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forceful leader, calmly braving the perilous barriers of flame and twisted metal to aid his men and his ship, Lt. Comdr. O'Callahan groped his way through smoke-filled corridors to the open flight deck and into the midst of violently exploding bombs, shells, 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 firefighting crews into the blazing inferno on the flight deck; he directed the jettisoning of live ammunition and the flooding of the magazine; he manned a hose to cool hot, armed bombs rolling dangerously on the listing deck, continuing his efforts, despite searing, suffocating smoke which forced men to fall back gasping and imperiled others who replaced them. Serving with courage, fortitude, and deep spiritual strength, Lt. Cmdr. 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 and to return their stricken ship to port.
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as chaplain on board the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel was fiercely attacked by enemy
Japanese aircraft during offensive operations near Kobe, Japan, on 19 March 1945. A valiant and
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O'Callahan returned to Holy Cross in the fall of 1948 as the head of the
Mathematics Department. He died on March 16, 1964, and is buried in the Jesuit cemetery on campus. His Medal of Honor resides in the Archives at The College of the Holy Cross.
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474:, which he publicly refused (the only man to do so in World War II). At the time, it was speculated that O'Callahan was offered the Navy Cross in lieu of the Medal of Honor since his heroic actions on USS
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on March 2, 1945. 17 days later, the ship was severely damaged at dawn by two bombs from a lone
Japanese aircraft. The
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as a member of the Jesuit order in 1934. He was a professor of mathematics, philosophy, and physics at
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to the dying, comforting the wounded, and leading officers and crewmen into the flames to carry hot
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on August 7, 1940, Chaplain O'Callahan advanced progressively in rank and attained that of
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highlighted perceived lapses in leadership by the ship's commanding officer, Captain
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from 1927 to 1937. He then spent a year (1937–1938) as a professor of philosophy at
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341:. He began the 13 years of training required of a Jesuit at St. Andrew's College,
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to wet it down and prevent its exploding. For this action he received the
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Roman
Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA#World War II
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chaplain. He was awarded the U.S. military's highest decoration, the
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to the edge of the deck for jettisoning. He personally recruited a
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813:"Intertwined heroes: Out of Holy Cross came 3 honored for bravery"
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Chaplain Joseph O'Callahan ministers to an injured man aboard USS
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782:"Captain Joseph T. O'Callahan, Chaplain Corps, USNR, (1905-1964)"
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was awarded to O'Callahan on
January 23, 1946. He was the first
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in addition to religious philosophy. He was ordained to the
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College of the Holy Cross
Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts
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World War II Medal of Honor recipients (1): Navy & USMC
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In 1956, O'Callahan wrote an account of the attack titled
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US Navy officer, chaplain, recipient of the Medal of Honor
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immediately became an inferno of exploding gas tanks and
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While in active service, O'Callahan reported aboard USS
893:"Daily Appointment Sheet for President Harry S. Truman"
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intervened after the resulting public outcry and the
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416:in July 1945. His first assignment at sea was on
337:(Jesuits) in 1922, shortly after graduating from
918:"Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (M–S)"
631:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
1269:World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor
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926:United States Army Center of Military History
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1239:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients
1209:United States Navy personnel of World War II
847:. New York: The Macmillan Company. pp.
325:O'Callahan was born on May 14, 1905, in the
290:(May 14, 1905 – March 18, 1964) was a
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873:. The Bell Syndicate, Inc. 8 December 1945
821:. Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived from
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69:Learn how and when to remove this message
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32:This article includes a list of general
970:Worcester Magazine, May 22, 2008, pg 12
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482:, which reflected poorly on the Navy.
658:O'Callahan's official citation reads:
1259:Military personnel from Massachusetts
871:"FATHER O'CALLAHAN SPURNS NAVY CROSS"
752:Hargis, Robert; Starr Sinton (2003).
384:Among his students at Holy Cross was
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790:Naval History & Heritage Command
1111:Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium
506:O'Callahan (right) with President
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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1264:College of the Holy Cross faculty
1234:Boston College High School alumni
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928:. August 3, 2009. Archived from
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811:Whearley, Jay (July 25, 2010).
836:O'Callahan, Joseph T. (1956).
678:I was Chaplain on the Franklin
640:Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal
619:American Defense Service Medal
1:
1224:20th-century American Jesuits
427:off North Africa in 1942 and
310:aboard which he was serving,
1249:United States Navy chaplains
1244:United States Navy officers
97:Joseph T. O'Callahan, 1945.
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702:, was named in his honor.
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375:College of the Holy Cross
363:Roman Catholic priesthood
288:Joseph Timothy O'Callahan
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85:Joseph Timothy O'Callahan
981:Joseph T. O'Callahan
922:Medal of Honor citations
379:Worcester, Massachusetts
345:, where he received the
140:Worcester, Massachusetts
654:Medal of Honor citation
624:American Campaign Medal
349:degree in 1925 and his
53:more precise citations.
1254:World War II chaplains
1229:Boston College faculty
1168:Goodtime Marching Band
1121:Boston College rivalry
1106:Hart Recreation Center
1101:Hanover Insurance Park
840:I Was Chaplain on the
818:Telegram & Gazette
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484:President Harry Truman
390:Saint Vincent Hospital
343:Poughkeepsie, New York
321:Early years and career
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331:Boston, Massachusetts
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194:Years of service
124:Boston, Massachusetts
450:, administering the
431:off Norway in 1943.
1219:Writers from Boston
642:w/ 1 campaign star
423:, participating in
381:from 1938 to 1940.
294:priest and, during
226:Navy Chaplain Corps
199:1946–1953 (reserve)
1214:Clergy from Boston
1086:Women's Ice Hockey
1071:Women's Basketball
792:. January 14, 2001
760:. pp. 53–56.
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300:United States Navy
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197:1940–1946 (active)
188:United States Navy
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932:on April 30, 2008
897:National Archives
825:on July 26, 2010.
767:978-1-84176-613-3
758:Osprey Publishing
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333:. He joined the
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135:(1964-03-18)
121:May 14, 1905
106:"Father Joe"
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59:January 2013
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1199:1964 deaths
1194:1905 births
1051:Hockey East
448:flight deck
440:hangar deck
355:mathematics
103:Nickname(s)
51:introducing
1188:Categories
1152:Presidents
756:. Oxford:
739:References
690:O'Callahan
668:Later life
472:Navy Cross
452:last rites
444:ammunition
400:Appointed
156:Allegiance
117:1905-05-14
34:references
1032:Athletics
902:April 20,
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468:magazines
418:USS
414:commander
312:USS
231:USS
1076:Football
1061:Softball
1056:Baseball
936:July 25,
857:56010786
842:Franklin
796:July 25,
706:See also
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436:Franklin
314:Franklin
281:Franklin
233:Franklin
174:Service/
1147:Faculty
700:frigate
408:of the
404:in the
359:physics
327:Roxbury
283:, 1945.
213:Captain
47:improve
1142:Alumni
1135:People
877:1 June
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420:Ranger
292:Jesuit
269:priest
267:Jesuit
253:Awards
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36:, but
633:w/ 3
456:bombs
1173:WCHC
964:2010
938:2010
904:2019
879:2015
853:LCCN
798:2010
762:ISBN
458:and
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298:, a
219:Unit
204:Rank
130:Died
111:Born
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