Today, on Medal of Honor Day, the Army Chaplain Corps recognizes and honors the Soldiers whose courage has shaped and defended our Nation.
The Medal of Honor, the Nation’s highest military award, is bestowed upon Soldiers who have demonstrated exceptional bravery and selflessness in the face of grave danger, those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to others.
Throughout history, chaplains and chaplain assistants (now religious affairs specialists) of the Army Chaplain Corps have stood alongside their fellow Soldiers, sharing the same hardships, the same dangers, and the same call to serve. Among those awarded this highest honor are eight Chaplain Corps members who, in decisive moments, acted with extraordinary courage and sacrifice.
Chaplain Emil Kapaun
Chaplain (Captain) Emil Kapaun was born on April 20, 1916, on a rural farm near Pilsen, Kansas. He studied classics and philosophy at Conception College and continued his theological training at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, where he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1940 under the Diocese of Wichita. In 1944, he joined the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, serving first in World War II in the China‑Burma‑India theater and later rejoining after the war to minister to Soldiers once again.
In July 1950, Kapaun arrived in Korea with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division as the Korean War escalated. Kapaun’s ministry extended far beyond administering sacraments. In November of that year, during the Battle of Unsan, Chinese Communist forces encircled his battalion as it provided rear‑guard support for a withdrawal. Kapaun moved fearlessly from foxhole to foxhole under enemy fire to offer comfort, prayer, and reassurance. When wounded men lay exposed outside the perimeter, he exposed himself to direct fire to gather and shelter them. On several occasions, he dragged the injured into dugouts and dug shallow trenches to shield them when cover was scarce. When able‑bodied troops were ordered to retreat, he chose to remain with the wounded, fully aware that meant capture.
Beyond physical care, Kapaun tended to the spiritual needs of those around him. He celebrated Mass on the battlefield, using the hood of his jeep as an altar and administering sacraments to Soldiers in the midst of combat. He prayed with men in foxholes, offered confession and communion where possible, and carried letters between Soldiers and their Families. His willingness to risk his life under fire brought calm and purpose amid chaos.
After being captured on Nov. 2, 1950, Kapaun spent the next seven months in prisoner‑of‑war camps at Sambukol and Pyoktong in what is now North Korea. Conditions were brutal. Prisoners suffered from extreme cold, malnutrition, disease, and overcrowding. Kapaun used the skills he had learned on the farm and in ministry to help others survive. He fashioned containers to boil water and purify it, washed clothing, dug latrines, foraged or stole food for starving comrades, and continued to lead prayers and religious services even under threat of punishment. He encouraged his fellow captives to sustain their faith and humanity in the face of despair.
As his health deteriorated, he developed pneumonia and was denied adequate medical care by his captors. He died in captivity on May 23, 1951, at the age of 35, asking his fellow prisoners to keep their faith and showing concern for both their physical and spiritual welfare until the end.
For his extraordinary courage, faith, and self‑sacrifice, Chaplain Kapaun was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 11, 2013, recognizing his gallantry above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Unsan and while a prisoner of war. He is also revered in the Catholic Church, which declared him Venerable in 2025, a step on the path toward possible sainthood.
Chaplain John Milton Whitehead
Chaplain John Milton Whitehead was born in Wayne County, Indiana, on March 6, 1823. He became a Baptist minister at age 21 and served in pastoral work for nearly two decades before the Civil War reached his community. In 1862, at age 39, he joined the Union Army as chaplain of the 15th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, bringing a lifetime of spiritual conviction to a cause that demanded moral strength in addition to bravery.
On December 31, 1862, at the Battle of Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Whitehead experienced one of the war’s most intense contests. Union and Confederate forces clashed in a struggle that inflicted terrible casualties. Amid the roar of cannon and rifle fire, Whitehead reached for Soldiers in desperate need of help. He lifted men who could not walk and carried them toward surgeons who could treat their wounds. He dressed torn uniforms with his own hands.
Throughout these harrowing hours, Whitehead’s ministry never wavered. He led Soldiers in prayer in the midst of battle, offering encouragement and reinforcing courage when fear threatened to overwhelm them. He comforted men facing death, offered counsel to those struggling with grief, and reminded Soldiers of the importance of faith, duty, and hope. Even as he moved from one wounded Soldier to another, he carried the spiritual weight of the unit, helping men maintain calm, purpose, and trust in both God and one another. His presence was a constant source of moral guidance and reassurance for Soldiers and their Families alike.
The physical toll of this devotion became visible as his uniform quickly became stained with the blood of those he aided. Each mark told a story of Soldiers carried to safety, prayers whispered over the wounded, and moments when faith and courage intertwined. Fellow Soldiers gave him the nickname “The Bloody Chaplain” because of the markings his work left on his clothes. That name echoed a deeper reality of his service, one Soldier described in a powerful tribute recorded by Edwin Nicar:
“Comrades, do you remember that Chaplain Whitehead was always at his post of duty? Do you remember how in the red front of battle he carried wounded men from the battlefield on his brawny shoulders; how his arms supported the dying Soldier and tenderly laid him to rest in that sleep which knows no waking? Do you remember how he gave comfort to the mortally wounded Soldier whose life’s blood was fast ebbing away; how he received his last messages for the loved ones at home and faithfully delivered them to those for whom they were intended? You do remember these, and much more, and with me you are ready to say ‘May God bless and keep John M. Whitehead.’”
Whitehead’s Medal of Honor was awarded on April 4, 1898, acknowledging his extraordinary efforts during the desperate contest at Stones River. After the war he continued his ministry, helping build the First Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, and serving congregations for many years. His last official act was baptizing his oldest granddaughter in late 1908. On March 8, 1909, two days after his eighty‑sixth birthday, he died in Topeka as a result of a stroke. He was laid to rest in Topeka Cemetery among Family and fellow Veterans, his life marked by decades of service to others.
Chaplain Francis B. Hall
Chaplain Francis B. Hall was born on November 16, 1827, in New York. He pursued studies at the Albany Academy and then at Union College before entering Princeton Seminary and graduating in 1856. Hall was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1862 and served as pastor of a church in Luzerne, New York, when the outbreak of the Civil War brought him into military service with the 16th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His decision reflected a commitment to both faith and duty at a moment when Soldiers faced unprecedented levels of danger and uncertainty.
On the morning of May 3, 1863, at Salem Heights near Fredericksburg, Virginia, Hall encountered combat in a form he had never known before. The Battle of Salem Church was part of the larger Chancellorsville Campaign, and the sun rose to the staccato of musket fire and bursting shells. Amid this violence, Hall voluntarily rode his horse into the thickest fighting, fully aware that danger surrounded him. He repeatedly moved into areas under heavy enemy fire in order to reach Soldiers who had fallen in the line of battle.
In those moments, Hall’s actions were shaped by a mixture of resolve and compassion rooted in his faith. He offered words of encouragement to injured Soldiers still conscious, helping them remain steady as they were attended by medics and stretcher bearers. On occasion, he lifted or supported men who struggled to rise, guiding them toward areas where they could receive care, without regard for his own safety under the enemy’s guns. Hall’s ministry flowed seamlessly with his bravery, sustaining Soldiers and giving solace to their Families through every harrowing moment.
Hall’s bravery at Salem Heights was formally recognized much later when he was awarded the Medal of Honor on February 16, 1897. The citation presented by the President in the name of Congress records that he “voluntarily exposed himself to a heavy fire during the thickest of the fight and carried wounded men to the rear for treatment and attendance,” underscoring the direct risk he faced as he acted to help others.
After the war, Hall returned to civilian ministry and continued his service without seeking compensation. He declined fees for ceremonies and pastoral duties, a commitment that reflected his lifelong dedication to spiritual care. Hall, a pastor of forty years in total, died on October 4, 1903, at the age of seventy‑five and was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Plattsburgh, New York, the community where he had entered military service and lived much of his life.
Chaplain Milton Lorenzo Haney
Chaplain Milton Lorenzo Haney was born on January 23, 1825, in Savannah, Ohio, into a Family rooted in faith and community life. From an early age he was shaped by the moral influence of his home, and as a young man he became involved in the Methodist ministry, traveling through Illinois and neighboring states to preach, teach, and organize congregations. His work took him to rural parishes and camp meetings alike, where his voice and presence drew on a deep sense of devotion and duty.
When the Civil War began, Haney saw no separation between his calling as a preacher and his conviction to support the Union cause. In 1861 he helped raise men for service and, over the course of five days, more than 100 Soldiers were recruited and organized into the regiment, a testament to his dedication to both faith and Country. He entered the U.S. Army at Bushnell, Illinois, initially commissioned as a captain in Company F of the 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Five months later he stepped into the role of regimental chaplain, bringing to that position both spiritual grounding and the respect of the Soldiers he served. His men came to call him “The Fighting Chaplain” in recognition of the way he integrated his faith with the demands of frontline service.
On July 22, 1864, during the intense fighting around Atlanta, Georgia, Haney took up a musket and entered the ranks as a rifleman to help retake Federal earthworks captured by the enemy. His actions demonstrated courage, ingenuity, and a keen sense of responsibility for the men under his care. For this extraordinary heroism, he was awarded the Medal of Honor on November 3, 1896. His citation notes that he “voluntarily carried a musket in the ranks of his regiment and rendered heroic service in retaking the Federal works which had been captured by the enemy.”
Haney’s service continued as both pastor and comrade, and after the war he lived a long life marked by resilience and reflection on his years of service. He died of pneumonia on January 20, 1922, at the age of ninety‑six and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, California. His story endures as an example of how spiritual dedication and personal courage can converge to safeguard the lives of Soldiers, strengthen the Army, and honor the Country and Families they served.
Corporal Calvin Titus
Corporal Calvin Titus was born on September 22, 1879, in Vinton, Iowa. He enlisted in the Army at age 18 in May 1898 during the Spanish‑American War, initially serving with the 1st Vermont Volunteer Infantry before transferring to the 14th Infantry Regiment in April 1899. Titus was also a musician, playing in regimental bands and contributing to the morale of his fellow Soldiers. While the Army had no formal chaplain assistant position at the time, he frequently performed similar duties, which helped maintain morale and unit cohesion.
In the summer of 1900, the Boxer Rebellion in China placed foreign legations in Peking under siege. The 14th Infantry was part of an international relief force advancing to break the blockade. On August 14, the unit reached the city’s eastern wall near the Tung‑Pien Gate, a thirty-foot barrier with no ladders, where defenders opened fire on approaching Soldiers.
Commanders called for volunteers to scale the wall and open a route for the assault. Titus stepped forward and said, “I’ll try, sir.” Using only gaps in the bricks for support, he climbed under rifle and artillery fire. Once atop the wall, he secured a route for his comrades, enabling Company E to follow and establish a foothold above the wall. His action changed the momentum of the assault and provided a path for reinforcements to advance.
For this act of courage, Titus was awarded the Medal of Honor, recognizing his “gallant and daring conduct” as the first to climb the wall. He was officially awarded the medal on March 11, 1902, and it was presented by President Theodore Roosevelt during the West Point centennial ceremonies in June of that year.
Titus continued his career in the Army, returning to the Philippines with his regiment, and later serving in the Mexican Expedition and in post‑World War I Germany. He retired in October 1930 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, having dedicated more than three decades to the service of Soldiers, Family, and Country.
He died on May 27, 1966, in San Fernando, California, at the age of 86, and was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles. His bravery in combat, his musical contributions, and his support of fellow Soldiers remain a vivid example of courage, ingenuity, and dedication in American military history.
Chaplain Charles Joseph Watters
Chaplain (Major) Charles Joseph Watters was born on January 17, 1927, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He completed his studies at Seton Hall College and Immaculate Conception Seminary and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1953. He served parish communities in Jersey City, Rutherford, Paramus, and Cranford, guiding Families and leading worship with a steady heart and calm presence. In 1962, he became a chaplain in the New Jersey Air National Guard, and in 1964 he entered active service with the Army Chaplain Corps, bringing his pastoral experience into a new context of Soldiers facing the trials of war.
In July 1966, Chaplain Watters was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam with Company A, 173rd Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade. He completed his required twelve‑month tour and voluntarily extended his service by another six months to remain with the Soldiers he had come to know. On November 19, 1967, during the battle for Hill 875 near Dak To in Kontum Province, he faced one of the fiercest engagements of the campaign.
As casualties mounted, Watters repeatedly moved beyond the safety of the unit’s perimeter. He entered areas under heavy fire to reach wounded Soldiers, administered the Sacrament of Last Rites, and helped carry others to safer positions. Unarmed and fully exposed, he brought food and water to medics and offered words of encouragement that strengthened the resolve of those around him. At one point, he carried a paratrooper to safety amidst small arms and automatic weapons fire.
Despite attempts by fellow Soldiers to restrain him for his own safety, he continued to move between friendly and enemy lines to aid the injured. In the course of this selfless work, he was mortally wounded when an American aircraft mistakenly dropped a bomb on his position. Chaplain Watters died on November 19, 1967, at the age of 40, having remained devoted to his Soldiers to the very end.
For his actions that day, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on November 4, 1969. The decoration recognized his “conspicuous gallantry, unyielding perseverance, and selfless devotion to his comrades,” reflecting service far above the call of duty.
Watters was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on Chaplains Hill among others who gave their lives in service. His legacy endures in the buildings and institutions that bear his name, a reminder of how spiritual leadership and courage can sustain Soldiers in their darkest hours.
Chaplain Angelo James Liteky
Chaplain (Capt.) Angelo James Liteky was born on February 14, 1931, in Washington, D.C. He felt a calling to spiritual life and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1960 after studying in seminary in several states. Six years later, responding to a need for Army chaplains in Vietnam, he entered the Chaplain Corps and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 199th Infantry Brigade. His ministry in the Army involved offering spiritual support, prayer, and pastoral care to Soldiers facing the hardships of combat.
On the morning of December 6, 1967, near Phuoc‑Lac in Bien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam, Chaplain Liteky was with Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, when the unit came under intense fire from a battalion‑sized enemy force. As his fellow Soldiers hugged the ground for cover, he saw wounded men lying exposed near an enemy machine gun position. Without hesitation, he moved forward through hostile fire, placing himself between the enemy and the wounded, and dragged them to the relative safety of a helicopter landing zone for evacuation.
Throughout the day‑long engagement, he continued to move through enemy fire, administering last rites to the dying, encouraging the wounded, and evacuating them whenever possible. On one occasion, he crawled with a seriously wounded man on his chest, using his elbows and heels to inch back to safety because the man was too heavy to carry by any other means. At other moments, he freed troops caught in underbrush and personally directed medevac helicopters into and out of the landing area while under fire. When his unit was relieved the next morning, it was discovered that despite painful wounds in his neck and foot, Chaplain Liteky had carried more than 20 wounded Soldiers to the landing zone for medical evacuation during the fierce fighting.
For his extraordinary courage, devotion to his Soldiers, and willingness to place their well‑being above his own safety, Chaplain Liteky was awarded the Medal of Honor on November 19, 1968. The award cited his “exceptional heroism” while serving in combat for actions that went far beyond the call of duty.
After his time in the Army, Liteky continued his life of service in other ways, drawing on the same compassion and care he had shown his Soldiers in Vietnam. He died on January 20, 2017, in San Francisco, California, and was laid to rest in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
The bravery and devotion of these Medal of Honor chaplains and chaplain assistants reminds us that the spirit of service lives on in the Army today. Across the world, Army chaplains and religious affairs specialists continue to guide and strengthen Soldiers and Families with the same steadfast faith and courage displayed by those we have remembered. On this Medal of Honor Day, we honor the heroism of the past and the dedication of chaplains and Soldiers serving today, recognizing that their commitment shapes the Army, uplifts those in its care, and inspires every generation.
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