Kansas Delegation Seeks Medal of Honor for Priest

The Kansas congressional delegation is making its case to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that a late Roman Catholic priest deserves a Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Korean War.

The Rev. Emil Kapaun was serving as an Army chaplain when he died in a prison camp in May 1951.

Former prisoners of war have told investigators from the Army and Vatican that Kapaun repeatedly risked his life to rescue wounded soldiers in battle, and then again in prison camps, where he stole food from camp guards, gave his own meager rations to starving prisoners and defied Communist guards who tried to coerce prisoners into betraying their country.

His sister-in-law, Helen Kapaun, said she was encouraged by Friday’s letter and hoped the honor would be forthcoming.

SOURCE

Kansas City Star