National Civil War Chaplains Museum

81 years ago, the leaders of the Allied and Japanese forces met face-to-face aboard the USS Missouri to bring the Second World War to an official close. It was a solemn day, with each side wary of the uncertainties that peace could bring. Still, many trusted that the future of the nations rested in the hand of a gracious God. Just one hour before the official surrender, Chaplain Roland Faulk consecrated the day with the following prayer:

“Eternal God, Father of all living, we offer our sincere prayer of thanksgiving to thee on this day which we now dedicate to peace among the nations, remembering another Sabbath Day that was desecrated by the beginning of this brutal war. We are thankful that those who have loved peace have been rewarded with victory over those who have loved war. May it ever be so. On this day of deliverance we pray for those who through long years have been imprisoned, destitute, sick, and forsaken. Heal their bodies and their spirits, oh God, for their wounds are grievous indeed. May the scars which they bear remind us that victory is not without cost, and peace is not without price. May we never forget those who have paid the cost of our victory and our peace. On this day of surrender we turn hopefully from war to peace, from destroying to building, from killing to saving. But peace without justice we know is hopeless, and justice without mercy thou wilt surely despise. Help us therefore, oh God, to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly before thee. We pray for thy servant the president of the United States and for all the leaders of all lands, so that they may be endowed with wisdom sufficient for their great tasks. Grant unto all the peoples of the earth knowledge of thee with courage and faith to abide within the shelter of thy sovereign law. Amen.”

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“What Vietnam brought out maybe more than anything was the ministry of presence.” Chaplain Jerry Autry penned these words in Gun-Totin’ Chaplain, his “true memoir” of his service in Vietnam. Autry enlisted for the Army after completing seminary and being ordained in the Congregationalist church. While serving with the 101st Airborne, he realized that it was not enough to simply preach the Gospel. It was only by sticking with his men at every opportunity that he earned the chance to be heard.

Chaplain Autry learned this lesson early on, as a young trooper told him, “Chaplain, what makes you different and special is that you don’t have to be here.” As a volunteer, he had a unique opportunity to speak to the men about why he chose to be in Vietnam, when most people wished they could be anywhere else. He made a point of going on patrols and sorties with the soldiers. Even though he did not fight himself, he felt that it was important that they see that their chaplain was not sitting comfortably back at base while they risked their lives. Though a non-combatant himself, Chaplain Autry adopted a habit of carrying a weapon anyway, as that helped to calm the men’s nerves.

On one occasion, Chaplain Autry and his unit were pinned down in an active minefield by a Viet Cong ambush. Despite his own wounds, Autry risked his life to drag one of the wounded paratroopers out of the minefield. He immediately went back for another, and he was on his way to get a third by the time the ambush had cleared. For his selflessness and bravery in combat, this “Gun-totin’ chaplain” was awarded the Silver Star.

Follow the Chaplains Museum and come visit us on the campus of Liberty University to learn more about the military chaplaincy’s ministry of presence.

Help the Chaplains Museum expand our collection and add new exhibits. Look for the “Donate” section at the link in our bio.

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