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| Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese of the Military Services delivered this homily at the Sept. 4 memorial Mass for Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno at the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. A Maryknoll missionary, military chaplain and U.S. Navy lieutenant, Father Capodanno was killed in Vietnam on Sept. 4, 1967, while ministering to wounded and dying Marines of the 1st Marine Division. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor, and, in 2006, the Catholic Church officially proclaimed him a "Servant of God"; his story is the subject of The Grunt Padre by Father Daniel Mode....
WASHINGTON DC 04Sept2012: A few weeks ago there was a special program dedicated to the late Father Vincent Capodanno. For the most part, those who spoke had been Marines who served with him, including those with him when he was killed by enemy fire. It was impressive to listen to their testimony and to hear their tributes to a priest who gave his all — both in life and in death — for those he was called to serve.
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 GAETA, Italy – The U.S. 6th Fleet flagship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) held a memorial ceremony in honor of U.S. Navy Chaplain Lt. Vincent Capodanno at Piazza di Capodanno, Sept. 4. The ceremony was held on the 45th anniversary of Lt. Capodanno’s death; he was killed in combat during Operation Swift Sept. 4, 1967 and was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless sacrifice. Lt. Capodanno’s family heritage tied both the sailors of Mount Whitney and the local community together.
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| My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The convergence of the memorial of St. Gregory the Great and this annual remembrance of the late Father Vincent Capodanno is a happy coincidence. Both lived in troubled times: the barbarian invasions and persecutions for the former and the era of Vietnam for the latter. Both served the Church wearing a variety of hats. Before receiving the papal tiara, Gregory was a Prefect of Rome, a monk, and an early forerunner of those who represent the Holy Father. Vincent wore the biretta of a priest, toiled as a missionary in Taiwan, and died as a chaplain to the Marines.
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AMS Auxiliary Bishop Richard Higgins was main celebrant for Mass at Washington Navy Yard chapel 04Sept08 in honor of Fr. Vincent R. Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR. Concelebrating were base chaplain Fr. Keiran Mandata, Fr. Dolan who served with Capodanno as a missioner in Taiwan, and Fr. Joseph McGahren.
Capodanno reported for duty in Vietnam during Holy Week 1966. On September 4, 1967 during Operation Swift while tending to wounded and dying US Marines, Fr. Capodanno was KIA by enemy fire. News spread quickly as the radio operator signaled, "3/5 Number 21 is KIA." "Number 21 clarified Bishop Higgins, "is code for chaplain."
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 23Sept2007: I was somewhat apprehensive as I was driving the 350 miles south to Camp Pendleton, Ca. for the commemoration of Operation Swift, 40 years ago, Sep. 4, 1967. Of course, the action on the 4th was the most discussed, but other events also happened during the rest of the operation. I wasn't too sure how things would go, but when I arrived and met my long-time friend, John Lobur and his lovely wife Jan, my fears quickly disappeared. John and I had spent many a day surviving in Vietnam, and it had been 31 years since we had last seen each other. It was as if we had just been separated for a short time! We went to Chuck Goebel's mom's home in Lake Forrest for a back yard barbecue. During the barbecue, I was interested to discover what had happened to several of my fellow Marines. I will give one example: After being on a LP (listening post) all night during Swift as radio operator, the unit I was with (I believe 6 men) was fired upon by an AC47 gunship. At least one was KIA on one side of me and one WIA on the other, each being about 3-4 feet from me. I never knew what happened to the wounded Marine until Larry Nunes spoke of his being wounded during Swift by friendly fire. I spoke with Larry and we agreed that it was the AC47 gunship incident! Finally, after 40 years, I knew who it was that had been wounded and what had happened to him after he was medi-vaced. Of course, those who did not survive Swift were the ones most honored, but we also celebrated the survivors and were grateful to learn of their lives since, even though at least some of us have suffered greatly either physically, mentally,or both, we were able to embrace each other and give thanks. Chuck, his mom, and wife Christy, Capt. J.D. Murray, Jack Swan, and others, not to mention USMC personnel at Camp Pendleton, went beyond the call to organize and manage this reunion. A big thanks to all!
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