They called him the grunt padre. Fr. Vince Capodanno, a distinguished Maryknoll missionary, priest and Navy Catholic chaplain, was known for joining Marines (grunts) heading into combat.
Fr. Capodanno was profiled Tuesday by guest speaker Army Lt. Col. Mark Helms (Ret.) at Navy League Aurora Council 247’s May meeting at Riverview Diner in Montgomery.
Killed in combat in Vietnam, the padre was posthumously awarded bronze and silver stars and the Congressional Medal of Honor. The Catholic Church recognized him with the Servant of God designation. Helms is among veterans lobbying the Pope to declare sainthood for Fr. Capodanno.
Helms said, “He blessed and comforted men going into battle. He wanted to go wherever the Marines were facing danger, often jumping on the last helicopter heading to a fight. He constantly risked his life.”
Additionally, he conducted field worship services and shared cigarettes and candy.
Helms supplemented his speech with excerpts from a biography of Fr. Capodanno and video interviews with soldiers who served with him.
According to Helms, Fr. Capodanno was shot and killed Sept. 4, 1967, while tending to a wounded Marine and a Navy corpsman.
—Al Benson