Faith in a Time of War: No Bullet Got Me Yet

No Bullet Got Me Yet: The Relentless Faith of Father Kapaun 

by John Stansifer

Servant of God Emil Kapaun is from our diocese, so I basically buy every book published about him. Stansifer's book is well-researched and delves deeply into Father Kapaun's time in Korea.

Father Kapaun was a farm boy in Kansas who enlisted as a chaplain. He served in World War II and in Korea, where he was captured while heroically staying behind with wounded men and later died in a prisoner of war camp. After the war, soldiers who knew him and those who only heard about him, told stories of a man of courage and compassion that (we believe) prove he's a saint.

Stansifer interviewed many veterans, but he also had access to some amazing primary sources with stories of Father Kapaun I'd never heard, and I try to read everything about him. 

I had a few quibbles with the text. I was disappointed the author used the term "native" to refer to the people of some Asian countries where Father Kapaun was stationed. These weren't quotes from letters or documents of the time, but author's words. It felt disrespectful to me. I also felt like sometimes it was difficult to tell if the author was quoting someone else. Sometimes there were quotation marks. Sometimes the text was indented. Sometimes an entire section seemed to be from an interview or a letter, but there weren't any quotations or indentations, so I wasn't sure. He also mentions at one point that a pope invokes papal infallibility at a canonization Mass, which is not official church teaching. (I'm married to a theologian, so I can't let that go.)

Despite my pickiness, this is an excellent book for the adults in your life. I ultimately decided my upcoming eighth grader (Level 4) would read A Shepherd in Combat Boots, which is sadly out of print. Both are good, but A Shepherd in Combat Boots is a little less graphic in its descriptions of war and the prison camp, so I thought it a better fit for a middle school student.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

Americans at War in Asia: The Korean War (Level 4 Twentieth Century History)

The Korean War: America's Forgotten War (Snapshots in History)

by Brian Fitzgerald

Mater Amabilis™ ™suggests two different books on the Korean War for Level 4 history, neither of which my library had. Since this book would be read in only a week, I didn't want to purchase anything. I checked out all the books our library had that I thought might be reasonable and skimmed through them, mainly for length and reading level.


I selected the book last summer but only read it this week as I prepared for the week's lessons. Fitzgerald's book presents a fair and balanced description of the events of the war, from North Korea's invasion to the armistice in 1953. He connects the events in Korea with the end of World War II. Powerful quotes bring the hardships and fears of the war into focus, like the freezing cold weather:

Our vehicles wouldn't start. Batteries gave out. The grease on our rifles turned to glue and they wouldn't fire. Our rations would freeze solid. Men would carry cans of food around inside their clothes, under their armpits, trying to thaw them a little so they could be eaten.

Sidebars throughout the book give additional information on the United Nations, important people, and other events. Photographs appear on nearly every page depicting important political figures, American soldiers and South Korean soldiers and citizens, as well as North Korean and Chinese soldiers and medics.

The Korean War may not be as well-known as other struggles, but the sacrifices made by the men and women who fought and served in the war are certainly no less. They gave their lives to protect people they did not know in a land many of them had never heard of.

There's an extensive timeline at the end of the book, along with a glossary, source notes, a bibliography, and recommendations for further reading.

I can't claim this is the best book written on the Korean War for an eighth grade student to read, but I thought it was exactly the kind of book I wanted.

Like the biography of Gandhi First Son read for India, this book is short enough to be scheduled over just two days, leaving a third for other research on the Korean War or a look at the developments in the time since the war.  First Son is going to read just one article, but hopefully by the time First Daughter is in eighth grade (three years from now), there will be dramatic developments from recent years for her to investigate.

Updated plans (original plans here):

Lesson 1
MapTrek Modern World Map 41: The Korean War – review this map in your binder from earlier this year
Kingfisher History Encyclopedia p 444-445 – Narrate.
The Korean War (library) p 8-55 - Narrate.

Lesson 2

The Korean War (library) p 56-85.

Written narration on the Korean War, at least 3 paragraphs.

Lesson 3

Watch a video of President Kim of North Korea greeted by President Moon of South Korea in April 2018.
Add an event to your Book of Centuries.

I'd like to find additional sources for Lesson 3, but will look for something more substantial when planning for First Daughter in fall 2020. If I find something, it would be narrated.

I checked this book out of the library. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. The opinions in this post are my own.

Serving Souls in a Prisoner of War Camp: A Shepherd in Combat Boots

A Shepherd in Combat Boots: Chaplain Emil Kapaun of the 1st Cavalry Division

by William L. Maher

Servant of God Emil Kapaun is a priest from our own state of Kansas who died in a prison camp during the Korean War. During his time as an army chaplain, he inspired the men in his care with his bravery, his kindness, his mechanical skills, and his love of God. His cause for canonization is being considered in Rome. I chose this biography of him for First Son to read for one of the twentieth-century saints and heroes as suggested by Mater Amabilis™ for ™Level 4. I hadn't read the whole book before we started, so First Son and I read it together.

The early chapters emphasize the difficult lives of the people of rural Kansas.

Winters were bitter and confining, the drabness broken every day by the freezing chores of caring for the farm animals. Spring brought threats of tornadoes, or thunderstorms which could wipe out emerging crops. The summers were brutally hot and severe winds often swept in from the western prairies, accompanying the droughts that the farmers feared so much.

The book also reveals the conditions of troops in Japan (living with Japanese girl friends, liquor plentiful, girls available) as well as later the difficult and distressing conditions in the camps. Sensitive readers may be upset by these things. First Son was fine.

Father Kapaun, while living in Japan before the Korean War, spoke often on a radio ministry.

The peace which God gives is a gift which exists even in suffering, in want, and even in time of war. People who try to promote peace and love among their fellow men are peacemakers in the true sense of the word. And the people who try to bring the peace of God to souls are peacemakers of a higher order.

That's from a broadcast on April 21, 1950, part of which you can find online on the Diocese of Wichita website.

There are reports of multiple times in Korean when shells and bombs fell near-by while Father Kapaun was saying mass. He did not pause his prayers or services even when they were missed by just hundreds of yards. Displaying similar bravery for the good of his men, he would sneak out and steal food for the prisoners while in the prison camp, explaining to many soldiers that in these circumstances, stealing was not immoral because the captors were unjustly starving the men. His practical skills and creativity in problem-solving also helped men survive in the camp. He crafted pots, repaired tires, and devised ways to provide clean water to sick men.

There are many powerful quotes from fellow prisoners about Father Kapaun and his example in the prison camp.

"It was his actual deeds that gave the prisoners such a tremendous impact as they watched him living by God's law. In a few words, Chaplain Kapaun practiced what he preached," said Lieutenant Ralph Nardella.

Also this one:

"When others were getting meaner the priest was only kinder," said another American soldier. "The longer we were in the valley, the rougher it got, and the rougher it got, the gentler Father Kapaun became."

Amazingly, Father Kapaun baptized some of the prisoners during his time in the camps. It's hard to imagine more desperate and humiliating circumstances, yet this priest was able to demonstrate the eternal love of God even in the midst of such horrors.

I think the most remarkable testimony comes from Marine Captain Gerald Fink, a man who arrived at the camp after Father Kapaun had died and therefore knew him only from the reports of others. Inspired by his example, he created a stunning crucifix of scraps with improvised tools.

If the meek shall inherit the earth, it will be because people like Father Kapaun willed it to them. I am a Jew, but that man will always live in my heart. He was a man among many who were not. I saw the biggest, huskiest and toughest men crack under the strain. Father Kapaun not only served Christians well but he served everyone else with equal goodness and kindness. Never thinking of himself, he was always doing something for others. He represented to me saintliness in its purest form and manliness in its rarest form. 

This book is simply written, much of it drawn directly from primary sources like eports from Father Kapaun to his bishop and interviews with men who knew Father Kapaun at home and in the prison camp. Maher has read and incorporated Kapaun's letters and diaries to give an incisive view into Kapaun's thoughts and feelings. It is an excellent early biography, though I do hope there will be another in the future that shapes these first impressions into a more beautifully crafted story of his life and witness.

For those interested, The Miracle of Father Kapaun shares more information about his time in the prison camp and the miracles that are being considered in his cause for sainthood.

This is an excellent biography of a twentieth-century man of God for any Level 4 student, but especially for a young man or a student in Kansas or near-by states. There is something especially powerful in seeing an example of such saintliness from a man who grew up in the same area. My children and I regularly visit the chapel where Father Kapaun was ordained and the school where the crucifix he inspired hangs.

I purchased this book used. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.

Our Level 4 (8th Grade) Six Week Study on Asia

Mater Amabilis™ gives some lesson plans for History in Level 4 (8th grade) in which a student studies national history for twelve weeks followed by four six-week terms chosen from six options.

Here's how that's going to look for First Son:

• Term 1 - Mater Amabilis™ study, modified only a little to add in a few Kansas-related books. I've posted those plans in the Mater Amabilis™ facebook group for those that are interested.
• Term 2
• Six weeks on World War I
• Six weeks on World War II
• Term 3
• Six weeks on Russia and the Collapse of Communism, plans posted in the Mater Amabilis™ facebook group
• Six weeks on Asia - plans below

Everyone's budget hits a limit and I decided not to invest quite as heavily in this six weeks as others. Because the study is spread over a few "units" focused on different ares, I decided to find library substitutes for the Mater Amabilis™ recommended books. I have no reason to believe these are better; they were just available.

As with the other history plans I wrote for the year, there's a good chance I've scheduled more than my rising eighth grader will be comfortable doing in the time suggested for history.

Mater Amabilis™ says history at this level should take about 45 minutes each day three times a week. In addition, a supplemental reading book should be chosen from the recommended books. I'm still deciding on our supplemental reading books.

Our Main Resources

• Kingfisher HistoryEncyclopedia, as recommended in the Mater Amabilis™ plans (I bought this used from a mom in my local homeschool group.)
• Mahatma Gandhi by Michael Nicholson (from our library)
• The Korean War (Snapshots in History) by Brian Fitzgerald (from our library)
• 10,000 Days of Thunder by Philip Caputo (from our library)
• Afghanistan (Global Hot Spots) by David Downing (from our library)
• I printed to PDF the articles linked in the plans and placed them in a binder before the term began.
• Movies or audio files I linked in a Google doc I shared with my son.

Optional Resources

• MapTrek Modern World (previously owned)
• Gandhi, the Ben Kingsley production (good for middle school and up, available at our library)
• A Statement Against the War in Vietnam by Wendell Berry, p 64-75 in The Long-Legged House (from our library)
• The Arrival by Shaun Tan (from our library)

Week 1: India

Lesson 1

Kingfisher History Encyclopedia p 366-367, 421, 424 – Narrate. (Southeast Asia 1800-1913, Indian Independence 1945-1947, British Commonwealth 1914-1949)

Mahatma Gandhi  p 5-17 (stop before The first struggles) - Narrate.

Gandhi DVD – watch a little of these in the evenings each day this week, after the younger children are in bed.

Lesson 2

Mahatma Gandhi p 17-42 - Narrate.

Lesson 3

Mahatma Gandhi p 43-60 – Narrate.

MapTrek Modern World Map 37: Independence for India

Read an eyewitness account of the assassination of Gandhi in1948 at Eyewitness to History

Listen to Jawaharlal Nehru’s extempore broadcast on All India Radio announcing the news of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on January 30, 1948 and read the text of the speech he gave three days later, found in your Google Doc.

Notebook – Write a brief biography of Gandhi.

Add an event to your Book of Centuries.

Week 2: Korea

Lesson 1

MapTrek Modern World Map 41: The Korean War

Kingfisher History Encyclopedia p 444-445 – Narrate. (Wars in Asia 1950-1988)

The Korean War p 8-37 - Narrate.

Lesson 2

The Korean War p 38-69 - Narrate.

Lesson 3

The Korean War p 70-85

Notebook – Briefly share what you know about the Korean War.

Add an event to your Book of Centuries.

Week 3: Vietnam (week 1 of 2)

Lesson 1

MapTrek Modern World Map 42: The Vietnam War – review this map in your binder from earlier this year

10,000 Days of Thunder p 6-30 - Narrate.

Lesson 2

10,000 Days p 31-59 – Narrate.

Lesson 3

10,000 Days p 60-85 – Narrate.

Add an event to your Book of Centuries.

Week 4: Vietnam (week 2 of 2)

Lesson 1

10,000 Days p 86-87.

A Statement Against the War in Vietnam by Wendell Berry, pp 64-75 in The Long-Legged House

Notebook – Write a position paper on the war in Vietnam.

Lesson 2

10,000 Days p 88-111 – Narrate.

Lesson 3

10,000 Days p 112-119 – Narrate.

Notebook – Briefly share what you know about the Vietnam War.

Add an event to your Book of Centuries.

Week 5: Afghanistan (week 1 of 2)

Lesson 1

Afghanistan (Global Hot Spots) by David Downing p 4-7 – Narrate.

Notebook – Sketch a copy of the map on p 6.

Lesson 2

Afghanistan p 8-13 – Narrate.

Lesson 3

Afghanistan p 14-19 – Narrate.

Add an event to your Book of Centuries.

Week 6: Afghanistan (week 2 of 2)

Lesson 1

Afghanistan p 20-25 – Narrate.

Lesson 2

Afghanistan p 26-29 – Narrate.

Notebook – What have you learned about Afghanistan in the past few weeks?

Lesson 3

Read The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Notebook – Write a prayer for immigrants and refugees.

Add an event to your Book of Centuries.

There's enough flexibility in this schedule due to the shorter books, that readings could be combined to make the unit shorter than six weeks. That would allow days earlier in the year for exams in previous units and in this one as well. Personally, I've tried to make a kind of "final" notebook entry for each unit to serve as our exam.

Servant of God and War Hero: The Miracle of Father Kapaun

The Miracle of Father Kapaun

by Roy Wenzl and Travis Heying

This book grew out of newspaper articles written by Wenzl and Heying about Father Emil Kapaun, a man maybe little known outside of Kansas, but someone who has inspired the local Catholic population.

Emil Kapaun grew up in Pilsen, a small town in rural Kansas, became a priest, served as a chaplain in World War II and Korea. He died in a prisoner of war camp after inspiring hundreds of men, bolstering their hope and their chances of survival.

Mater Amabilis™recommends in Level 4 a saint biography for each term, one focused on a twentieth century saint to correspond to the literature and history recommendations. Though Father Kapaun is not on the list, as he is not yet a saint, he seemed a natural and really necessary choice for our son growing up in Kansas.

This particular book focuses on Father Kapaun's ministry in Korea, incorporating interviews with surviving POWs and people in his home diocese. Additionally, it describes the actions of those campaigning for Father Kapaun's receipt of the Congressional Medal of Honor (awarded in 2013) and the cause of his sainthood.

Materials have been submitted to the Vatican and many in Kansas pray daily for Father Kapaun's beatification. He has already been named a Servant of God and Vatican has placed him on the expedited list for consideration because he would be the first saint from his diocese. (Expedited for the Vatican means something like seven years to consider the cause rather than fifteen.) Wenzl and Heying describe some of the purported miracles attributed to Father Kapaun's intercession.

The authors are not Catholic; they are journalists. The actions of Father Kapaun in the war and the miracles are often presented with an air of detached amazement. They do not discount the miracles, however.

I did find it a little annoying how the book is often written in snippets, as they try to present multiple storylines simultaneously.

I enjoyed reading the book. The stories of Father Kapaun's courage and hope in the prisoner of war camp are inspiring and reveal what such places are often like. The later chapters about the Medal of Honor and canonization provide information on what those processes can look like, something usually neglected in saint biographies. However, it's not really a proper biography of Father Kapaun. It moves very quickly over his boyhood in Kansas and even his service in World War II. While I would like First Son to read this book, I'm not entirely sure it's the one I'd like to assign. So...off to read another book!