Historic Chaplain’s kit fresh out of the woodwork. KIA 1943 while conducting services in the PTO

[Jill trust]

Just now, Jill trust said:

Hi! Just a note to anyone following this. As Keith's granddaughter, I did visit the Warhawk air museum in Idaho when I was traveling. It was excellent and the curator in his 80s was awesome( we were both born in San Francisco on a side note)

Sorry about my lack of technical skills! I also was able to go to the celebration of the Army Chaplaincy birthday and met a ton of nice chaplains and saw a presentation including the history of 3 chaplains, including grandpa Keith (I was tearing up in the front). Thanks for this forum and leading me this new territory! God is good(I was able to give away some of my Bible sketchbooks under the name Jill Mockingbird if anyone wants one. It was my quarantine project, along with genealogy:).

[Doug OLoughlin]

It would be great if the communion kit could end up back in the family's hands, at least via the church museum that Mitch Dutton has suggested.

[Jill trust]

[Jill trust]

Just now, Jill trust said:

 

[Jill trust]

Yay! my local newspaper picked up the story!  I found it through you all:)

[Backtheattack]

What a great find! Like the historic documents and articles as background!

[Jill trust]

Yes, it has been great to research everything and meet some wonderful people.i'm hoping my grandfather's kit will eventually be in a museum where we can all check it out. I'm just not sure which museum 

[Jill trust]

On 7/21/2015 at 9:43 PM, USMC-RECON0321 said:

Amazingly this Chaplain’s kit just recently surfaced in a Goodwill store in Spokane Washington.

 

With the unique to quickly research and also some help from Scott (Bugme), I was able to positively ID this Chaplains kit to Chaplain, Capt. Keith B. Munro, (Keith Brakenridge Munro, to be precise). But what I didn’t expect to find is the history attached to Chaplain Munro and this kit, not to mention even a field picture of him kneeling next to this Chaplain’s kit.

 

Keith Munro, Was born in Berkely CA. June 25^th 1913

Graduated from the University of Ca. in 1938

Graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1941

Ordained in August 1941

Became a pasture of the First Presbyterian Church of Gilroy Ca.

He first received his Army Commission into the Infantry 2 months after the Pearl Harbor Attacks and shortly thereafter transferred to the U.S. Army Chaplains College.

He was assigned to the 871^st Airborne Engineer Aviation Bn. and deployed overseas to the Pacific Theater of operations.

 

Chaplain Munro, while conducting Sunday services in the jungles of New Guinea, on August 15^th 1943 was killed in action. A news release I found from Brig. General Stuart C. Godfrey, describes this incident:

 

“While a fighter airdome was under construction in New Guinea a flight of 12 Japanese medium bombers, escorted by 20 to 25 fighters, slipped in to bomb the field. They were intercepted by p-39 Airacobras, who shot down all 12 bombers and three fighters. We lost four fighter planes.” “The Raid occurred on a Sunday morning just after Chaplain Keith B. Munro of California had finished conducting services. Chaplain Munro was helping get the men safely into foxholes when one of the Japanese bombers crashed and exploded on the field. The Chaplain was killed and several of the men were injured.”

 

Chaplain Munro had just received news a few day earlier of his first child being born and he was killed just days before his 2^nd wedding anniversary.

 

Chaplain Munro’s story went nationwide and he was also selected to be one of the service stories used for the 6^th U.S. War Bonds Drive.

 

Chaplain Munro is buried in the Manila American Cemetery, Manila Philippines, Plot D, Row 5, Grave 187.

 

I will be attaching several archived news articles and pictures.

 

You will see the kit is identical to the one in the news articles except for missing the cross and 2 candle sticks, which is most likely due to those items being out of the kit while conducting his services that fateful day. The kit must have been sent or brought home and returned to his family with his personal belongings.

 

Very sad, but amazing piece of WWII history. It’s not very often so much information and documentation can still be found like this. I hope some of you take the time to read all this and keep this Chaplains story alive.

Thank you.

 

Please be patient as I download many scans and pictures.

 

 

 

Hi! I'm just looking up genealogy and I must say that my grandmother was Violet May Olsen , so I'm not sure where her middle initial D. Comes from in this article. Thanks!

[Jill trust]

On 7/22/2015 at 9:22 AM, USMC-RECON0321 said:

 

Kat,

 

No, but that is a good idea. Thanks

Troy

They have my grandfather's name on the wall, I've heard, but it's spelled wrong. I've seen his name on the youth memorial wall at Mount Hermon Christian camp in Ca.

[Jill trust]

Just a note to say hi and thank you all for your encouragement and input. My husband and I had a great visit and saw my grandfather's kit which has been taken care of very well. We hope to bring my son around for a visit since we are all in Virginia.