Answering Two Calls: Augustinian Friars in Military Service

The call to serve is at the heart of Augustinian life. Based in the Rule of Saint Augustine, the Order has always understood service not as an obligation but as an expression of Truth, Unity, and Love. For some Augustinian friars, that call did not start in the parish, classroom, or monastery but instead on the battlefield and in the barracks.

Throughout the history of the Augustinian Order in the United States, a remarkable number of friars have answered the call to serve both God and country.

Some were members of the armed forces before entering formation, allowing them to bring a unique perspective on courage and self-sacrifice into religious life. Others were ordained first, then commissioned as chaplains to bring healing and sacraments to soldiers in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

Among the Augustinians who served in the First World War were Fr. Patrick J. Gallagher, O.S.A., and Fr. Mortimer A. Sullivan, O.S.A. During the First World War, Fr. Gallagher was commissioned as a Knights of Columbus chaplain in the United States Army and eventually served in France. Fr. Sullivan, meanwhile, volunteered as a Navy chaplain.

The Second World War drew over fifteen Augustinian friars into military service. Fr. Edward A. Sullivan, O.S.A., for example, was commissioned as a Navy chaplain in 1943 and stationed with the Marine Corps on the Pacific islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.

Fr. Edwin A. Dickenson, O.S.A., served in the European theater from 1943 to 1946 on the North African front and later ministered to the wounded in hospitals across France and Belgium. By the time he was honorably discharged, he had attained the rank of Captain.

Fr. Andrew J. Boyle, O.S.A., joined the United States Army before ever entering Augustinian formation; during the war, he was decorated with the American Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.

In the decades that followed, Augustinian friars continued to answer the call. Fr. John L. Gilman, O.S.A., became an Army chaplain in 1949 and was deployed to Korea within weeks of arriving in Japan, making him among the first American troops to enter the conflict. He would eventually attain the rank of Captain and be awarded the Bronze Star.

Later still, Fr. Edson J. Wood, O.S.A., served as a Navy chaplain in 1985 before becoming Brigade Chaplain at the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993.

Below is a list of some of the Augustinian men who served in the military from the provinces of Saint Thomas of Villanova and Our Mother of Good Counsel.

Though these men are united first and foremost by their willingness to answer God’s call to the Augustinian vocation, they are doubly drawn together by their valiant service to their country and to American troops. They remind us that the call to serve God and the call to serve neighbor are not two separate vocations, but one.

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Name/Webpage	Province	Military Branch	Time of Service	Summary of Service
Augustine Hickens, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Navy	Before entering Augustinian formation	After completing his elementary education at St. Edward Catholic School, Detroit, he studied at Henry Ford Trade School, Dearborn, Michigan, earning his diploma in 1934. He then served in the U.S. Navy and worked for several years as a machinist in the tool and die trade.
Erwin J. Dodge, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Navy	Before entering Augustinian formation	Erwin is a 1942 graduate of Kelly High School, Chicago. Erwin served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He was honorably discharged in March, 1946, having attained the rank of Pharmacist’s Mate First Class. He then studied at Loyola University, Chicago, earning a B.S. in Biology in 1950.
John T. “Jack” Shirley, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Air Force	Before entering Augustinian formation	For his elementary education, Jack attended Our Lady of Solace School, Chicago. He did his secondary studies at St. Rita High School, Chicago, where he earned his high school diploma in 1951. He then served in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1956. After being honorably discharged form military service, he entered the Augustinian program of formation at St. Augustine Seminary, Holland, Michigan, where he did a semester of post-graduate studies in 1956 and 1957.
Robert J. Schurman, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Navy	Before entering Augustinian formation	After earning his diploma from Messmer High School, Milwaukee, in 1946, Robert joined the United States Navy. He was honorably discharged in 1948, and worked as a machinist and auto mechanic in Milwaukee.
Walter F. McNicholas, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Navy	Before entering Augustinian formation	Following graduation from Saint Rita High School, Chicago, Walter studied at Saint Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, and at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. He served in the United States Navy. In 1946, he joined the Augustinian formation program at the Augustinian Preparatory Seminary, Staten Island, New York.
Clement C. McHale, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after entering/ordination	Father McHale became a Chaplain in the United States Navy in 1942. He served during World War II in the Pacific theater, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Edward A. Sullivan, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Navy / Marine Corps Chaplain	Military chaplain after entering/ordination	In August 1943, Father Sullivan was commissioned as a Navy Chaplain. He was stationed with the Marine Corps until June 1946. During his tour of duty, he was at the Marianas Islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.
John L. Gilman, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Army Chaplain	Military chaplain after entering/ordination	In 1949, he became a chaplain in the United States Army. Father Gilman was stationed for one year at Fort Lee, Virginia, and then was sent to Japan. After two weeks in Japan, the Korean war began. Father Gilman was sent to Korea with the first troops of the 21st Regiment. After his return to the United States, he served at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He attained the rank of Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star.
John T. McCall, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after entering/ordination	In 1942, Father McCall was transferred to St. Rita High School, Chicago, as a teacher. He joined the U.S. Navy as a Chaplain in 1943, serving in that role until 1946. Upon his discharge from the Navy, he returned to teach at St. Rita High School. In 1950, while still at St. Rita, he was elected Secretary of the Province.
Robert L. Wisniewski, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	U.S. Army Chaplain	Military chaplain after entering/ordination	In June, 1967 Father Wisniewski entered the Chaplains' Corps of the United States Army. He had been at the Army Chaplain School, Fort Dix, New Jersey, for only three weeks when he suffered a fatal heart attack August 22, 1967. The Commandant of the Army Chaplain School called him a "marvellous priest of the Augustinian Order," remarking that the Faculty, Staff and Students of the school "were edified by his pleasant attitude, as well as his deep desire to serve Christ."
Stanislaus J. Weinert, O.S.A.	Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	Polish Army / German Army Chaplain	Military chaplain after entering/ordination	Father Weinert taught for several years in various colleges administered by the Augustinian Order in Italy. At the outbreak of World War I, he was recalled to Poland to serve as a Chaplain to a calvary division of the Polish Army. When his unit was captured by the Germans, he performed the duties of a Chaplain for the German Army until the end of the war.
William M. Cusick, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army	Before entering Augustinian formation	On October 12, 1942, after a few years of employment, he enlisted in the United States Army and served outside the continental limits of the United States from May 24, 1943 to August 11, 1945. On November 2, 1945, he was honorably discharged as a technician fourth grade. A year later he enrolled at Villanova College in the school of Chemical Engineering.
Andrew J. Boyle, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army	Before entering Augustinian formation	Upon graduation from West Catholic High School, Philadelphia, he entered the United States Army, where, as Chaplain’s Assistant, he was decorated with the American Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. In September, 1946, he became a post graduate postulant at Augustinian Academy, on Staten Island, New York.
Thomas M. Darragh, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army	Before readmission / final profession	He entered the United States Army on September 16, 1872 under the name, ‘Thomas Dodge’, and saw duty in the Indian Wars out west. He was honorably discharged on June 30, 1877, and returned east. Thomas asked to be re-admitted to the Order, was accepted, and began his novitiate on November 12, 1877.
Edward John Dixey, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army	Before entering Augustinian formation	He served two years in the United States Army (1947-1949). He then attended Villanova College from 1949 to 1952. He was received into the Order as a novice on September 9, 1952.
Walter J. Quinn, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army	Before entering Augustinian formation	With the completion of studies, he served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954, during the Korean War. Upon being discharged from the service, he worked as a salesman in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware area before entering the Order as a novice on September 9, 1955.
William Howard McGraw, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army	Before entering Augustinian formation	He then served in the United States Army before and during the Korean War. Howie was received into the Order as a novice on September 9, 1953.
Charles A. Beckerman, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	German Army	Conscripted while already an Augustinian priest	At the outbreak of World War I, during his time in Rome, he was seized by the German government and forcibly conscripted into the German Army where he served as a censor of mail. Upon his return to the United States in 1922, Father Beckerman taught theology and Sacred Scripture at Saint Mary’s Hall and philosophy at the College.
Anthony A. Cirami, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Air Force Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	Father Cirami served as assistant pastor at Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Philadelphia, until 1942, when he became a chaplain in the US Air Force. After World War II, he retired from the Air Force with the rank of colonel.
John F. Blethen, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	Father Blethen taught physics at St. Augustine High School, San Diego, from 1951 to 1956. He was then commissioned as a Navy chaplain, after which he became associate pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in San Diego, from 1958 to 1960.
Samuel E. D’Angelo, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	In addition, he was a member of the Province Mission Band for a time. During World War II, he was Chaplain in the United States Navy.
Edward J. Carney, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy / Naval Reserve Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	In this last location, he became assistant pastor while awaiting a response to his request to join the U.S. Navy as chaplain. Already a chaplain in the Naval Reserve, he was called to active duty in 1944 and assigned to a Naval OSS Unit, serving in both the South Pacific and Atlantic theaters. In 1946, Father Carney was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Edwin A. Dickenson, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	On July 10, 1943, he completed a four week course in U.S. Chaplain School at Harvard, Cambridge, Mass., and was appointed First Lieutenant. From June 6, 1943, to June 12, 1946, he was assigned to active service in the European African Middle Eastern Theatre, and to hospitals in France and Belgium. In 1946, having reached the rank of Captain, he received an honorable discharge from the United States Army.
Charles E. Bauman, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Marine Corps Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	For three years during World War II he offered distinguished service as a Chaplain with the U.S. Marine Corps.
John F. McCarthy, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	From 1943 to 1946, he was a chaplain in the United States Navy. He was commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant, second grade, and saw action in many places including Galapagos, Guadacanal, New Guinea and Saipan.
Bernard J. Lamond, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	In 1952 he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy. During his first tour of duty he served in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Atsugi, Japan and Bainbridge, Maryland. Released from active duty, he was assigned to Monsignor Bonner High School. Responding to a shortage of chaplains, the Province permitted Father Lamond to return to active duty in the Navy.
Bernard J. O’Dowd, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	From 1968 to 1971 he was military chaplain in the United States Army in Vietnam.
Edson J. Wood, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy; U.S. Military Academy Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	He was also commissioned a Lieutenant in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy in 1985, and was honorably discharged in 1991. Beginning in 1993, he served first as Assistant Chaplain and then as Brigade Chaplain at the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
Mortimer A. Sullivan, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	In early 1918, he volunteered to serve as a chaplain in the United States Navy during the First World War. After the War, Father Sullivan returned to Atlantic City, N.J.
John J. Daley, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	During the war years he accepted a Commission as a Chaplain in the United States Navy, where he served until 1946.
Charles J. McCarron, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	He was a chaplain in the United States Army from July 1942 until 1946.
John L. Gilman, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination	In 1949 he became a chaplain in the United States Army. He was stationed for one year at Fort Lee, Virginia, and then was sent to Japan. After two weeks in Japan, the Korean war began. Father Gilman was sent to Korea with the first troops of the 21st Regiment. After his return to the United States, he served at Fort Dix, New Jersey, attaining the rank of Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star.
Patrick J. Gallagher, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Army / Knights of Columbus Chaplain	Military-related chaplain service after ordination	In 1918, during World War I, Father Gallagher was commissioned as a Knights of Columbus chaplain in the United States Army. He served in Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, and later in Bordeau, France.
Clement C. McHale, O.S.A.	Province of St. Thomas of Villanova	U.S. Navy Chaplain	Military chaplain after ordination; later Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel	Father McHale became a Chaplain in the United States Navy in 1942, and served during World War II in the Pacific theater, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After discharge from the service, he was named pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Rockford, Illinois.