My y Fi o ghtin O g CHAPLAIN WILLIAM CL TAGGART U. S. Army and
CHRISTOPHER CROSS Doubkday, Doran Company, GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK
THIS BOOK IS COMPLETE AMD UNABRIDGED, MANUFACTURED UNDER WARTIME
CONDITIONS W CdMFORMJTY WITH ALL COV1SKMENT REGULATIONS CONTROLLING
THE USE OF PAFES AND OTHER MATBUXLS. COPYRIGHT, 1943 BY WILLIAM C.
TAGGART AND CHRISTOPHER CROSS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PRINTED IN THE
UNITED STATES AT THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y. FIRST
EDITION To the chaplains of all religious faiths who quot hme
served and are serving Americas fighting congregation this hook is
dedicated. Foreword THE STORY of the service of our army chaplains
goes back to our American Revolution, when General George Washing
ton appointed the first clergyman as a chaplain. Since 1776, in
peace as well as in war, clergymen of all faiths have served in the
armed forces. Never before, however, in the history of our nation
has there been so great a need for the spiritual guidance of the
Church than in this world struggle against the forces of brutality
and aggression. For this is a war against hatred, persecution, and
godlessness a war against a combination of evil men who would take
from us the very liberties for which our forefathers came to this
land. If we are to suc ceed in this titanic battle for God s truth
and justice on earth, then we must be guided by His wisdom and
strength ened by His power. Just as have all Americans, so the
members of the various religious faiths have given generously of
their personnel so that in our camps, at home, at bases throughout
the world, vii V1H FOEEWORD particularly In the midst of battle,
our men may have near tliem, whenever possible, a clergyman of
their ownfaith. Although the experiences of only one of our
chaplains are used by the writer, Christopher Cross, in My Fighting
Con gregation this vividly mirrors the work of all our chap lains
now serving throughout the world. My Fighting Congregation I hope
will give the people a clearer understanding of the work of our
chaplains and of the for clergymen of faith, courage, and
self-sacrific ing devotion, WILLIAM R. ARNOLD Chief of Chaplains
Introduction I AM NO book-writing minister, I told the Doubleday,
Doran Company when they suggested that I write about my ex
periences as a chaplain with the United States Army Air Forces in
the Southwest Pacific. I want to be just as honest with my readers
as I was with the publishers, I have merely related to Christopher
Cross those incidents, observations, and experiences that seem im
portant to me, Mr. Cross has organized the material into this book.
We hear much about how our Army is the best fed and best clothed in
the world. This has given great comfort to millions of parents,
wives, and relatives of our servicemen. Often when I was privileged
to help an American soldier I thought how happy his folks would be
to know that their boy s spiritual needs are also satisfied even
though he is thousands of miles from home. It is my hope that by
relating my experiences Americans everywhere will gain new comfort
from the knowledge that ix X INTRODUCTION their boys are Acre is a
chaplain within call to a service to them in prayer to give comfort
to the sick and troubled and to give buxial whenever possible
according to the dictates of their own religion, to those of our
must die. no while I was on the Pacific, in Java, and Australia.
There was little time forthat. I have, therefore, had to on
letters, my memory, and to a large extent on the co-operation of
the men of the I9th Bombardment Group who returned, and the
relatives of those who did not In this invaluable assistance was
given by Colo nti Richard Carmichael, Major John H. M. Smith, Staff
Henry Vierow, Lieutenant Alva S. HascaD, Lieu-James Worley, and
many others. For their co-operation my sincere gratitude to
Chaplain William R...
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