ALEXANDRIA, VA: Today, the Catholic War Veterans of the United States offer our consolation and our prayers of support and peace for Army Chaplain (MAJ) Fr. Timothy Vakoc and his family and friends.
In 2004, while returning from saying Mass for troops in the field, Fr. Vakoc became the first Army Chaplain to be gravely wounded in action in the Global War on Terror. On June 20, 2009, the day after Pope Benedict XVI officially inaugurated the Church’s “Year for Priests”, and after 5 years of recovery and continued ministry, our heavenly father called Fr. Tim home to man his eternal Post.
Among his many awards and decorations, for his actions in Iraq, Fr. Vakoc was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Action Badge. In 2008, the National Convention of the Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A. honored him with our Father Washington Award. Named for World War II Catholic Army Chaplain, Father John P. Washington, one of the famous “Four Chaplains”, the Father Washington Award is given to a Catholic person who performs an act of heroism.
Although Fr. Vakoc is the first Army Chaplain to die from his combat injuries in the war against Terror in Iraq, he will be remembered by all of us not for his death, but for his life. His ministry and his selfless sharing of faith and hope with those veterans he served with is his most enduring legacy. Without the service of courageous Deacons and Priests like Fr. Vakoc who put themselves in harm’s way for the benefit of others, we would surely be left wanting.
In memory of Fr. Vakoc and the Church’s Year for Priests, we invite you to say a special prayer of thanks each day for the gift of every military Chaplain.
Founded in 1935, the Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America, Inc. is the preeminent national veterans service organization representing the Catholic military veterans of our nation. The CWV is the only Catholic organization to have been granted an official charter by the U.S. Congress. The CWV is a private, non-profit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service under IRC 501(c)4.
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