I am requesting that our Chaplain of the Latin Mass Community in Dayton OH, celebrate a Requiem Mass (in the extraordinary form) for the Repose of his Soul on Thursday September 3 at our Lady of the Rosary in Dayton OH. A stipend has been sent to him for the Mass to be celebrated.

I have been encouraged by the story of Father Capodanno and spiritually moved by his life and example. My family and I are going to begin a novena invocating his intercession for the cure of my 5 year old, Joseph, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome, for which there is no cure. He is also not able to speak propery. I know that he will be cured. Please pray with us. Thank you.

I just learned of Father Capodanno today. His courage to do God's will, especially while facing physical danger is so moving. I pray for his intercession that we all can remain steadfast in our faith ..... Father Capodanno stated it perfectly, "God is here with us."

Recently learn of Fr. Capodanno from a friend here in San Antonio. They personally know Fr. Mode. Have purchased Grunt Padre by Fr. Mode and is great reading of an incredible vocation - haven't finished the book yet. My son will have the opportunity to meet and hopefully get to know Fr. Mode at his new assignment with the US Coast Guard academy. My son begins his career with the Coast Guard next month at the academy.

Last week I watched the DVD of the life of Fr. Capodanno on EWTN with my brother.It was so wonderful to learn more about Fr. Vincent as I had heard a little about him some years ago on Life on the Rock(EWTN). My prayer is that he will be made a saint and patron of military chaplains.I think the movie made an impression on my 16 year old brother who want to serve in the military one day. Thanks to all who made the DVD available on EWTN and work so hard to see the day of his beatification and canonization!

As a confirmation gift, my Godparents gave me "The Grunt Padre". I received my confirmation during my junior year of high school. During that summer I read the book that was given to me. As a young Catholic man, who was looking to do something special with his life, this book was perfect. I was so inpsired, encouraged, and humbled by the willingness that Fr Capodanno had to follow God's will for his life. So, I decided to follow in Fr Capodanno's footsteps. I prayed about it, thought about and talked about with my guidance counselors at school, and during my senior of high school I told my parents...that I was joing the Marine Corps. They were in shock. Not that they did not believe in service to one's country, but they though it would be best for me to continue to pray about it. As a special favor, they asked me to go to community college for a year, so I could think it over and pray about it. I reluctantly obeyed. I wondered why I could not have the same conviction that Fr Capodanno had when he told his superiors that he was going into military service.

So, I prayed everyday that I would day be a Marine, and I also prayed that if God did not want me to do that, he would give me something special instead.

Two years have gone by since I told my parents about my "plans". I am now a sophmore at community college, and I have prayed everyday that God would lead me to his will. I so often remember the patience that Fr Capodanno had, and I know that God will lead me to what he has for me.

During these past two years, I have still felt a call to some sort of service. Something that entails physical and spiritual self sacrifice and obedience. I have felt a call to something that will truly allow me to follow in Fr Vincet Capodanno's footsteps... Through much prayer and seeking advice, I have come to believe that Jesus Christ is calling me to the Priesthood.

I will be going to St. Andrew's College Seminary at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ next year. I will be a candidate for the Paterson Diocese. It is an honor to know that a possible Saint grew up so close to where I gew up, in New Jersey. I will continue to pray that I am lead with the same humility, trust and patience that Fr Capodanno was lead with. I thank God often for his witness to me. I tell many people that Fr Vincet Capodanno, as with JP II and St Isaac Jogues, was one of the major influences that inspired me to begin the journey to being a priest. I will pray in intercession to Fr Capodanno now more than ever, as will I now pray that he one day be added to the Canon of the Saints.
Thank you Jesus, and thank you Fr Vince

A gentleman who knew I was a V vet pressed the holycard into my hand and whispered "I know you have been through alot- Read this". I am thrilled to know about Father Vincent. I hope that he becomes canonized because of his many selfless acts towards others. V vets are always portrayed in a negative fashon. In death, he also rises up ...................

While I was only four and a half years old when my Uncle Vincent,Father Vincent Capodanno was killed in Vietnam on 4 september,1967-my Mom and Dad and siblings have all shared stories of a man who was larger than life in their eyes long before the cause for canonization.They all talked about the feeling when he walked into a room full of people and his presence was immediately noticed without a word from his mouth-how he would talk one on one with anyone that needed an ear,even though he was home for a short time.My mom shared a particularly amusing story with me.When Father Vincent reported to the mission in Taiwan he was fairly well prepared for his duties except one.He didn't know how to bath and change the children properly.My mom being the mother of ten children had him come stay at our house which I believe was in Massapequa,Ny or Freeport,Ny at the time and when he left he was a proffessional child care missionary to say the least.While it wasn't his responsibility to do these tasks regularly at the mission he learned how to do them and went back and did them any way to help the other staff at the mission-Humbly he did what he needed to do to help others throughout his life,as a Missionary,and as a Chaplain in Vietnam,Tom Capodanno

I never met Father Capodanno, but my father, Robert K. Miller gave me his mass card, and I googled his name to find out more. What a wonderful man! I had to leave a note here.

I met Father Capodanno while serving in Vietnam at a field hospital, 1st Hospital Company, 1st Marine Division. I can honestly say he was an inspiration.

It was not me that new him but my father Harry L Capadano, they were cousins. I will get back with more information mainly from his childhood and when he was in the seminary. We as a family collective are extremely proud and honored to have had this absolute example of Spiritual Perfection as part of our family. I was born in 1964 so I never had the honor of knowing him but as I get more information from my father I will pass it on to you all. What I did know is that he did enjoy beer on occasion with the men. So much for the sacrificial wine, it just goes to show you his human side. He was a wonderfully funny and down to earth man with such a love of his religion it brought peace to anyone he came into contact with...

Thank you
Mary Capadano-Cote

Father Capodanno reminds me of another brave Itialian-American MOH recipient, Msgt. "Manilla John" Basilone of Guadacanal and WWII fame. I had the honor of serving aboard the USS Basilone DDE-824 and as a Father of Navy veteran of the Iraq War, I urge all my shipmates and Marine veteran friends to petition and pray for the canonization of Father Vincent Capodanno, a MARINE if there ever ewas one!

Fr. Vincent Capodanno has been an inspiration to our family and friends. We pray for his powerful intercession for our Priest and people who begin this New Year and ask special blessings on our troops who are currently in harms way.

I served with Father Capodanno in H&SCo;, 1stBn, 7thMarines almost all of the time I was in country from May 1966 thru June 1967. Once in a while I was assigned as his Chaplain's assistant or riding "shotgun" on his frequent visits to the rifle companies surrounding our base in Chu Lai. I remember we had a lot in common as he was from Staten Island and I was from Brooklyn.
I remember him fondly and hope we'll meet again.

I knew Farther Capodanno from the time he joined 3/5 until 4 Sep 1967. I had began my tour of duty in Vietnam in Feb of 67 with Mike Co,3/5. On 4 Sep, I was a radio operator with 2nd plt, M Co.
I, along with many others were pinned down by a terrific amount of enemy fire. I was trying to get to a more secure area when Father Capodanno appeared and helped me drag my radio and myself into a bomb crater. The last I saw of him was when he was giving last rites to Stephen Cornell. I am certain to this day that Father Capodanno rescued me from sure death.
My son Jeremy, in 1991,wrote a high school history report about Vietnam., specifically concerning Operation Swift.
Among other things, Jeremy stated that; "If Father
Capodanno had not been there my dad would have died and my sister and I would not have been born!" I might add that my three grandsons would not exit either! Father Capodanno may have joined the Navy but to us grunts in the field he was one of us, a MARINE!!

I had the opportunity of serving and working with Fr Capodanno at the hospital in Chu Lai. He was a remarkable man. I remember his so well and am honored to have worked with him.

I was very lucky to serve on the USS.Capodanno FF-1093 From 1984-1987 she was a good ship and I like to think that Father Vincent would have been pround off her. I want to thank all of our veterans and our service people today "Veterans Day" God bless and protect all of them.

I just completed renaming our local Knights of Columbus Assembly to the Fr. Vincent R. Capodanno Assembly #0755 and will be having a dinner in November to do the official name change. I have asked, and they have accepted, James & Lydia Capodanno, bother & sister-in-law, to attend this dinner and mass.

Just want to thank the people repsonsible for creating and maintaining this site!
In an era when cynicism is the prevailing mood, self-promotion the accepted norm and loyalty to God, country and fellow warrior often mocked by Hollywood types, the image of Father Capodanno stands in stark contrast - an image of honor, humility and devotion to God and others, given to the very last measure.
The words 'honor', 'courage', and 'valor' do not approach the level of descriptors required for this man of God. May his cause advance swiftly, and his example light the hearts of new generations of young men and women everywhere.

I was a Navy Hospital Corpsman with 2nd Platoon, Mike Co. 3rd BN, 5th Marines in Vietnam. This was the unit that Fr. Capodanno was with when he was killed helping a wounded Corpsman.

I arrived in Vietnam in early December 1967 and immediately heard of what happened just a few months before. Those who had been there were devastated by the loss of Fr. Capodanno.

Although I never met him, I have been inspired by his actions my whole life.

In 1996 I was the guest speaker at the Marine Corps Ball at the Marine Corps League in Spring Hill, FL. The subject of my speech was "Corpsman Up". It told of what it was like to be a Marine Corps Combat Corpsman in Vietnam. I spoke of the times when I also had to act as a Chaplain when needed and that there were many times Chaplains helped take care of wounded. I spoke of the Fr. Capodanno as a prime example. I will alway feel a kinship with the "Grunt Padre". We both "been there, done that".

Although a chaplain, I would have been proud to call him "Doc" too.

Semper Fi "Doc" Capodanno
Philip "Doc" Stern
Chief Hospital Corpsman, USN (SW)
1966-1986
Vietnam 67-68, Silver Star, Purple Heart