared the sermon with his superiors, propelling it to millions via newspapers and radio.

Gittelsohn’s words endure: “Among these men there is no discrimination. No prejudice. No hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy.” He urged unity beyond race or religion—a message now legendary in Marine Corps history. He concluded with a vow: “Out of this...will come...the birth of a new freedom for all humanity everywhere...AMEN.”

On February 19th, 2025, a bipartisan resolution honored the sacrifices made at Iwo Jima. Senator Mark Warner, whose father fought in the historic battle, called it “an enduring reminder of courage and unity in adversity.”

Visit the museum to explore the selfless service of WW2 chaplains and follow for updates on our Diversity in Service exhibit!

Image 1: Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn giving his speech over the cemetery at Iwo Jima. Courtesy of The Open Siddur Project, opensiddur.org/readings-and-sourcetexts/mekorot/non-canonical/exoteric/modern/iwo-jima-memorial-address-at-fifth-marine-division-cemetery-by-chaplain-roland-b-gittelsohn-1945/.

Image 2: 5th Marine Division Cemetery gates. Courtesy of the National WWII Museum, www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/gittelsohn-iwo-jima-eulogy.

Image 3: The 5th Marine Division cemetery. Courtesy of the National WWII Museum, www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/gittelsohn-iwo-jima-eulogy.

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“`Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls,’ said Father Emil Kapaun. One of nine chaplains to receive the Medal of Honor, Kapaun’s bravery is etched into American history. On Medal of Honor Day, we remember the history of these medals and the bravery of the chaplains who earned the nation’s highest military award.

The Navy was the first to develop a Medal of Honor on Dec. 21, 1861. To the right stands Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and war. A man, representing discord, clutches snakes and recoils from her. “Minerva Repulsing Discord” became the unofficial name of the medal, and it was meant to reflect the struggle for reunification during the Civil War. Today, all three versions of the Medal of Honor hang from a light blue ribbon with 13 stars, representing the nation’s 13 original colonies.

The Army’s original Medal of Honor, approved in 1862, closely resembled the Navy version. In 1904, it evolved into its current form: Minerva’s head at the center of a five-pointed star, with a circle of laurel wreaths symbolizing victory. Above, an eagle clutches an olive branch and arrows, perched above the word “Valor.”

For the Air Force, the Statue of Liberty is centered in a five-pointed star with 34 stars in the circular border (representing the 34 unified states after the Civil War). The arrows hanging above have shafts of lightning bolts, representing the might of the American military in the air.

Nine chaplains have earned the Army and Navy versions of this prestigious award: Francis B. Hall, Milton L. Haney, John M. Whitehead, James Hill, Joseph T. O’Callahan, Emil Kapaun, Vincent R. Capodanno, Charles “Angelo” Liteky, and Charles J. Watters.

We express deep gratitude to all U.S. military chaplains and servicemembers who have sacrificed for our freedom.

Images: the Navy, Army, and Air Force Medals of Honor. Courtesy of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, https://www.cmohs.org/medal/design.


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