A Religious History of the American GI in World War II by G. Kurt Piehler

Abstract

Reviewed by: A Religious History of the American GI in World War II by G. Kurt Piehler John Hannah A Religious History of the American GI in World War II. By G. Kurt Piehler. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2021. xv + 393 pp. A military chaplain must be able to listen carefully to members of his uniformed congregation regardless of their particular faith, their level of piety, or even lack thereof. G. Kurt Piehler models that skill very ably as he chronicles hundreds of oral histories from World War II. This book will enlighten anyone interested in what real GIs and real chaplains were thinking as they served their nation around the world. GI stands for "Government Issue" and is any soldier, marine, sailor, or airman. Piehler conveniently organizes his collection of quotations and anecdotes. He begins with President Roosevelt's effort to mobilize the nation for war by reference to religion. Next is the unprecedented [End Page 228] raising of twenty thousand volunteer chaplains from civilian clergy of America and the building of multi-faith chapels. He then covers all circumstances and conditions that chaplains and GIs faced: basic training, foreign deployment, ethical challenges, fear, wounds, dying, imprisonment, and dealing with former enemies following surrender. One chapter discusses race relations and another chapter concerns uniformed women. Segregation and patriarchy were the order of the day. President Truman's order to integrate the services would not come until 1948. Piehler believes that the GIs of World War II provided the prelude to the religious revival of the 1950s. He also believes that the pluralism and tolerance exercised by the chaplains then formed a foundation for American civil religion. On many occasions a chaplain substituted for an absent chaplain of a different faith, reinforcing acceptance of pluralism and tolerance. The Navy chaplaincy developed the widely accepted motto: "Cooperation without compromise." Serious piety was not universal and unanimous. Nor was facile pluralism. Piehler adduces quotations disputing any illusion of unanimity. Atheists and agnostics were not afraid to dissent. The practice of pluralism and tolerance was not perfect. Tensions between some elements arose. For example, some Roman Catholics were afraid that Protestant chaplains were proselytizing their flock. Likewise, many Protestants believed that Roman Catholic chaplains were favored, especially in the army where the chief of chaplains was Roman Catholic. Orthodox Jews were suspicious of Reform Jewish chaplains who seemed to predominate in the military rabbinate. Fundamentalist church bodies felt that the accession system was rigged against them due to education requirements. The general Protestant services were not satisfying to all. Latter Day Saints (Mormons) frequently held separate services. Although not mentioned by Piehler, Lutheran and Episcopalian chaplains often held supplementary eucharistic services for their respective coreligionists. Only a few Lutherans are quoted by Piehler. No specifically Lutheran archive appears in the lengthy bibliography, although it includes the official account of Army chaplains, "Report of the Army Chaplain in the European Theater" compiled by a team led [End Page 229] by Lutheran chaplain, Arthur Carl Piepkorn. Had Piehler included more quotations from Lutheran chaplains, they would likely have differed little from the range of attitudes among other chaplains. However, Lutheran chaplains typically served dual roles. In addition to serving as unit chaplains for all GIs and presiding at general Protestant services, they conducted Lutheran eucharistic celebrations for Lutheran GIs, embracing pluralism while upholding the integrity of Lutheran pastoral practice. Piehler notes that General Marshall, President Roosevelt's Army Chief of Staff, and other high officials held Roman Catholic chaplains in higher respect than their Protestant counterparts (306–08). Further research would find that Lutheran chaplains of the era were regarded with respect equal to Roman Catholics. Many, like Piepkorn, Storaasli, Scharlemann, Reiss, and Dreith, were promoted and assigned to the staffs of very senior commanders. All in all, this book is an excellent treatment of the character and religiosity of the Americans who served in World War II (the "greatest generation"). Like Ernie Pyle's cartoons from the front, Piehler paints a portrait of GIs who were displaced and under duress. We remember them for their valor. John Hannah U.S. Army Chaplain (Retired) The Bronx, New York Copyright © 2023 Johns Hopkins University Press...