The Proximity Principle: Army Chaplains on the Fighting Line in Doctrine and History – Historical Survey of Important Chaplains in Ground Combat Since 1926, World War II and Korean War, Emil Kapuan

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. The first official US Army chaplain doctrine appeared in 1926 and contained this guidance: "The duty of the chaplain lies with the men of his command who are on the fighting line." This guidance reflected a principle of proximity — that is, chaplains minister wherever their soldiers are found, up to and including during direct ground combat.

The primary argument of this study is that this proximity principle — both in chaplain history and chaplain doctrine — has been a dominant theme of the Army chaplain's ministry. The 1926 fighting line verbiage and concept codified what chaplains had habitually practiced up to that time. Indeed, a broad analysis of literature written by chaplains prior to 1926 and lessons learned by chaplains during the First World War demonstrates that the 1926 doctrine accurately codified a timeless and enduring principle. In addition, a survey of chaplain doctrine since 1926 shows that the proximity principle has consistently remained a part of official Army chaplain ministry. Furthermore, a historical survey of select chaplains in ground combat since 1926 demonstrates that the proximity principle remains a timeless and highly effective form of Army chaplain ministry, whose most ardent practitioners are held up as exemplars for current and future chaplains.

The pertinent question for this historical survey is: Did chaplains after 1926 serve in close proximity to soldiers in combat and, if so, how did they add to soldier well-being and mission success? Answering this question, as with the doctrinal review, will confirm whether or not the proximity principle has, in fact, been timeless and enduring.

This study contains seven chapters. Following this introductory chapter, chapter 2 features an examination of the 1926 manual, specifically its brief passage about chaplain wartime service. I will discuss the origins of the verbiage and concept along three lines: unofficial chaplain writings prior to 1926, chaplain wartime biographical writings prior to 1926, and lessons learned from combat service in the First World War. Chapter 3 features a survey of chaplain doctrine after 1926 with an emphasis upon guidance for chaplains in combat — that is, confirmation or denial that proximity principle in chaplain doctrine has endured the test of time. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 offer snapshots of chaplain combat history. Each chapter highlights the actions of select chaplains during different wars and combat actions. For each chapter, the chaplain's contributions to soldier well-being and mission success are considered. As with our survey of chaplain doctrine, these chapters seek especially to determine if the fundamentals of the proximity principle have endured throughout chaplain history. Chapter 7 concludes the study and discusses contemporary implications.