PAGE CONTENTS

1. A Message from the Commander in Chief
2. Army Chaplains - Vietnam
3. 1st/50th Assoc. Chaplain's Corner
4. Army Chaplains today

Joseph P. Dulany
50th Infantry Battalion Chaplain, September, 1967 - April, 1968

A Message from the First Commander in Chief

"Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the Unites States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large." "And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."

(George Washington's Prayer for America)

Association Chaplain's Corner
"As the world continues to get more volatile, let's pray for our nation's soldiers, active and reserve...as well as their loved ones. Most definitely pray for all our fellow veterans all over the globe. Also, let's continue to pray for America and President Bush as well as his cabinet. Please contact me with any special prayer requests and may God's Blessings be with each of you."	Parker B. Pierce 1st Bn, 50th Infantry Association Chaplain
Our first Chaplain - CPT.(LTC Retired) Joe Dulany The Battalion's first chaplain in Vietnam was CPT Joseph P. Dulany.  Retired LTC Dulany is a life member of the Association and has written a book chronicling his military career.  The book (Cover pictured at left) devotes a chapter to the 1/50th Infantry and covers Chaplain Dulany's time with us...from September of 1967 until he transferred in April of 1968. A well deserved favorable review of the book can be found on our Vietnam Book Review Page. Anyone interested in purchasing the book can contact Joe Dulany direct at: josephdulany@msn.com Mention that you were with the Battalion in Vietnam and/or are a member of our Association. CPT Dulany went on to serve a second tour in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division and served for a total of 20 years in the Army, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in May of 1968.  Joe attended our Las Vegas Reunion and we hope to see him at our next Fort Benning Gathering as well! We were blessed with many gifted and devoted Officers in Vietnam and Joe Dulany was certainly one of them.
Army Chaplains During the Vietnam War The first Army chaplain in Vietnam arrived on 26 Feb. 1962, with some 3,000 U.S. troops in country. The numbers of serving chaplains roughly kept pace with the troop levels; peaking at over 300 chaplains in the field in 1967. While ministry to the troops was their overriding concern, they also aided the Vietnamese people in many ways, including mobilizing clothing, food and money for schools, orphanages, medical facilities and the like. Thanks to the helicopter, chaplains could visit the far-flung reaches of their parishes; with portable field kits, they could set up and conduct services wherever needed. Sharing Hardships and Danger Throughout the war, many chaplains shared the dangers and discomforts with the troops, while providing spiritual and emotional support and aiding the sick, wounded and dying. Rabbi Meir Engel, who died of a heart attack in 1964, was the first U.S. Army chaplain to die in the Vietnam War. In 1966, William J. Barragy was the first chaplain to fall in combat. In all, thirteen U.S. Army chaplains (MOS 5310) died in Vietnam. Two U.S. Army chaplains, Charlie Watters (below left) and Angelo Liteky (below right), were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, America's highest award for valor.. Chaplains also received 26 Silver Star Medals, 66 Legions of Merit, 719 Bronze Stars, 82 Purple Hearts, 318 Air Medals and 586 Army Commendation Medals during the Vietnam War.

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.
I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen."

Here are just a few of the many relevant Bible verses that gave comfort in combat, and comfort us today:-

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
"He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
"For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
"Your prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
"You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
"And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23)

"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us." (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalms 46:1)

"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:29)

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

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