Father Vincent R. "The Grunt Padre" Capodanno, US Navy, never to be Forgotten by Marines, especially those of the “Fighting 5th Marines.”

Father Capodanno was a Roman Catholic Priest and Maryknoll Missioner who received his commission as a Lieutenant in the US Navy Chaplains Corps on December 28, 1965, after being commissioned Fr. Capodanno requested service with the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) in Vietnam.

After his FMF training Fr Capodanno was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in South Vietnam in April 1966. Fr Capodanno served with 1/7 until December 1966 when he was transferred to the 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division for the remainder of his 13 month tour of duty. Completing his tour in May 1967, Fr Capodanno returned to the United States for one months leave before returning to Vietnam for his 6 month voluntary extension.

Upon returning to the combat zone, Fr Capodanno was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, then in August 1967 he was assigned to H&S Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. On September 4, 1967 at 0430 during Operation Swift in the Thang Binh District of the Que Son Valley elements of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines encountered a large North Vietnamese unit of 2,500 regulars near the village of Dong Son. Outnumbered and disorganized, D Company badly needed reinforcements, by 0914, 26 Marines were confirmed dead, and 2 rifle companies from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines were committed to the battle. At 0925 the commander of 1/5 requested additional reinforcements.

Upon hearing that two platoons from M Company from his battalion (3/5) were taking heavy causalities and about to be overrun, Fr Capodanno ventured onto the field of fire to administer Last Rites to the dying, and first aid to the wounded. Fr Capodanno was wounded in the hand, both arms and both legs, yet refusing medical evacuation he went about helping a seriously wounded corpsman and two Marines, just yards away from an enemy machine gun and was killed; 14 Marines and 2 Corpsman from his battalion also lost their lives that day. On December 27, 1968, the Secretary of the Navy notified the Capodanno family that Lieutenant Capodanno would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor

On May 19, 2002, Fr Capodanno's Cause for Canonization was officially opened, in May 2004, the initial documentation was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. On May 21, 2006, Fr Capodanno's official designation as a Servant of God was announced by Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. On October 1, 2013, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio presided over the formal renewal of the opening of the Cause for Beautification.

Lieutenant Capodanno's Medal of Honor Citation reads:

"The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to:

LIEUTENANT VINCENT R. CAPODANNO

CHAPLIAN CORPS

UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain of the 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF, in connection with operations against enemy forces in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 4 September 1967. In response to reports that the 2d Platoon of M Company was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, Lieutenant Capodanno left the relative safety of the Company Command Post and ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleaguered platoon.

Disregarding the intense enemy small-arms, automatic-weapons and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid the to wounded. When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the corpsman to help their wounded comrades and, with calm vigor, continued to move about the battlefield as he provided encouragement by voice and example to the valiant Marines. Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gunner positioned approximately fifteen yards away, Lieutenant Capodanno rushed forward in a daring attempt to aid and assist the mortally wounded corpsman. At that instant, only inches away from his goal, he was struck by a burst of machine gun fire. By his heroic conduct on the battlefield, and his inspiring example, Lieutenant Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom."

Father Vincent Capodanno

Vietnam

Medal of Honor recipient

02/13/1929-09/04/1967