Photo By Sgt. Garett Hernandez | Chaplain Capt. Lito Amande, with Fort Hood garrison command, (right) is assisted by...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas – Surrounded and outnumbered, the Troopers of the 8th Cavalry Regiment found themselves fighting against four divisions of Chinese Communist Forces at the Battle of Unsan, during the Korean War, 65 years ago this week.
While the battle is famous for many reasons, the story of one 1st Cavalry Division Trooper stands out among the rest.
During the battle, the regiment’s chaplain, Capt. Emil Kapaun, moved from foxhole to foxhole to give comfort to the Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, the unit he was visiting at the time. Under fierce enemy fire, he would also venture out “no man’s land” to aid and rescue his wounded comrades.
As Chinese forces broke through their defenses and having suffered tremendous losses already, the entire regiment was ordered to move south. 3rd Battalion, having lost nearly 600 men, was the last to withdraw, with Soldiers splitting up into small groups and attempting to evade the enemy under the cover of darkness.
On Nov. 2, 2015, the 1st Cavalry Division and members of the Fort Hood community honored Chaplain Kapaun and the rest of the 8th Cav. Regt. Soldiers at the Battle of Unsan, with a memorial service at the 1st Cavalry Division Museum.
"It reminds Soldier that even though you are currently in this division, we have a long and rich history," said Lt. Col. Dennis Hysom, the 1st Cav. Div. chaplain. “By remembering the Battle of Unsan we remind ourselves of what our predecessor and fellow Troopers before you did.”
Not wanting to leave the wounded Soldiers behind, Kapaun continued to aid those unable to leave, knowing that it meant certain death or capture. As the CCF closed in, hand-to-hand combat followed, and the chaplain continued to make his rounds.
While tending to the wounded Soldiers, Kapaun found an injured Chinese officer and persuaded him to help negotiate a safe surrender of the remaining 8th Cavalry Troopers.
After they were captured, Kapaun continued to aid his fellow Soldiers in any way possible.
As they were force marched 87 miles to the prison camp where they would be held, he noticed a Chinese soldier preparing to execute Sgt. 1st Class Herbert Miller. Kapaun pushed the Chinese soldier, saving Miller’s life.
While in captivity, Kapaun continued to defy his captors, stealing food for his fellow Soldiers, treating their wounds and holding religious services for the imprisoned men. Kapaun later died while in custody of the North Koreans in 1951. For his actions Kapaun was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013.
"For us [chaplains] it reminds us that throughout time that chaplains have in the Army and that we have some great heroes before and provides us inspiration for us as we continue mission to serve Soldiers and serve families," said Hysom.
After the memorial ceremony, a Catholic Mass was held by Chaplain Capt. Lito Amande, with Fort Hood garrison command, on the hood of a jeep in remembrance of the way Father Kapaun used to celebrate Mass on the battlefield.
“I like his story, it’s a story of bravery, of course of patriotism and love for the Lord and his people,” said Amande. “To me this is an incredible experience for me to be able to help with this project, to honor the fallen, as well to honor Father Kapaun.”
| Date Taken: | 11.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2015 18:22 |
| Story ID: | 181494 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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