The Grunt Padre: Father Vincent Robert Capodanno, Vietnam, 1966-1967

The story of the chaplain who received the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam

well written authenticity of a great priest during the VietNam war

This is a book that should be read by all military ad their families Good/bad of the lives Of chaplains,Catholic, Jewish,Protestant…

This book is a great true story of men who served in the Vietnam war during the sixties. The title The Grunt Padre is talking about one man who refused to leave his men after his tour was up. He was a Missionary priest called Fr. Vincent Capodanno. He was truly a man of God. Excellent read. I got very emotional while reading it because of what all the soldiers went thru but also because of Fr. Capodanno's courage & love for the men & his refusal to not be put in harms way. If the marines were in the trenches then that is where he wanted to be.

Just reading some of the reviews choked me up, let alone the book itself. In this life story of “Grunt Padre” Vincent Capodanno, we find the essence of Christianity: the "normal" Christian life as it is meant to be lived. A hallmark of the saints is heroic virtue, especially among the martyrs. While Father Vincent may not have been a martyr in the strict sense, he embodied the heroic virtue of a martyr saint very much like those in Christianity's persecution-laced early centuries.John Keeley, Fr. Vincent's division chaplain, stated in his official report: "He just wanted to be with the grunts. He was more a Marine than anything else." Fr. Vincent knew everyone in his battalion and every one of them knew and was transformed by him. With the missionary zeal of a Maryknoller, he gave his all in apostolic ministry to the troops. In his last heroic act, he shielded a hospital corpsman from enemy fire and thus died for his friend (ref. John 15:13). For his actions that day, Fr. Vincent was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, one of only three chaplains so awarded in the Vietnam War. Even World War II's renowned "Four Chaplains", who died alongside most of the crew in the sinking Dorchester, were honored, not with the Medal of Honor, but with the Distinguished Service Cross, the U.S. Army’s second highest combat award.Fr. Capodanno is presently being considered for sainthood in the Catholic Church and "Grunt Padre" author Fr. Mode was the first Postulator promoting his cause for canonization. CAPT Mode has since become Chaplain of the Coast Guard, handing off the canonization work to a Roman Postulator. For Capodanno’s cause, this is a win-win scenario. A Medal of Honor recipient may well become a saint. Also with a Roman Postulator promoting his cause is the U.S. Army priest chaplain and MOH recipient, Fr. Emil Kapaun. Look for Fr. C and Fr. K to be canonized together! As for the rest of us, we too can be inspired to higher callings beginning with a reading of this book. Fr. Dennis

I first discovered Fr. Capodanno's story through my dad, who is very devoted to this Medal of Honor winner. I bought this book to learn more about his life, and found his story to be fascinating. The book details Fr. Capodanno's childhood and teen years, his experience as a Maryknoll missionary and his short career as a Navy chaplain stationed in Vietnam. While telling the story, Fr. Mode weaves in excerpts from letters, conversations, homilies, etc. The book is very well-researched and written and includes photographs of Fr. Capodanno and his family, as well as information on memorials in his honor and the Medal of Honor citation. Although written from a Catholic perspective, I think this book would appeal to non-Catholic readers, especially those with a military background, as a story of virtue and bravery displayed by a courageous young man. I'm giving this book to my 14 year-old son to read because I think it's important for young men to have role models besides sports heroes and movie stars. Fr. Capodanno is a true hero, and his story is inspiring and compelling. My only complaint is that the editing could be better. There are several typos and grammar errors that are mildly distracting.Side note: I recently visited Staten Island, Fr. Capodanno's home town, and was able to visit his grave and drive down Father Capodanno Blvd. using information from this book.

I wish there was a more superlative word I could use to describe this book, than inspirational. I couldn't put it down. It is very well written and despite the fact that the author did not actually meet his subject, there is much affection and admiration that breathes through every word that he writes about Fr. Capodanno. This book is particularly significant in a day and age when the reputation of the priesthood has been besmirched by unworthy priests. Fr. Capodanno exemplifies the spiritual heights that a truly committed and faithful priest can reach if he dies to himself and lets Christ live in him. I can only hope and pray that his cause for canonization moves forward rapidly. He is God's answer to a culture where the popular concept of manhood pales to a mere shadow of what it was meant to be. Men were meant to be chivalrous, valiant, strong, self-sacrificing and PURE. Fr. Capodanno's life is proof that God continues to raise up holy men and women to be a bright light to us , when the lights in our souls flicker and threaten to go out. I can only echo the sentiment of another reviewer who said, "Thank you, Father Daniel Mode, for writing this book."

Fascinating book. Highly recommend for anyone interested in a new perspective of the human condition in Vietnam during the war.