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Display Honors
WWII Chaplain
By Chris Crytzer
Correspondent
At the Diocesan Pastoral Center in
Downtown Pittsburgh, visitors can view
two display cases that feature a World
War II chaplain’s Mass kit.
According to Ken White, director of the
Diocesan Archives and Records Center,
this Mass kit belonged to Father Herman
Baumann, who was a military chaplain
and prisoner of war during World War II.
He was born in Etna on November 30,
1908, and died May 25, 1990.
“We don’t know if it was the actual kit
he had in the prison camp or if it was a kit
issued to him after his release. Either
way, it shows the contents of the Mass
kits carried by priests during World War
II,” White said.
The display cases are in the first-floor
waiting room of the Pastoral Center, 111
Boulevard of the Allies. About the display,
Bishop Donald Wuerl said, “I am pleased
to see that Father Baumann is given welldeserved
recognition for his ministry,
particularly as a chaplain during World
War II.”
When the diocese decided to establish
a waiting room at the Pastoral Center,
White said, “It was also decided to have
some display cases to exhibit items
reflecting the history of the diocese for
these visitors to look at while they were
waiting. There are five display cases, two
of which contain Father Baumann’s Mass
kit and supplies.”
Retired Aux. Bishop John McDowell
knew Father Baumann, saying, “He went
through terrible suffering as a captive of
the Japanese. He used to talk about it,
but not much … He preferred not to talk
about it. You could tell it had a very deep
impression in his life.”
Bishop McDowell said he never brought
up the war — out of respect — unless
Father Baumann did first.
The bishop recalled a time when he
told Father Baumann he was hungry. In
response, Father Baumann told him
about the incredible hunger pains he
experienced while in captivity, saying,
“You don’t know what hunger means.”
Bishop McDowell also remembered a
touching story Father Baumann told him.
“He befriended a Japanese guard and
they became very close. A lot of them did
it (served as guards) because they were
afraid of what would happen to them.
Every once in a while, this guard would
get them a piece of bread and some wine
to say Mass.”
In a speech Father Baumann delivered
on the “Way of Life” program that was
broadcast on WCAE, he was quoted as
saying, “I will never forget how interested
the Japanese guards were as we set up
the makeshift altar.”
30 — THE QUAN
Bishop McDowell said Father Baumann
was a wonderful person.
“I respected him so much. He was a
close friend.”
Prior to his death, Father Baumann was
pastor emeritus of St. Conrad in Meridian.
He became pastor at St. Conrad in 1961.
Father Baumann died at Vincentian Home
in McCandless Township following an
illness.
He was assigned to the U.S. forces in
Corregidor in the Philippines during World
War II, where he ministered to soldiers
while the island was under siege. Father
Baumann was captured by the Japanese
on May 6, 1942, when Corregidor surrendered.
He was held prisoner for 40
months in the Philippines.
Father Baumann was awarded the
Silver Star, the Bronze Star,
Distinguished Achievement Award, the
Presidential Unit Citation and the Prisoner
of War Medal.
He attended All Saints School in Etna,
Duquesne Prep School, Duquesne
University and St. Vincent Seminary. He
was ordained a priest on June 16, 1935,
at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe by
Bishop Hugh Boyle.
Father Baumann served as assistant
pastor of St. Patrick in Pittsburgh’s Strip
District from 1935 until March 4, 1941,
when he left for active duty as an Army
chaplain.
After the war, he returned to serve at
St. Patrick until 1950. Father Baumann
then became assistant pastor at St.
Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin in
Whitehall, where he stayed until 1953.
Then he became pastor of St. James in
New Bedford, where he served until 1955.
Father Baumann was assigned as
pastor of St. Joseph in Carnegie from 1955
until 1961. After his retirement from St.
Conrad, he lived in Meridian until 1988,
when he moved to St. John Vianney
Manor in Crafton, followed by Vincentian
Home.
See Picture Page 32
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————————
Seeking Information
Dear Sir,
I was referred to you by Kelly M.
McGrath, daughter of James Merrill
McGrath. I am in search of three gentlemen
that James McGrath referred to you
in a journal of his, regarding his experience
as a POW in WWII from the
Philippines.
The names of the men I am trying to
get an address and/or phone number for
are: Hubert (Hugh) McGowen, Clyde
Huddelson and Al Gorsky.
Any help you may be able to give would
be much appreciated. If you have questions
regarding this request, please call
Jonathan Smith at 360-598-4438.
Sincerely,
Jonathan O. Smith
6785 NE Madison Street
Suquamish, WA 98392
360-598-4438