Chaplains of the
36th Infantry Division
by
Chaplain (Colonel) Herbert E. MacCombie
Division Chaplain
Death Of Chaplain McDaniel
On Friday, November 27th, 1943
I made a trip to the Clearing Station, the 36th Recon Troop and the
Division Forward position. On the way back to my office I met Chaplain
Harley R. McDaniel of the Division Artillery. He was standing at a road
junction talking to two enlisted men. One was seated on the ground. One
was in a stooped position. Chaplain McDaniel was standing erect.
I suggested to them that a road
junction was a poor place for a conference. Sooner or later the enemy was
sure to lay down an interdicting fire. They thought they were safe, so I
left them and went on my way. When I reached my office Sergeant Sweigert
reported that Chaplain McDaniel had been killed.
I told him, “I don’t like you
to circulate latrine rumors like that. I was talking with Chaplain
McDaniel less than fifteen minutes ago. I know where he is. Come with me
and I will show you that he is still alive.”
When we got to the junction, we
found that the sergeant’s report was true. Shortly after I had left, an
artillery shell landed on the road junction. The man who was seated was
unharmed. The man who had been stooping had his helmet torn off, but
except for a headache, was alright. Chaplain McDaniel was killed by a
shell fragment in his stomach.
After that I was more insistent
in my suggestions to my chaplains. Sometimes it is dangerous to be too
“nice”.
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Copyright 2001
by Mary MacCombie Fietsam
Printed by Permission |
