A Soul-Stirring Sight
The USS Franklin was a World War II Essex-class aircraft carrier, affectionately known to her crew as “ Big Ben.” On the morning of March 19, 1945, she was maneuvering close to Japan when a lone enemy bomber attacked suddenly, dropping two bombs that penetrated deep into the ship, causing immense devastation and widespread fires. As the fires grew in intensity, secondary explosions started from the ship’s ammunition stocks. Casualties were everywhere.
From this scene of chaos arose one of the war’s greatest heroes. Lt. Cdr. Joseph O’Callahan was Big Ben’s chaplain and a very impressive figure. His physical appearance was commanding and his past accomplishments as a collegiate track star, writer, and university professor were legendary. His actions on this day are best recounted in the citation for his Medal of Honor:
Lieutenant Commander O’Callahan groped his way through smoke-filled corridors to the open deck and into the midst of violently exploding bombs, rockets and other armament. With the ship rocked by incessant explosions, with debris and fragments raining down and fires raging in ever increasing fury, he ministered to the wounded and dying, comforting and encouraging men of all faiths; he organized and led fire-fighting crews into the blazing inferno on the flight deck…Serving with courage, fortitude and deep spiritual strength, Lieutenant Commander O’Callahan inspired the gallant officers and men of the Franklin to fight heroically and with profound faith in the face of almost certain death.506
This was the only Medal of Honor awarded to a chaplain in World War II. His commanding officer called O’Callahan, “The bravest man I ever saw.”507 Another officer described his actions as “a soul stirring sight.”508 With a white cross painted on his helmet Joseph O’Callahan bravely went beyond the call of duty and distinguished himself and the Savior whom he served.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
—2 Timothy 1:7