Four Who Served - Jesuit Chaplains in WWII

Entered Society 8-15-1921, Ordained 6-24-1934, Appointed to the Army 11-29-1941, Promoted to Captain 11-14-1942, Promoted to Major 3-17-1947, Bronze Star awarded 7-11-1945.

Deployment History:

• Fort Eustis, Newport News, VA (1 – 4-1942)
• Morris Field, SC; Waycross, GA; Fort Dix/Camp Kilmer, NJ (4-1942 – 1-1943)
• Aïn M'lila and Youks-les-Bains Airfield, Algeria (1 – 4-1943)
• Ebba Ksour Airfield, Tunis, Cape Bon, and Sousse, Tunisia (4 – 8-1943)
• Sicily and Italy, including the Battle of Anzio (8-1943 – 8-1944)
• Château-Bas, Southern France (9-1944 – ?)

Woodstock College Archives 

WTL-19761101

Box 104, Folder 2345

These four photographs feature a few candid shots of Fr. James A. Martin. They show his every-day life while in the Army, as well as the joyful faces of people he helped liberate.

Woodstock College Archives 

WTL-19761101

Box 121, Folder 2756a

This is a typescript biography of James A. Martin. This typed data includes information such as his date of ordination and branch of service as well as his memories of his travels throughout Italy, North Africa and the Holy Land.

Entered Society 9-7-1920, Ordained 6-25-1933, Appointed to the Army 4-8-1944, Promoted to Captain 3-1-1945, Promoted to Major 10-1-1953. 

Deployment History:

• Harvard Chaplain School (4 – 6-1944)
• Regimental Chaplain, 201st Infantry Regiment, Camp Carson, CO (6 – 9-1944)
• Fort Jackson, SC (9-1944 – 2-1945)
• Camp Rucker, AL; Indiantown Gap, PA; Camp Anza, CA (3 – 6-1945)
• Battalion Chaplain, 199th Ordnance Battalion, Makum, Assam, India (7-1945 – 3-1946)

James L. Harley, SJ Papers 

GTM-900928

Box 1, Folder 6

The first patch, showing a sun illuminating a green valley and road, represents the “Ledo Driver’s Award” that commended expert driving on the Ledo Road. This was an overland connection between China and British India during World War II that served to help deliver supplies and aid in the war against Japan. Fr. Harley was ministering to people in multiple areas of India, but it is inconclusive if he himself was awarded this patch. 

The second patch, with the embroidered sun and moon, represents the China Burma India (CBI) Theater. This was a key operation zone  for US forces in WWII where they worked with Chinese allies. The patch is a combination of the Republic of China and United States flags.

James L. Harley, SJ Papers 

GTM-900928

Box 1, Folder 5

These two published booklets were intended for members of the chaplaincy. Noted inside them is spiritual guidance, such as urging to take up the rosary, poems written by fellow chaplains to specific prayers. 

James L. Harley, SJ Papers 

GTM-900928

Box 1, Folder 8

Taken in 1952, this portrait shows Fr. James L. Harley in his service uniform. Seen on his shoulder is the China Burma India (CBI) Theater patch that is in this same exhibition.

June 18, 1945

James L. Harley, SJ Papers 

GTM-900928

Box 1, Folder 7

A letter Fr. James L. Harley wrote to his sister Marion Harley Neilan during his service in India where he was stationed from July 1945 to March 1946. In this letter he specifically notes a “Jesuit” moment, as he found himself celebrating Mass among Fordham University graduates and in “the land of Xavier.”

Entered Society 8-14-1909, Ordained 6-28-1923, Appointed to the Army 12-2-1943, Promoted to Captain 12-18-1945.

Deployment History:

• Harvard Chaplain School (1 – 2-1944)
• Hospital Chaplain, Camp Blanding, FL (2 – 12-1944)
• 8th Replacement Depot, Montopoli, Italy (1 – 9-1945)
• Camp Lee, VA (9-1945 – 4-1946)

March 1944

Robert A. Parsons, SJ Papers 

GTM-GAMMS31

Box 1, Folder 10

This monthly report form provided space for chaplains to report on a variety of activities that include religious services, educational or recreational events, civilian outreach, services by visiting clergymen, and details on service changes. Fr. Parsons not only cared for his American compatriots but also met the spiritual needs of German POWs, celebrating Mass and providing books for the men detained at Fort Blanding. 

Circa 1944

Robert A. Parsons, SJ Papers 

GTM-GAMMS31

Box 1, Folder 13

A group photograph of the chaplains stationed at Camp Blanding, Florida, in 1944.

Circa 1945

Robert A. Parsons, SJ Papers 

GTM-GAMMS31

Box 1, Folder 13

These three images show Fr. Parson’s actively performing mass aboard a soldier transport ship.

Entered Society 9-7-1926, Ordained 6-19-1938, Appointed to the Army 5-4-1943, Promoted to Captain 6-26-1944.

Deployment History: 

• Harvard Chaplain School (6 – 7-1943)
• Headquarters, Elgin Field, FL (7-1943 – 7-1944)
• 553rd AAF BU, Romulus Army Air Field, MI (7-1944 – 5-1945)
• 556rd AAF BU, Long Beach, CA (5 – 9-1945)
• 1304th AAF BU, Air Transport Command, Barrackpur, India (10-1945 – 6-1946)

Varia Collection: Varia 3 

GTA-GAMMS4

Box 17, Folder 1406

Article from Far Away Missions, a published booklet for chaplains. This edition recounts the work of Fr. Martin J. O’Gara who joined Georgetown faculty in 1940 and left to become a chaplain in the Air Transport Command in 1942. He was returning to the US from India when the plane caught fire over the Mediterranean on June 1, 1946. This article recounts his self-sacrifice as he helped save eight passengers before the plane crashed.

University Archives Photographic Collection 

GTA-000109

Picture of Fr. O’Gara and a fellow soldier standing outside. 

Circa 1946

University Archives Photographic Collection 

GTA-000109

As a former theology professor at Georgetown, O’Gara was honored with a funeral Mass by the University in 1946. Today, his memory is inscribed on campus, with a terrace outside Dahlgren Chapel bearing his name.

While Jesuits have long been known for their work in education, on this 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, it is worth remembering the many Jesuit chaplains who served alongside their brethren in the fight against fascism.