by Tim Townsend
36 “We must have . . .”: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, January 1938.
36 “When we see only money . . .”: Ibid., March 1938.
37 When eight hundred people attended: Ibid., November 1939.
37 Ellwanger ran the mission day school: “Short History.”
37 pastored his congregation: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, 10 February 1939.
37 Gerecke went to the City Workhouse: Ibid., June 1940.
37 the rounds at Koch Hospital: Ibid., 6 October 1937.
37 he visited the isolation patients: Ibid., June 1940.
37 “First service, fifteen miles . . .”: Ibid., July 1941.
38 “The work of a city missionary . . .”: Ibid., August 1941.
38 visits to the government’s Marine Hospital: “Short History.”
38 The three men together baptized: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, February 1938.
38 “The Gospel has been taught . . .”: “Short History.”
39 At the Municipal Workhouse: Ibid.
39 Gerecke had gained large audiences: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, Easter 1941.
39 “What can be done for the ex-prisoner?”: Ibid., June 1941.
40 “ . . . We enjoy a splendid spirit . . .”: Ibid., June 1940.
40 “ . . . we are after souls . . .”: Ibid., November 1938.
40 “Quite often we find . . .”: Ibid., 4 November 1937.
40 “Every new patient . . .”: Ibid., July 1941.
41 “Tell it and print it”: Ibid., 4 April 1938.
41 Cathleen, he wrote one month: Ibid., February 1938.
41 “Come and see for yourself . . .”: Ibid., November 1938.
41 “The summer is on . . .”: Ibid., July 1941.
42 KFUO-AM, founded by his mentor: “KFUO: Streaming Worldwide on the Web.”
42 originally popular mostly in hospitals: “Short History.”
42 bringing him fan mail: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, October 1941.
42 and even calls to his house: Ibid., Easter 1941.
42 brought his favorite musicians: “Short History.”
42 the huge reach of radio: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, March 1938.
42 he promoted the show: Ibid., Easter 1941.
42 Gerecke recited . . . a “mission prayer”: Ibid., March 1938.
42 a rival station, KMOX: Hank Gerecke interview, 2 February 2008.
42 he loved the challenge: Hank Gerecke interview, 30 June 2011.
43 Alma had a rule: Ibid.
43 Naturally that led to fights: Ibid.
43 they fought from the time: Hank Gerecke interview, 23 March 2011.
43 “ . . . You’re hurting them”: Ibid., 30 October 2010.
43 a roof over their heads: Ibid., 4 January 2008.
44 She liked money: Ibid., 2 February 2008.
44 “This is Thanksgiving . . .”: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, November 1940.
44 where they listened to a broadcast: Hank Gerecke interview, 23 March 2011.
44 “You’ve heard the sermon . . .”: Ibid., 2 February 2008.
44 too exciting for a teenager: Ibid., 23 March 2011.
44 Hank enlisted in the army: Henry H. Gerecke, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938–1946.
45 “Save your old papers . . .”: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, January 1942.
45 forced to shutter the Industries: Hank Gerecke interview, 8 January 2008.
45 Corky followed Hank into the army: Carlton Gerecke, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938–1946.
45 “Oliver Grosse assists . . .”: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, April 1943.
45 application for ecclesiastical endorsement: Army and Navy Commission of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States. Chaplain Endorsement Application, 8 April 1943.
45 “ . . . for the position of chaplain”: O. Rothe, Letter to Army and Navy Commission.
45 “ . . . you will have a real acquisition”: P. E. Kretzmann, Letter to Army and Navy Commission.
45 “proven himself to be a psychologist . . .”: George W. Wittmer, Letter to Army and Navy Commission.
46 “When I review in my mind . . .”: Louis W. Wickham, Letter to Army and Navy Commission.
46 named Gerecke a chaplain: Henry F. Gerecke, Orders, Chaplain.
46 “ . . . I ask your blessings . . .”: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, August 1943.
47 “ . . . when we are absent one from another”: Genesis 31:49, American King James Version.
47 “The eternal God is your refuge . . .”: Deuteronomy 33:27, American King James Version.
47 “God give us strength . . .”: Gerecke, City Mission Notes, November 1941.
CHAPTER 3
48 “Before you join battle . . .”: Jewish Publication Society, Tanakh Translation.
48 recommended for the Chaplain Corps: Carl L. Wilberding, Letter to Henry F. Gerecke, 23 June 1943.
48 “ . . . There is no intention of backing down”: Henry F. Gerecke, Letter to Chief of Chaplains, 26 June 1943.
48 and reported for duty at Harvard: A. J. Casey, “Report of Entry on Active Duty,” 18 August 1943 and David H. Keller, Memo. “Subject: Report of Physical Examination,” 19 August 1943.
49 “a priest in khaki,”: Cross and Arnold, Soldiers of God, p. 15.
49 New York Cardinal Francis Spellman: “Bishop Arnold.”
49 “Chaplains of all faiths . . .”: Cross and Arnold, Soldiers of God, p. 16.
50 “Your earnest words . . .”: Arnold, “My dear Chaplain.”
50 a boy named for Mars: Pernoud, Martin of Tours, p. 19.
50 Martin, even as a child: Ibid., p. 21.
51 When Martin was fifteen years old: Ibid., p. 24.
51 the beggar laughed: Ibid., p. 27.
51 straight out of the Gospels: Ibid., p. 28, and Matthew 25:40, New Revised Standard Edition.
51 For centuries, French kings carried: “The Origin of the word ‘Chaplain.’ ” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
52 soldier-priests once carried maces: Drazin and Currey, For God and Country, p. 5.
52 The priests of Amun-Ra: Armstrong, “Organization, Function and Contribution of the Chaplaincy,” p. ii.
52 to the fifty-five million Americans: Brinsfield, Cash, and Malek-Jones, “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 722.
52 During King Philip’s War in 1675: “Colonial & New World Chaplains.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
52 among the minutemen: Brinsfield et al., “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 723.
52 to support their flocks: “During the Revolutionary War.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
52 and had no uniforms: Brinsfield et al., “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 723.
52 militias held boisterous elections: Drazin and Currey, For God and Country, p. 8.
52 helping doctors where they could: “Chaplain Authorization and Duties.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
52 Continental Congress recognized chaplains: Brinsfield et al., “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 723.
53 enforcers of religious responsibility: Drazin and Currey, For God and Country, p. 8.
53 “ . . . recommended to all Friends . . .”: Ibid., p. 11.
53 Benjamin Franklin told the story: Ibid., p. 8.
53 “a more graceful appearance”: Ibid., p. 9.
54 to facilitate the free exercise of religion: Brinsfield et al., “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 723.
54 “ . . . have been Since mutually released”: Drazin and Currey, For God and Country, p. 14.
54 matters dealing with morals: Ibid., p. 15.
54 and Polk appointed them: Army and Navy Chaplains Ordinariate, United States Catholic Chaplains in the World War, p. xiii.
54 a “Board of Clergymen”: Brinsfield et al., “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 724.
54 the military employed nearly: Ibid.
54 allowing the first Jewish chaplain: “Appointments to the Union Army.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
55 Lincoln’s somewhat reluctant approval: Armstrong, “Organization, Function and Contribution of the Chaplaincy,” p. 12.
55 a Cherokee battalion: Brinsfield et al., “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 725.
55 prompting Congress: “The Chaplaincy in the Civil War.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
55 he was eighty years old: Armstrong, “Organization, Function and Contribution of the Chaplaincy,” p. 11.
55 “Evangelism [was] more than ever before . . .”: Honeywell quoted in Visser, “Evangelism,” p. 8.
55 After the Battle of Chancellorsville: Norton quoted in Visser, “Evangelism,” p. 9.
56 “Holy barks, shouts, jerks . . .”: Ibid., p. 8.
56 The revival reached its height: Ibid.
56 Chaplain Corps shrank: Brinsfield et al., “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 725.
56 Some chaplains did missionary work: Simon, “The Influence of the American Protestant Churches,” p. 17.
56 The Act of April 21, 1904: Ibid., p. 14.
56 created the position of chaplain assistant: “Chaplain Assistant.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
56 74 Regular Army chaplains: Simon, “The Influence of the American Protestant Churches,” p. 30.
56 the army had 2,217 chaplains: “Army Chaplains in World War I.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
56 Twenty-five Catholic priests: Army and Navy Chaplains Ordinariate, p. xiv.
57 didn’t meld well: Ibid., p. xv.
57 The age limits: Ibid.
57 religious books and literature: Simon, “The Influence of the American Protestant Churches,” p. 31.
57 Chaplains also served as postal officers: “Burials & Additional Duties.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
57 when the Japanese bombed: “World War II.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
58 ministered to more than 16 million: Brinsfield et al., “U.S. Military Chaplains,” p. 726.
58 The army required that applicants: “World War II.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
58 received 4,000 applications: Simon, “The Influence of the American Protestant Churches,” p. 89.
58 Yearbook of American Churches: Ibid., p. 73.
58 The army asked Methodist officials: Ibid., p. 95.
58 The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod: Ibid., 98.
58 At its peak in 1943: Ibid., 90.
59 Wartime chaplains continued: “Tell It to the Chaplain.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
59 tested the creativity and flexibility: “Making do.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
59 chaplains also organized boxing matches: “Troop Transports.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
59 “climbed mountains, crossed rivers . . .”: Simon, “The Influence of the American Protestant Churches,” p. 114.
59 the third-most combat deaths: “In the Midst.” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
59 classified as clerk-typists: “Chaplain Assistants [WWII].” Plaque. U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
60 The army relaxed education requirements: Simon, “The Influence of the American Protestant Churches,” p. 106.
60 scratched denominational quotas: Ibid., p. 107.
60 “a brief study outlining the plans . . .”: “A Chronicle of the United States Army Chaplain School,” p. 2.
60 founded in 1919: Ibid., p. 1.
61 accelerated by the Japanese attack: Ibid., pp. 4–5.
61 Classes would include: Ibid., p. 6.
61 “ . . . a fraternal spirit among chaplains”: Ibid., p. 16.
61 first class of 71 chaplains: Ibid., p. 15.
61 By the third class of students: Ibid., pp. 17–18.
CHAPTER 4
62 “When man thinks . . .”: Barth, Church Dogmatics, p. 451.
62 “It is said an Eastern monarch . . .”: Abraham Lincoln, Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society.
63 the Ninety-Eighth arrived in Hermitage: Henry F. Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” May 1944.
63 He searched for a local rabbi: Ibid., August 1944.
63 Gerecke made arrangements: Ibid., August 1943.
63 Gerecke recruited another local rabbi: Ibid., February 1945.
63 an abbreviation for “Gamzu ya’avor”: Folktales of Israel, p. 174.
63 “Every time he felt . . .”: Ibid.
64 It was inscribed with his motto: Hank Gerecke interview, 13 July 2011.
64 “To a unit closely knit . . .”: Sullivan, “Period Report, Medical Department Activities, 1 January–31 December 1945.”
64 500 enlisted men and 150 officers: Ibid.
64 a graduate of the Army Medical School: Ibid.
65 Gerecke was assigned to the Ninety-Eighth: Arnold, “Memorandum For: The Adjutant General.”
65 The report worksheets: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” September 1943.
65 the unit’s overnight training bivouacs: Ibid., October 1943.
65 obstacle course, infiltration crawl: Ibid., February 1944.
65 distributed Protestant New Testaments: Ibid., October 1943.
66 every item of furniture: Hank Gerecke interview, 30 June 2011.
66 yanked Gerecke: Ibid.
66 Geist had been drafted: Thomas V. Geist, “My Experience as Assistant to Chaplain Henry F. Gerecke.”
66 Gerecke “was like a father to me . . .”: Geist interview.
67 Gerecke gave two Thanksgiving services: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” November 1943.
67 he organized Christmas services: Ibid., December 1943.
67 performed his first wedding: Ibid., February 1944.
67 a fifteen-day leave: Ibid., January 1944.
67 Attendance at Sunday services: Ibid., February 1944.
67 starred Ronald Reagan: For God and Country. Film.
67 Sullivan received orders: Sullivan, “Period Report, Medical Department Activities, 1 January–31 December 1945.”
68 Gerecke proved seaworthy: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” March 1944.
68 a crumbling station hospital: Sullivan, “Historical Report, 4 April to 15 July 1944.”
68 The 834-bed hospital: Ibid., 1 January–31 December 1945.
68 a small wooden structure: Photo, collection of Thomas V. Geist.
68 a folding altar: “The Chaplain Corps,” WW2 Medical Research Centre.
69 When the appropriate gear arrived: Geist, “My Experience.”
69 chapel was surprisingly roomy: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” May 1944.
69 Gerecke hung black drapes: Photo, collection of Thomas V. Geist.
69 Sullivan encouraged exchange visits: Sullivan, “Period Report, Medical Department Activities, 1 January–31 December 1945.”
70 built to house a gymnasium: Ibid.
70 The nurses organized weekly dances: Ibid., 4 April to 15 July 1944.
70 56 percent Protestants: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” May 1944.
70 Sullivan had the priest removed: Hank Gerecke interview, 2 February 2008.
71 “containing a spiritual lift”: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” May 1944 and December 1944.
71 Gerecke discovered a soldier: Gerecke, “Sickbed Sidelights,” pp. 119–120.
71 The body of a pilot: Ibid., p. 118.
72 dropped to their knees: Ibid., p. 119.
72 In the first two months: Sullivan, “Period Report, Medical Department Activities, 1 January–31 December 1945.”
72 money coming in:
Hank Gerecke interview, 10 October 2011.
73 the family’s 1939 Chrysler Imperial: Hank Gerecke interview, 2 February 2008.
73 Henry sent a letter: Henry F. Gerecke, V-Mail to Dorothy Williams, 10 May 1944.
73 when one of Alma’s admirers: Hank Gerecke interview, 2 February 2008.
74 For the first six weeks or so: Sullivan, “Historical Report, 1 January to 8 May 1945.”
74 As more patients arrived: Ibid., 1 January–31 December 1945.
74 Six ambulances—: Ibid., 16 July to 30 September 1944.
74 taken to Newbury Race Course: Ibid.
74 From June to November 1944: Ibid., 1 January–31 December 1945.
75 and treated elsewhere: Ibid., 16 July to 30 September 1944.
75 Gerecke instituted “Moments of Prayer”: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” June 1944.
75 He began noticing used condoms: Hank Gerecke interview, 13 July 2011.
75 “God bless you, son”: Gerecke, “Sickbed Sidelights,” p. 120.
76 encountered only three atheists: Ibid., p. 122.
76 Weekly bus trips: Sullivan, “Historical Report, 16 July to 30 September 1944.”
77 visiting 2,000 patients: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” January 1945.
77 “birthday anniversary”: Hank Gerecke interview, 13 July 2011.
77 and it showed at chapel: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” June 1944.
77 “Prayers for the sick ones . . .”: Gerecke, “Sickbed Sidelights,” pp. 122–123.
77 visit from his oldest son: Hank Gerecke interview, 13 July 2011.
79 silently behind the surgeons: Gerecke, “Sickbed Sidelights,” p. 123.
79 For a moment, Gerecke froze: Ibid., 121.
80 “I am fortunate . . .”: Ibid., October 1944.
80 Ninety-Eighth General Hospital Orchestra: Sullivan, “Historical Report, 16 July to 30 September 1944.”
80 encourage the Jewish members: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” May 1944.
80 Yom Kippur services: Ibid., November 1944.
80 Gerecke held Thanksgiving services: Gerecke, “Monthly Report of Chaplains,” October 1944.
80 “ . . . will provide Christmas trees”: Ibid., November 1944.
81 three thousand feet of sidewalks: Sullivan, “Historical Report, 1 January to 8 May, 1945.”
81 “ . . . but I must watch him”: Henry F. Gerecke, Letter to Dorothy Williams, 19 October 1944.
81 a Western Union telegram: Henry F. Gerecke, “Please rush German literature.” Telegram, 24 October 1944.