medal of honor stars graphic
MEDAL OF HONOR:
Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun
Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun

MEDAL OF HONOR

Korean War

"...among recipients of the Medal of Honor, Father Kapaun's story is, in itself, wholly unique, wholly different. He didn't charge a pillbox; he didn't defeat an enemy battalion or brigade or division by himself. Rather, Father Kapaun's only weapons were his steely defiance that inspired his fellow prisoners of war; the words he spoke, which brought comfort to the Soldiers with whom he served; and a simple piece of purple ribbon that he wore around his neck, a mark of his chaplaincy, his priesthood. But don't make any mistake about it; Father Kapaun was a Soldier; and a Soldier in the purest, in the truest sense of the word."

Former Secretary of the Army John McHugh
Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony, April 12, 2013

Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun

Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun

Commissioned

July 12, 1944

hometown

Pilsen, Kansas

Military Occupation (MOS)

Chaplain (56A)

Unit

Headquarters Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division

Deployments

World War II, Korean War

Chaplain (Capt.) Emil Kapaun was born in 1916 on a rural farm in Kansas, to parents of German-Bohemian ancestry. He had one sibling, a brother named Eugene. As a boy, Emil learned to repair farm implements, a skill that would serve him well later in life, during his internment at a prisoner-of-war camp.

In 1936, Kapaun completed classics and philosophy study at Conception College and begans attending Kenrick Seminary and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1940. From 1943 to 1944, he served as an auxiliary Chaplain at the Army Air Base in Herington, Kansas and joined the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps in 1944. After a brief post in Camp Wheeler, Georgia, Ch. Kapaun served the remainder of World War II in the Burma and India Theater. On January 3, 1946 he was promoted to the rank of captain. Later in 1946, he separated from the Army and spent the next two years earning his advanced degree in education.

Chaplain Emil Kapaun fixes a flat on his bicycle in Korea, August 1950. Kapaun often rode this bike from location to location along the fighting lines to visit soldiers. (Photo courtesy Col. Raymond Skeehan)

Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun poses for a photo in liturgical dress, holding a bible. (Courtesy photo - U.S. Army)

In 1948, Kapaun decided to commission in the Army Chaplain Corps for the second time. He mobilized in support of the Korean War in 1950, and served as a chaplain with the 1st Cavalry Division in Japan and Korea before he was taken prisoner on November 2, 1950, during the Battle of Unsan. During the fight, which started on November 1, 1950, Kapaun moved repeatedly under enemy direct fire to rescue wounded from a no-man's land outside the battalion's perimeter. He also negotiated with the enemy for the safety of wounded Americans, physically intervened to stop an execution, and rejected multiple opportunities for escape and instead volunteered to stay and care for wounded. On August 2, 1950 Kapaun was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism in action near Kumchon, where he rescued a wounded soldier despite intense enemy fire.

On November 1, 1950, Communist forces surround Chaplain Kapaun's outfit near Unsan. Chaplain Kapaun was captured by the North Korean army and its Chinese allies. Kapaun escaped when his captors were shot by allied Soldiers. But on November 2, 1950 Emil was captured a second time when he volunteered to stay behind with the wounded. Marched to POW camp, he continued to conduct ministry inside the POW camps.

Kapaun spent the next seven months in the Sambukol and Pyoktong prison camps, in what is now the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. With disregard for his own safety and comfort, Ch. Kapaun tended to the sick and wounded, scoured for food, built fires against guards' commands, and fashioned iron sheet vessels to launder the clothing of the wounded and purify drinking water. He also led prayers and spiritual services for the POWs, at the risk of punishment. For his outspoken resistance, Ch. Kapaun was feared by the guards and revered by his fellow POWs. Upon return, Pyoktong prison survivors told stories of Ch. Kapaun's courage, compassion, and spirit. They credited him with saving their lives, and hundreds more, before eventually succumbing to his own wounds and prison maltreatment. Ch. Kapaun died in Pyoktong on May 23, 1951.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Ch. Kapaun's military awards include the Distinguished Service Cross; Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device; Legion of Merit; Prisoner of War Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star for Central Burma Campaign; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp; Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars; National Defense Service Medal; and United Nations Service Medal.

Kapaun is also lauded by people of the Roman Catholic faith. In 1993, Kapaun received the title of "Servant of God" from the Roman Catholic Church, the second of four stages to being named a saint. The Vatican continues investigations into possible canonization.

Army Chaplain Emil Kapaun writes a letter in Korea circa 1950. Kapaun spent countless hours writing letters home to his family and to the families of fallen soldiers. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Defense)

Father Emil Kapaun celebrates Mass using the hood of his jeep as an altar, as his assistant, Patrick J. Schuler, kneels in prayer in Korea on Oct. 7, 1950, less than a month before Kapaun was taken prisoner. Kapaun died in a prisoner of war camp on May 23, 1951. (Photo courtesy Col. Raymond Skeehan)

Father Emil Kapaun celebrates Mass using the hood of his jeep as an altar, as his assistant, Patrick J. Schuler, kneels in prayer in Korea on Oct. 7, 1950, less than a month before Kapaun was taken prisoner. Kapaun died in a prisoner of war camp on May 23, 1951. (Photo courtesy Col. Raymond Skeehan)

Medal of Honor Citation

November 1 - 2, 1950 | Unsan, North Pyongan, Korea

The 1st Cavalry Division shoulder sleeve insignia. The traditional Cavalry color of yellow and the horse's head is symbolic of the original organizational structure of the Cavalry. The color black is symbolic of iron, alluding to the organizational transition from mounted horses to tanks and heavy armor.

The 1st Cavalry Division shoulder sleeve insignia. The traditional Cavalry color of yellow and the horse's head is symbolic of the original organizational structure of the Cavalry. The color black is symbolic of iron, alluding to the organizational transition from mounted horses to tanks and heavy armor.


The shepherd's crook is emblematic of pastoral ministry, and was the first symbol used to identify Chaplains in the Army. The rays represent universal truth, and the surrounding palm branches represent spiritual victory. 1775, at the top of the crest, is the year the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps was established.

The shepherd's crook is emblematic of pastoral ministry, and was the first symbol used to identify Chaplains in the Army. The rays represent universal truth, and the surrounding palm branches represent spiritual victory. 1775, at the top of the crest, is the year the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps was established.

Headquarters Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division

Read Unit Histories

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to: Chaplain (Captain) Emil J. Kapaun, United States Army.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun, while assigned to Headquarters Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism, patriotism, and selfless service between Nov. 1-2, 1950. During the Battle of Unsan, Kapaun was serving with the 3rd Battalion of the 8th Cavalry Regiment. As Chinese Communist forces encircled the battalion, Kapaun moved fearlessly from foxhole to foxhole under direct enemy fire in order to provide comfort and reassurance to the outnumbered Soldiers. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to recover wounded men, dragging them to safety. When he couldn't drag them, he dug shallow trenches to shield them from enemy fire. As Chinese forces closed in, Kapaun rejected several chances to escape, instead volunteering to stay behind and care for the wounded. He was taken as a prisoner of war by Chinese forces on Nov. 2, 1950.

Once inside the dismal prison camps, Kapaun risked his life by sneaking around the camp after dark, foraging for food, caring for the sick, and encouraging his fellow Soldiers to sustain their faith and their humanity. On at least one occasion, he was brutally punished for his disobedience, being forced to sit outside in subzero weather without any garments. When the Chinese instituted a mandatory re-education program, Kapaun patiently and politely rejected every theory put forth by the instructors. Later, Kapaun openly flouted his captors by conducting a sunrise service on Easter morning, 1951.

When Kapaun began to suffer from the physical toll of his captivity, the Chinese transferred him to a filthy, unheated hospital where he died alone. As he was being carried to the hospital, he asked God's forgiveness for his captors, and made his fellow prisoners promise to keep their faith. Chaplain Kapaun died in captivity on May 23, 1951.

Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun repeatedly risked his own life to save the lives of hundreds of fellow Americans. His extraordinary courage, faith and leadership inspired thousands of prisoners to survive hellish conditions, resist enemy indoctrination, and retain their faith in God and country. His actions reflect the utmost credit upon him, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.

“The true story here is that Chaplain Kapaun ministered until the end - giving the last rites to a dying prisoner, writing the Our Father and Hail Mary on a scrap of paper which he gave to another prisoner, and in his final hour, hearing the confession of yet another fellow prisoner. His fellow Soldiers, for whom he gave his last dying breath, meant more to him than life. ”

General Raymond T. Odierno
Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony, April 12, 2013

Korean War Maps

Korean War-era map depicting East Central Asia. Courtesy the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

East Central Asia, 1950

Korean War map, Ebb and Flow, November 1950 - July 1951. Courtesy the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

"Ebb and Flow", November 1950 - July 1951

Korean War map, The Battlefront, November 1950. Courtesy the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

The Battlefront, November 1950

The Ceremony



President Barack Obama and Ray Kapaun (left), nephew of Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 11, 2013, stand during the reading of the citation. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

Show Caption +

President Barack Obama and Ray Kapaun (left), nephew of Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 11, 2013, stand during the reading of the citation. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

Ray Kapaun (left), nephew of Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun, accepted the Medal of Honor for his uncle, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 11, 2013, as President Barack Obama applauds. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

Show Caption +

Ray Kapaun (left), nephew of Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun, accepted the Medal of Honor for his uncle, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 11, 2013, as President Barack Obama applauds. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

President Barack H. Obama shares a smile with Ray Kapaun, a nephew of former U.S. Army Capt. Emil J. Kapaun, during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., April 11, 2013. The former chaplain was posthumously recognized for gallantry during the Korean War while serving with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division from Nov. 1-2, 1950 in Unsan, Korea. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Laura Buchta/Released)

Show Caption +

President Barack H. Obama shares a smile with Ray Kapaun, a nephew of former U.S. Army Capt. Emil J. Kapaun, during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., April 11, 2013. The former chaplain was posthumously recognized for gallantry during the Korean War while serving with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division from Nov. 1-2, 1950 in Unsan, Korea. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Laura Buchta/Released)

Ray Kapaun (center) prepares to accept the Medal of Honor citation and photo of his uncle, Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun as (from left) Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno applaud and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III participates in the ceremony. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

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Ray Kapaun (center) prepares to accept the Medal of Honor citation and photo of his uncle, Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun as (from left) Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno applaud and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III participates in the ceremony. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

Ray Kapaun displays the Medal of Honor citation and photo of his uncle, Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun as (from left) Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III looks on. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

Show Caption +

Ray Kapaun displays the Medal of Honor citation and photo of his uncle, Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun as (from left) Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III looks on. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

From left, Army Secretary John M. McHugh applaud during a ceremony to induct Medal of Honor recipient former Army Capt. Emil Kapaun into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va, April 12, 2013. Ray Kapaun, center, the chaplains nephew, represented his uncle, a chaplain who served in the Korean War, during the ceremony. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, right, applauds. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. John G. Martinez/Released)

Show Caption +

From left, Army Secretary John M. McHugh applaud during a ceremony to induct Medal of Honor recipient former Army Capt. Emil Kapaun into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va, April 12, 2013. Ray Kapaun, center, the chaplains nephew, represented his uncle, a chaplain who served in the Korean War, during the ceremony. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, right, applauds. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. John G. Martinez/Released)



“They came for him. And over the protests and tears of the men who loved him, the guards sent him to a death house -- a hellhole with no food or water -- to be left to die. And yet, even then, his faith held firm. “I'm going to where I've always wanted to go,” he told his brothers. “And when I get up there, I'll say a prayer for all of you.” And then, as was taken away, he did something remarkable -- he blessed the guards. “Forgive them,” he said, “for they know not what they do.” Two days later, in that house of death, Father Kapaun breathed his last breath. His body was taken away, his grave unmarked, his remains unrecovered to this day. ”

President Barack Obama

White House Ceremony, April 11, 2013


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