This Memorial Day
Join Us as We Remember and Honor our Missioners who Served our Great Nation while in Mission
At Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, we remember our Missioners who have served our great nation, continue to serve in mission or died while doing so.
One of our missioners who has served in the military is Servant of God Vincent R. Capodanno, M.M.
Father Capodanno was born on February 13, 1929 on Staten Island, New York. He entered Maryknoll in 1949 and was ordained in 1958. His first mission assignment was in Miaoli, Formosa (now Taiwan). In August 1965, Father Capodanno asked to be reassigned from mission in Formosa to serve as a U.S. Navy chaplain. He volunteered immediately for duty in Vietnam and served with a unit of the U.S. Marines. Chaplains of the U.S. Navy oversee religious ministry in the Marine Corps.
Father Capodanno was killed in action on September 4, 1967. In a devastating twist of fate, he had been due to return to the U.S. that October.
Father Capodanno was bestowed the Medal of Honor for service with the Marine Corps. Although he never donned a weapon of war except those in the spiritual realm, he served his country as a solider of faith and hope on the battlefield.
In 2006, Father Capodanno was declared a Servant of God as a result of the cause for sainthood.