Father Emile J. Kapaun was born April 20, 1916 in Pilson, Kansas. He grew up in Kansas and was ordained a Catholic Priest on June 9, 1940. He joined the US Military in 1944 during World War II. After World War II he separated from the military in 1946. In 1948 he re-entered the US Military and was sent to Japan. In 1950 he was sent to Korea and was captured by North Korean forces in November of that same year.
During Father Kapaun's captivity in a prison camp near the Yalu river (Camp No.5) he administered to the sick and dying men. He carved a crucifix from a piece of wood he found and made a makeshift altar in one of the prison rooms. At night he would sometimes sneak out of his assigned prison area and forage for food to feed the sick and starving men. After seven months in prison it is reported he became ill himself and died on May 29, 1951. It is said that he was stripped of his cloths and buried in an unmarked grave not far from the Yalu river that separates North Korea from The Peoples Republic of China this very day.
Recently a young man in Kansas by the name of Chase Kear suffered a traumatic head/brain injury. His skull was cracked from ear to ear. The doctors determined it was more than likely fatal. His parents contacted the nearby Catholic parish and many people prayed a prayer to Father Emile Kapaun. After a few days the young man began an astonishing recovery, baffling the doctors who still cannot explain what happened. Now some people believe in miracles then there are the skeptics. However the doctors that attended the young man agree a miracle did happen.
Recently I received an audio interview from a foreign business man who visited and spoke with several American POWs during the summer of 2007. He claims to have spoken to a very elderly Catholic priest at Camp no.5 located just east of Pyongyang, North Korea. Was this Catholic priest Father Emile Kapaun or someone else? I guess we will never know for sure. Whether Father Kapaun died at Camp no.5 in 1951 or maybe still lives at Camp no.4 today he is truly a soldier, hero and saint and truly an inspiration for all of us. I have recently learned that Father Kapaun is being considered for the Congressional Medal of Honor and also for "Sainthood". One thing for certain "God will always remember" Father Kapaun.
We all should remember all of the prisoners of war. Many have chosen to forget them for various reasons. One thing is for certain there are live American and other prisoners of war still being held inside North Korea, the evidence for this is overwhelming! Be assured that God will never forget these men or the men who chose to ignore the fact that they are still there and do nothing to have them returned home where they belong.
On September 18 we paid tribute to the POWs and proclaimed that day as POW/MIA rememberence day. Proclamations were signed by the President and many governors around the country. I find it interesting the wording of these proclamations. The Presidents's proclamation was very carefully worded to only mention "remains" being recovered. Governor Bill Richardson's proclamation was worded to include "live" POWs being returned and to "pressure" our government to negotiate their release. Today final celebrations to Veterans Day are completing with a free meal for veterans at Golden Corral Restaurants and a speech I watched from the University of Washington. Every day and especially during this holiday season we should include those men and women who stand their posts today and have stood their posts in the past in our prayers. All the freedoms we enjoy today are because of them.
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