George,

Yes, Navy chaplain was awarded the MOH. My memory is not as good as it used to be but believe it was during operation Swift being carried out close to Chu Li. Might have been 2/4 involved, just don't remember any more. I was in one of the ward hooches at the Chu Li hospital that overlooked the helo pads, so had to have been around the 7th - 10th of September, 1967. My understanding was that while our troops were surrounding and engaging a large number of NVA, they were being surrounded by an even larger number of the enemy. I believe two companies only had 18-30 men that came out alive (our people). I had read several articles about the Chaplain who had been wounded several times but refused to leave the troops that were down in the field. After bringing the wounded in, the helicopters flew all day bringing in the remains of our troops. I could not get over how many were lost. I believe Lt. Jack Warner of HMM-363 was shot down during that operation with his crew chief, Price, and gunner, both being wounded. General Davis came through the hooches giving out purple hearts, gave me one and when I told him I was not one of his troops but had been wounded up at Marble Mountain, he told me I also deserved one, so go ahead and keep it. There were so many wounded they did not have bunks for everyone and were placing them on the decks on stretchers. During rounds the next morning, I requested and was able to leave the hospital, bummed a ride with then Major Copperthwaite on a 53 back to Marble Mountain and rejoined 363. The chaplain's name I believe was Cappalo or Capliato, I know it was of Italian descent, but I am probably wrong about the spelling.
Semper Fi
Larry "Pops" Powell

George, you probably know the answer before you asked the question, ha ha.

Two Army Chaplains receiving the MOH in Nam

http://www.homeofheroes.com/e-books/mohS_chaplains/page_09watters.html

Charles Joseph Watters
Major, US Army
Catholic Chaplain U S Army

Nov 19, 1967 - Hil 875, Dak To, Vietnam
Unit: Company A, 173d Support Bn, 173d Airborne Brigade

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LITEKY, ANGELO J.
RANK AND ORGANIZATION: Chaplain (Capt.), U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 199th Infantry Brigade.
PLACE AND DATE: Near phuoc-Lac, Bien Hoa province, Republic of Vietnam, 6 December 1967

http://www.vvacalsc.com/vnmoh/citation/liteky_a.html

POPS

Thanks

All information is helpful.

Navy Chaplain Medal of Honor Winner

Father Capodonna was killed on 4Sept67 while with M Co 3/5 near the village of Chau Lam (4).
I had the company during Operation Swift and Father Capodonna received the MOH for his action that day.
JD MURRAY

Mike 3/5

It is still amazing to me that after all these years the people we communicate with from our days in the Corps. I want to thank you for responding to this posting. As I stated before, I was in the hospital recovering from wounds myself and did not participate with my squadron while they were in support of your unit, but being in position to watch the helo pad as your WIA's and KIA's were brought in was one of those rare, truly sad points of the war that was etched in my mind forever. Even though the war was being televised every night on the news back home, I don't think the average Amercian ever realized the true horrors of war that we seen up close. I salute you and the men of Mike 3/5 and have always thought of those Marines I never knew as being true heroes.

Semper Fi,
Larry Powell