Chaplains of the
36th Infantry Division
by
Chaplain (Colonel) Herbert E. MacCombie
Division Chaplain
Utilization Of Unit Chaplains
According to the Tables of Organization
several of our units were not entitled to a chaplain. Chaplains were
assigned on an average basis of one for every 1200 men. We tried to serve
these troops from division headquarters or by adjacent chaplains. When we
were over strength in chaplains I would send them a chaplain for a short
time. When we had a casualty among the infantry chaplains, I would have
to take the chaplain away from the special troops. It was our policy to
give first consideration to the infantry battalions where the largest
number of troops was concentrated.
One of these special troop units was the
111th Engineers. The commanding officer at that time was Major Oran C.
Stovall. When his chaplain had to be transferred, he wrote a letter in
which he said, “We are out of a chaplain again since Alspaugh left us. I
told the General today that I would swap an engineer officer for a
chaplain. We find that a good one is the best investment we can make. If
I had my choice between Mehl (Chaplain Lambert J. Mehl) and an executive
officer, I would take Mehl.”
Most of our unit commanders from the
regimental units down to battalions and companies and batteries were like
Colonel Price and Colonel Stovall. Occasionally there were unit
commanders who did not understand Army Regulations concerning the work of
the chaplains in the armed forces.
While we were in the states one of our
chaplains reported to me that in one company of his battalion orders had
been given that no man was to visit the chaplain. If he did, the
sergeants would take him behind the barracks and teach him a lesson. They
thought that contact with the chaplain was a sissy affair. I told the
chaplain to let me handle it.
I went down to the company and talked with
the captain. I told him about the rumors that had come to me. He
replied, “You know how rumors are. It is a small matter.”
I told him, “Army Regulations provide that
men may have access to chaplains at all times during off duty hours. In
case of emergency the first sergeant will allow them to see the chaplain
in duty hours. To meet these needs we have chaplains on duty in the
division twenty-four hours a day. I think that you should arrange a
company formation, and let me as Division Chaplain explain to the men
their rights.”
He said, “I don’t think that is necessary.”
I told him, “You have just two choices.
Either you let me speak to ALL of your men, or I will have the Division
Inspector General come down here to investigate these “rumors”. I talked
to the company. I had no further reports of lack of co-operation from
that unit.
While we were overseas the artillery
commander had a “bright idea”. He asked his chaplain to serve as Mess
Officer. The chaplain agreed to do so, but suggested that he take up the
matter with me.
When he came to me, I said to him, “I am glad
that you and the chaplain get along so well that you want him to serve as
your Mess Officer, and he is willing to do so. Of course you know that
this would be against Army Regulations. They provide that no chaplain can
be assigned to secular duties except as Grave Registrations Officer.
General Walker has issued instructions that no chaplain is to be appointed
Graves Registration officer. Regulations provide that when a chaplain is
assigned secular duties, he must report that fact to the Chief of
Chaplains in his monthly report. In such a case there will be a demand
from higher headquarters as to why you have failed to comply with
regulations. Of course you and the chaplain could undertake this
assignment and NOT report it on the monthly report. In such a case the
chaplain would be filing a false return, and since you have to endorse his
report, you also would be filing a false return. You know that is a
court-martial offense.”
The general said to me, “You are a hard man,
chaplain”.
I replied, “No I am not a hard man. I am
trying to keep you from making a mistake, and as his staff officer, I must
make sure that General Walker is not subject to criticism from higher
headquarters.” The chaplain did not serve as Mess Officer.
General Walker had issued orders that no
chaplain should be assigned as Graves Registration Officer. They would
give all assistance possible in the burial of the dead, but they would not
be given official responsibility. We had an attached unit whose
commanding officer did assign the chaplain as Graves Registrations
officer. When the monthly report came through it indicated that the
chaplain had been assigned as Graves Registration Officer.
I called it to the attention of Colonel Ives,
our G1. At once the report was returned to the unit with a notation,
“Reply by endorsement hereon, the reason for your failure to comply with
the division policy”.
The commanding officer came to me and asked,
“Why did you put me on the spot?”
I told him, “I didn’t put you on the spot. I
sent word to you that this was against division policy. You decided to
ignore my warning and chose to establish your own policy. If you do not
wish to conform to the policy of the Division Commander in the use of
chaplains that was your fault, not mine.”
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Copyright 2001
by Mary MacCombie Fietsam
Printed by Permission |
