There was nothing yet infamous about Dec. 7, 1941, when Father Aloysius Schmitt woke up aboard the battleship the USS Oklahoma to celebrate Mass that Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor. But just minutes after the liturgy ended, a surprise Japanese attack was underway, and Father Schmitt would lose his life while helping save the lives of 12 others, becoming the first U.S. chaplain to die during World War II.
World War II chaplain’s remains identified, will be returned to Iowa
Turmoil of war is backdrop for well-told tale of love, bravery
World War II novels continue to be written and published; there doesn’t seem to be an end to the story lines created by authors, who find stories from a variety of sources and inspirations.