The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has identified the remains of Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapaun, a Medal of Honor recipient who died as a prisoner of war in Korea.
Kapaun was identified on Mar. 2, the DPAA announced Friday. His remains were among the 867 buried as “Unknowns” at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, according to a DPAA news release.
Also known as the “Punchbowl,” the NMCP is the final resting place of many servicemembers’ unidentified remains. The Korean War Disinterment Project, initiated in 2018, is a seven-phase plan to disinter and identify all of the Korean war remains in the Punchbowl.
“After 70 years Chaplain (Capt.) Kapaun has been accounted for. His heroism and resilient spirit epitomized our Army values of personal courage and selfless service,” said acting Secretary of the Army John E. Whitley.
Go here to read the rest. Go here to read about Father Kapaun, a man who makes me proud to be a Catholic and an American. Men like Father Kapaun are torches God in His mercy sends us to light our way in a frequently dark world.
I wrote this article about Father Kapaun years ago. I wonder what his sainthood status is today.
https://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/catholic-medal-of-honor-chaplain-is-sainthood-candidate/22099.htm
Tim, Excellent article. Fr. Kapaun was named a Servant of God in 1993. Two miracles attributed to his intercession are being investigated. He was awarded a Medal of Honor posthumously by President Obama in 2013. The MOH and with the identification of his remains at the Punchbowl this month give his proponents hope that Fr. Krapaun’s will be beautified soon. Soon can be a long time in the canonization process.
It was very interesting. I heard on ABC News alert that “Father Emil Kapuan’s remains had been identified 68 years after the end of the Korean War.”
And the news blurb didn’t give any information of how he died for their circumstances. How convenient, considering we are in the second month of the China presidency.
It was very interesting. I heard on ABC News alert that “Father Emil Kapuan’s remains had been identified 68 years after the end of the Korean War.”
And the news blurb didn’t give any information of how he died or the circumstances.
How convenient, considering we are in the second month of the China presidency.
“On May 23, 1951, Kapaun died from exhaustion and possible heart failure at the age of 35 in a “sick house” in the prison camp, according to an Army news release.” Also dysentery, pneumonia, an infected leg and eyes are mentioned by his contemporaries. . He died 3 days unattended and alone.
Obama did at least one good deed during his two terms in posthumously awarding Fr. Kapaun the Medla of Honor. I pray it helps him in his final judgment.