Courtesy of Catholic Standard
In October 1950, a company of US soldiers was overrun by Chinese and Korean soldiers. This came just months after the United States entered the Korean War. Members of the 1st Cavalry Division were surrounded by the Communist forces and would eventually surrender.
One of them was Fr. Emil Kapaun, an army chaplain, who had experience in the Burma theater during World War II. He refused to leave “his boys” behind as he endured the long journey to a Chinese POW camp. At one point, Kapaun saved the life of a fellow soldier who was too weak to continue the trek, as a Chinese soldier was ready to execute him.
During the internment at the camp, Fr. Kapaun would celebrate Mass and tend to not only Catholic prisoners but also Protestant and Jewish prisoners as well.
As his citation reads:
“With disregard for his own safety and comfort, Ch. Kapaun tended to the sick and wounded, scoured for food, built fires against guards’ commands, and fashioned iron sheet vessels to launder the clothing of the wounded and purify drinking water. He also led prayers and spiritual services for the POWs, at the risk of punishment. For his outspoken resistance, Ch. Kapaun was feared by the guards and revered by his fellow POWs. Upon return, Pyoktong prison survivors told stories of Ch. Kapaun’s courage, compassion, and spirit. They credited him with saving their lives and hundreds more, before eventually succumbing to his own wounds and prison maltreatment. Ch. Kapaun died in Pyoktong on May 23, 1951.”
In 2021, after being identified by the Department of Defense, Fr. Kapuan was buried in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita, KS. Many pilgrims visit his tomb to this day.
He was declared a Servant of God in 1993 and is being further investigated as a saint. In 2025, he was declared venerable by the Vatican.
To learn more about Fr. Kapaun, watch this video from Chris Stefanick.
The Knights of Columbus also featured a video about Fr Kapauan as part of their ongoing video series highlighting members of their order
Also, read his biography, The Miracle of Father Kapaun: Priest, Soldier and Korean War Hero
Father Emil Kapaun, pray for us