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By Chaplain (Captain) Dudley Q . Boyd*
P ERHAPS there is a vague idea in the minds of most people concern ing the duties of the military Chap lain during these days of so-called peace. In my personal experience, it seems that most civilians have almost forgotten about the Chaplain and his ministry with the members of the armed forces, at least in regard to all the various activities involved. However it is possible that many readers are inter ested in just what keeps the Chaplain busy from dawn to dusk, or should I say twenty-four hours a day. There is an old saying in the Army, “When in trouble, go see the Chaplain.” A great many men have taken that ad vice to heart, regardless of the nature of the problem, whether physical, ma terial, or spiritual. Very seldom does a man come expressing a desire for spiritual help, but the wise Chaplain can usually discern a spiritual need beneath the more apparent problem on the sur face. It is through these external needs that we are given the opportunity to help the individual spiritually. A Chap lain lives more with his men and comes to know them better than the average minister knows his constituents. On duty a Chaplain dresses in the same garb or uniform as h's men, he mingles with them on the job, in the field, at the gymnasium and in the mess hall. The only distinguishing emblem is the little silver cross worn on the lapel or shirt collar. Where men live, eat, sleep, and work together month in and month out, they are certain to know each other much better than where they only meet once or twice a week and that usually at church. In the Army, the camouflage of piety is soon shed and the man re veals himself to the Chaplain as he really is. Then when the opportunity arrives, they have a better understand ing of each other and can talk in plain terms and without deceit. A soldier needs a soldier to unburden his heart to, and the Chaplain is the man because they understand each other. Yes, the Chap lain lives and works with his men almost as much in peace time as in war. He may not see them all out to church on Sunday, but if he does his job, he does see them on the job and around their quarters all week long. Page Ten
The duty most apparent to the casual observer is that of conducting the regular worship services each Sunday and perhaps a mid-week Bible study. Not only does the Chaplain provide services for his own faith, but he ar ranges services for all faiths. By that I mean the three great groups recog nized by the Army for whom Chaplains are provided: Catholic, Protestant, and Hebrew. This may seem incongruous with the average minister’s concept of duties, nevertheless, the Chaplain has not only the responsibility for the men of his own faith, but he must see that the spiritual needs of all men are met. During the war, most Chaplains were responsible for the spiritual and moral welfare of approximately one thousand men, but at present the number is con siderably less. As in a civilian pastorate, the Chap lain can do as little or as much as he cares to do. He is more or less his own business manager. The regulations re quire the Chaplain to conduct one gen eral religious service each Sunday. If he desires to build a Sunday school, promote a week-day Bible study class, have special meetings for young people, or develop a choir, he may do so, de pending upon his zeal and ambition for the work of the Lord. The average Chaplain has his share of marriages, funerals, baptisms, and all rites usually associated with a civilian pastorate. The Chaplain is constantly called upon to act as a liaison between the soldier overseas and his family here in the States, or between the family and the military establishment. Hardly a day goes by that some parent does not write or call the Chaplain to know why their boy has not written or why he has not taken out any insurance, or, even more serious, ask: “ Where is my boy?” Many a young soldier and even some older ones, forget that if they do not keep their loved ones informed as to their whereabouts, there is no other indi vidual or organization to do it for»them. However, when we get these calls for help, we obtain the answers either through military channels or the Ameri can Red Cross. The Red Cross also works with us in obtaining information concerning problems at the soldier’s
Chaplain Dudley Q . Boyd
*Chaplain Dudley Q. Boyd is Post Chaplain at Fort MacArthur, the big Organized Reserve Corps Training Center at San Pedro, California. He has a wealth of ex perience as an Army Chaplain and is eminently qualified to write, as he does here, of the responsibilities and duties of the peace time Chap lain. A native Californian, Chap lain Boyd was born at Dinuba in the San Joaquin Valley, attended school there and was graduated from the Southern California Bible College at Pasadena, which he at tended between preaching assign ments in half a dozen Northern California churches. He enlisted in the Army following graduation and completed Chaplain’s training at Fort Devens, Mass. Then fol lowed short tours of duty at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Lawton, Washington, after which he was assigned to duty aboard Army Transports on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This work took him to the four comers of the world, and among the countries he visited and studied were Japan and most of the Islands in the Pa cific, South America, England, France, Germany, North Africa and Egypt. He was assigned as a Chaplain with the 25th Infantry Division at Osaka, Japan in 19A7. Here he ivas joined by his wife and two children, a welcome change after the many separa tions from his family while aboard ship. He was assigned to Fort Mac- Arthur in May 19A9 where he ministers to the needs of the sol diers of the Reserve Training Center commanded by Brigadier General Leroy H. Watson. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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