Britisher but, withal, a Christian, solemnly agreed that I I1 was right. I001k Re01iewS
The next evening I called to invite myself to dinner.
"Come along," he said, "a fellow countryman of yours is FIVE MILES CLOSER TO HEAVEN: AN ADVENTURE our guest." I went out to the house. Jim Lucas, said the BY PARACHUTE OVER THE JUNGLES OF INDIA. By Chappatr I want you to meet Tom Jackson, a fellow Ameri- B AAHT VRTEJNLSO NI.B hp pastor, "I want you to meet Tom Jackson, a fellow Ame- lain Harry F. Wade, C.Ss.R., USA. The Liguorian can. Pamphlet Office Oconomowoc, Wisc., 1945 (pamTom Jackson was a Negro. I am a southerner. My Pamphlet Office, Oconomowoc, Wisc., 1945 grandfather fought with the Men of Gray. My mother's phlet), illustrated, 60 pp., 25. people joined the Confederacy in Arkansas, my father's in Here is a fascinating account of an Army chaplain atTexas and Louisiana. I was brought up on the notion of tached to the India-China Division, Air Transport Comwhite supremacy. If I had not known my friend was in- mand, who had to bail out while flying the "hump" at capable of so crude a trick, I would have suspected he 22,000 feet over wild mountainous India jungles. The invited Tom Jackson on purpose to embarrass me. But he story of his subsequent experiences getting back to civilizahad merely assumed that I believed what I said when I tion is thrilling reading. This pamphlet is a worthy addihad lectured so vehemently on India. Self-righteously I tion to the growing list of publications giving firsthand achad belabored his King and his country for mistreating a counts of combat and war experiences by chaplains. helpless people. Could I refuse to sit down at the table
with my fellow American?
wihm elwAeia?. DOUGHBOY CHAPLAIN. By Captain Edward K. RogI sat. I suspect I am the first person of Lucas-Martin- DOUGHBOY CHAPLAIN. By Captain Edward K. RogGriffing stock to eat with a Negro in generations. I found ers. Meador Publishing Co., Boston, 1946. 2230 pp., him one of the finest Christians I have ever met. He had 21 illustrations, $2.00. come off a recently torpedoed destroyer, had faced the This is a vivid, almost day-by-day account of a Lutheran same danger for our country that I was facing. At the risk Army chaplain attached to the First Infantry Division, who of offending my family and my friends, I must say .that went through seven campaigns including North Africa, some of us have a long way to go before we can call our- Sicily, Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge. Dr. Ylviselves Christians and prove it. This is another lesson that saker claims that Rogers is "the most decorated chaplain has been learned by many chaplains, of one of the most decorated fighting infantry divisions of Some chaplains fear, I think unreasonably, that they have the U. S. army." The author begins his story with an acbecome hardened. I have yet to meet a chaplain whom I count of the motives that led him to enlist. At times the would call a calloused man. book is slow reading as you follow him through all of the
Chaplain L- told me recently that he had seen a ma- detail and routine of a soldier's life, but then when you get rine shot in action, had helped to bandage his wounds, car- into the descriptions of battle, the story grips you. ried him out on a stretcher and watched calmly while the Among the unusual experiences recounted is that of maimed leg was being treated. capturing a German officer (pp. 177 ff.) who proved to
"Two years ago," he said, "I couldn't have looked at be a Lutheran minister who had been forced to serve in anything like it. At home I know I couldn't have stood it. the Army. One cannot read this book without having a I was squeamish about the sight of blood. But there I stood, tremendous admiration, not only for the author, but also watching him, touching him, sharing his pain, and I didn't for all,chaplains who went with their men into combat. feel squeamish." After thirty-three months of service, all but one spent overOur clergymen are developing their forthrightness, seas, Chaplain Rogers returned to his civilian pastorate, Most already had it but it is no reflection on them to say First Lutheran Church, Warren, Penna. that their civilian environment did not encourage physical
ruggedness. A minister who engaged in active sports was
a rarity. But certainly Chaplain L-'s ability to meet the GUERRILLA PADRE IN MINDANAO. By Edward emergency was more Christian than running and hiding Haggerty. Longmans, Green & Co., 1946. 257 pp. with his face at the sight of blood. It wasn't a question of hay- index, $2.75. ing become calloused. Father Haggerty, S.J., American Rector of the College of He will be a different man, however, when he comes Cagayan, Mindanao, did not leave the island during the back after the war is over. He will be forceful. He can be recent war, even though opportunities for repatriation expected to call a spade a spade. And I shall be sadly came to him. He elected to remain with his people and surprised if he.,doesn't offend some of the self-righteous share with them all of the dangers and difficulties of life citizens ho attend many churches. Some of our ex- under the conquering Japanese. For three years he lived chaplains may be kicked out of some nice pulpits by in- in the hills, moving from place to place to avoid capture, dignant congregations. But the church will be stronger all the time carrying oni his religious ministry as a civilian for these men whose eyes are opened to reality, priest. His sympathy for and cooperation with the forces And give the credit to the marines and their brothers in of resistance earned for him the title of Guerrilla Padre. the army and navy, the lads who have had a lasting in- This account of his experiences is intensely interesting. fluence on the chaplains. The teacher has been taught. Incidentally, the book throws much light upon the activiThe preacher went to war and heard a sermon. Will you ties of Amercan officers who received material aid from be able to understand it when he comes home? United States submarines. (Continued on page 40)
April-May, 1946 35