For Father Kapaun, this meant becoming an Army chaplain -- serving God and country.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
And then as the soldier watched, stunned, Father Kapaun carried that wounded American away.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Chaplain Kapaun, fully aware of his certain capture, elected to stay behind with the wounded.
Then, as Father Kapaun was being led away, he saw another American -- wounded, unable to walk, laying in a ditch, defenseless.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Kapaun, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the all of duty.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
And yet, the incredible story of Father Kapaun does not end there.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
They showed me something extraordinary -- the actual stole, the purple vestment that Father Kapaun wore when he celebrated Mass inside that prison camp.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
He contracted dysentery and pneumonia, and after months in near-freezing and starving conditions, Kapaun died in late May 1951 at the age of 35.
It was a tribute to their friend, their chaplain, their fellow prisoner who had touched their souls and saved their lives -- Father Emil Kapaun.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
And Father Kapaun marched over and pushed the enemy soldier aside.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
After the enemy succeeded in breaking through the defense in the early morning hours of November 2nd, Chaplain Kapaun continually made rounds as hand-to-hand combat ensued.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Some of these men are here today -- including Herb Miller, the soldier that Father Kapaun saved in that ditch and then carried all those miles.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
After their capture, Kapaun and wounded soldiers able to walk were marched to a prison camp near Pyoktong, just south of the Yalu River in North Korea.
Father Kapaun has been called a shepherd in combat boots.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Yet, for Father Kapaun, the horrific conditions took their toll.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Kapaun, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.
In recent years, members of Kansas's congressional delegation urged their colleagues to waive the Medal of Honor time limit - three years since the action honoured - for Kapaun.
But we are extremely proud to welcome members of the Kapaun family -- his nephews, his niece, their children -- two of whom currently serve in this country's National Guard.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Shortly after his capture, Chaplain Kapaun, with complete disregard for his personal safety and unwavering resolve, bravely pushed aside an enemy soldier preparing to execute Sergeant First Class Herbert A. Miller.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Shortly after his capture, Chaplain Kapaun bravely pushed aside an enemy soldier preparing to execute a comrade, thus saving a life and inspiring all those present to remain and fight the enemy until captured.
But Father Kapaun spotted a wounded Chinese officer.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
To the Kapaun family, God bless you.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Father Kapaun offered them his own clothes.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Now, I obviously never met Father Kapaun.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Kapaun distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Calvary Division during combat operations against an armed enemy at Unsan, Korea, from November 1st to 2nd, 1950.
WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards Chaplain Emil Kapaun the Medal of Honor | The White House
Chaplain Kapaun will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his extraordinary heroism while serving with the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy at Unsan, Korea and as a prisoner of war from November 1-2, 1950.
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