Rice Paddy Priest:
A Short Reflection of a
Military Chaplain in the Vietnam War.
by Father Carrol Thorne, C.P.
During the mid summer of 2001 I was having a morning cup of coffee with Father Carrol Thorne, C.P. Presently serving as a civilian chaplain for the Department of Pastoral Care at the nation's maximum security prison for military offenders convicted of serious crime, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he was on vacation and was visiting the Passionist residence here at Union City, New Jersey. While reflecting on the prison ministry, he made a passing comment in reference to his time as military chaplain in Vietnam. Immediately I interrupted his train of thought and asked him if he would write a personal reflection on his Vietnam experience for the Passionist Heritage Newsletter. The request came as a surprise. He was momentarily silent.
I proceeded to remind him that his ministry as a military chaplain in Vietnam was part of a Passionist legacy that dated back to World War I. St. Paul of the Cross Province and Holy Cross Province released priests to serve the armed forces. Many Passionist priests served as chaplains in World War II. Father Owen Monaghan, C.P. of Holy Cross Province was killed in action in the South Pacific on April 7, 1945. For a background on World War II chaplains one can read Donald F. Crosby, S.J. Battlefield Chaplains: Catholic Priests in World War II (University Press of Kansas, 1994). There is grace of perspective that comes with thirty years. Father Carrol Thorne's ministerial reflections about Vietnam anchor a period of Passionist military chaplain history and United States, southeast Asian, social and Catholic history.
A Union City native, Father Thorne professed his Passionist vows on July 16, 1953 and was ordained a Passionist priest on April 28, 1960. First, I encourage readers to reflect on his thoughts so as to understand the emotion, experience and dedication of a military chaplain. Second, historical realities are important. For instance, read with sensitivity his use of military terminology in relating his experience and his ministry as a priest. Third, his comments are a reminder that the war had a different face in Vietnam than at home in the United States. Consequently, we should do our best to always combine both historical experiences when we discuss the Vietnam War. Knowledge of military and peace history go hand in hand. Fourth, it might be surprising for many to know that anyone who is a military chaplain is of service to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, U.S.A. Their office is in Washington, D.C. Patrick Cardinal Hayes of New York was the first military vicar in 1917. On September 8, 1957 the Military Vicariate of the United States was established. The Archdiocese was created on March 25, 1985. Finally, since September 11, 2001 we have been a nation at war. We wage war to seek peace and secure justice. Military chaplains continue to serve an important role which requires our understanding. --editor
A "Flying Tigers" Corporation jet plane brought me and eighty-six other military replacements to Vietnam in April of 1972. As we waited our turn to land high above Ton Son Nhut airbase our aircraft circled a number of times just as the Thursday morning sun was rising. Ground control advised the flight crew that Viet Cong sappers with hand-held ground-to-air missiles had as usual been detected in the jungle surrounding Saigon (now Ho Chi Mini City). Standard operating procedure advised extreme caution while attempting to land. Some onboard returning to "the Nam" for a second tour assured us that we would not even see the rocket that would blow the plane apart should we be targeted. There was no reason to be uptight. Relax, enjoy the South East Asian sunrise now a golden blaze of shimmering brilliance, the best show in town.
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