Emil Kapaun

Emil Kapaun (April 20, 1916 - May 23, 1951) was a Catholic priest and U.S. Army chaplain who was martyred in Korea during the Korean War. He is a candidate for Sainthood in the Catholic Church and is classed as a Servant of God.

Kapaun was born and raised in Pilsen, Kansas. He graduated from Conception Abbey seminary college in Conception, Missouri in 1936. After serving in the Pilsen area under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Kapaun joined the army in July 1944. He was sent to India and served in the Burma Theater. Kapaun was discharged in 1946 and went to the Catholic University of Washington where in 1948 he earned an M.A. in education. In September 1948 Kapaun returned to Army service. In January 1950 he was stationed in Japan, and in July 1950 as a military chaplain he accompanied the U.S. intervention force entering Korea. Kapaun was captured in November 1950 and died in a POW camp on May 23, 1951. He was buried in a mass grave near the Yalu River.

External links

* [http://www.kofc3744.org/kapaun.htm Emil Kapaun]
* [http://cwv.org/kapaun/kapaun.htm Catholic War Veterans - Emil Kapaun]