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On June 6, 1944, tens of thousands of Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, marking a pivotal turning point in World War II known as D-Day. Amid the chaos, over 156,000 soldiers were accompanied by brave chaplains who landed or parachuted alongside them. Here are the stories of three chaplains whose heroic acts of courage stand out.
Father Francis Sampson
Father Francis Sampson, famously known as the “Parachute Padre,” served with the 501st Parachute Regiment. Among the 15,500 soldiers who jumped behind enemy lines on D-Day, Sampson immediately began tending to the wounded. Captured by German SS troops, he was nearly executed but was saved when a German officer recognized his chaplain’s insignia and intervened, showing him a Catholic medal pinned inside his uniform. Despite his capture, Sampson continued to aid American soldiers, even donating his own blood. For his bravery, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). After D-Day, Sampson was recaptured during the Battle of the Bulge and remained committed to his ministry until the war’s end. He later served as the U.S. Army’s chief of chaplains from 1967 to 1971.
Father Joseph Lacy
Father Joseph Lacy landed on Omaha Beach with the 5th Ranger Battalion on D-Day. Despite initial doubts about his ability to keep up, he proved his worth by being among the first to disembark from his landing craft. He pulled men from the water, tended to the wounded, and administered last rites under heavy enemy fire. Lacy’s heroic efforts earned him the Distinguished Service Cross. His citation noted his extraordinary heroism and disregard for personal safety as he moved about the beach, inspiring others with his bravery.
Father Ignatius Maternowski
Father Ignatius Maternowski, a Franciscan priest with the 82nd Airborne Division, was the only U.S. military chaplain killed in action on D-Day. Parachuting into Normandy, he worked to create a makeshift first-aid station in Picauville. Realizing the need for more space, Maternowski courageously approached the German lines to negotiate with their chief medic. Tragically, after successfully arranging to combine the wounded, he was shot in the back by a Nazi sniper while returning to American lines. His body lay on the road for three days until it could be recovered by the 90th Infantry Division. Maternowski’s grave in South Hadley, Massachusetts, bears the inscription: “No Greater Love.”
Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, honored Maternowski as a role model for military chaplains, highlighting his ultimate sacrifice as an example of Christian love in the face of great evil.
These three chaplains, through their bravery and dedication, provided spiritual and physical support to the soldiers on the front lines, embodying the highest traditions of service and sacrifice.
Source: Catholic News Agency
