U.S. Army Chaplain Occupied Japan Photo Album

[Manchu Warrior]

This is an interesting photo album of a U.S. Army Chaplain's time in Occupied Japan. I purchased the album at an auction a few years ago and the last name of the good Chaplain is Dillon. Other then the name I have no other information on the officer. Most of the photos are of him and his family seeing the sights in Japan but there are also plenty of photos of soldiers and life on base. Does anyone have any information on Chaplains in Japan?

Army insignia on his stole.

[Manchu Warrior]

You may not be able to see it in the photo but they are wearing the Far East Command patch.

The Chaplain is second from the right.

[Manchu Warrior]

[Manchu Warrior]

Japanese gate guard.

[Manchu Warrior]

[Manchu Warrior]

[Manchu Warrior]

[Manchu Warrior]

The photo album is made bamboo and there must be 150 photos in it and I figured I would show a few.

[Manchu Warrior]

[Chap15]

Maybe he is Delphin (or Delphine) Dillon.

Methodist Chaplain, 1942-1946.

Would a wife be allowed to go to Japan in 1946?

[Wailuna]

...Would a wife be allowed to go to Japan in 1946?

Yes but most of the pictures shown here are from much later than 1946. The insignia for U.S. Army Forces, Far East Command, was not authorized until September 1952 (and look at the American cars shown in other pictures). If that is SFC Dillon in post #2, and he was an Army Chaplain during WWII, that would be an interesting story to hear.

[Manchu Warrior]

Yes but most of the pictures shown here are from much later than 1946. The insignia for U.S. Army Forces, Far East Command, was not authorized until September 1952 (and look at the American cars shown in other pictures). If that is SFC Dillon in post #2, and he was an Army Chaplain during WWII, that would be an interesting story to hear.

I appreciate the information. Wailuna, do you possibly have a first name for SFC Dillon?

[Wailuna]

...Wailuna, do you possibly have a first name for SFC Dillon?

No, I was simply working with the name and other info you supplied in post #1 and #2 and the name that Chap15 supplied in post #10. I did find a burial record for WWII veteran Major Delphin Delmas Dillon (link here), whom I assume is Chap15's prospect.

 

I don't know if the Chaplain shown in post #1 is Maj. Delphin Delmas Dillon. And I don't know if SFC Dillon is one of the NCOs pictured in post #2. However, to my sore old eyes, none of those sergeants looks like the Chaplain. But you have the pictures. Are there captions or other info in the album that name the people shown in pictures #1 and #2? (Note: As Maj. Dillon was born in 1907, he would have been in his mid-40s by the time picture #2 was made).

[Manchu Warrior]

No, I was simply working with the name and other info you supplied in post #1 and #2 and the name that Chap15 supplied in post #10. I did find a burial record for WWII veteran Major Delphin Delmas Dillon (link here), whom I assume is Chap15's prospect.

 

I don't know if the Chaplain shown in post #1 is Maj. Delphin Delmas Dillon. And I don't know if SFC Dillon is one of the NCOs pictured in post #2. However, to my sore old eyes, none of those sergeants looks like the Chaplain. But you have the pictures. Are there captions or other info in the album that name the people shown in pictures #1 and #2? (Note: As Maj. Dillon was born in 1907, he would have been in his mid-40s by the time picture #2 was made).

To be honest I may be off on this one. I assumed this was the chaplains photo book because his photo is the first one in the book. The caption on that photo says, "Chaplain and Mrs. Dillon." I also assumed it was the chaplains book because there are many photos that were taken inside a chapel and at church dinners with officers and enlisted men. The caption of the photo with the NCOs says "that is Tom sitting second from the right." So, I assumed Tom was the chaplain but Tom simply may have been an NCO who attended Chaplain Dillon's church. The reason I think that now is because if the chaplain had a photo of himself and his wife why would it say Chaplain and Mrs. Dillon and not simply this me and my better half or something like that. So, I guess this was Tom's or his wife's photo album.

[Wailuna]

Thanks for the captions. and your excellent analysis, Manchu. However, it might be premature to conclude that you have "Tom's" album so keep an open mind. Try looking at the backs of all the pictures. If you have one captioned "me" you probably will have found the album owner's picture.

[Manchu Warrior]

Thanks for the captions. and your excellent analysis, Manchu. However, it might be premature to conclude that you have "Tom's" album so keep an open mind. Try looking at the backs of all the pictures. If you have one captioned "me" you probably will have found the album owner's picture.

Makes sense I will have to take a better look and see what I come up with.

[captainD]

This is an interesting photo album of a U.S. Army Chaplain's time in Occupied Japan. I purchased the album at an auction a few years ago and the last name of the good Chaplain is Dillon. Other then the name I have no other information on the officer. Most of the photos are of him and his family seeing the sights in Japan but there are also plenty of photos of soldiers and life on base. Does anyone have any information on Chaplains in Japan?

army_chap_022.JPGarmy_chap_023.JPG

Army insignia on his stole.

Hello, I found your post and I think I know the officer... There was a pastor Delphin Dillon (Captain then Major), but I suggest it could be his son, Dwight. (But Dwight wasn't pastor, he was in the Marine)

Keep me in touch if you read my post, I have a picture of the officer but your message is 10 years old I don't know if your are still a forum member !

Regards