It is a little known fact that US Army regulations prohibit the naming of chapel facilities for persons (“living or dead”).  That’s why, absent one or two chapels that carry centuries-old names, most military chapels are known by their location (East Gate, Family Housing, etc) or simply a number (Chapel 1, Chapel 2).  There are a few “memorial” chapels, though they are generically named, not dedicated for individuals.

This prohibition does not extend to non-chapel facilities, so it is common to see buildings dedicated to honor individuals in the military service.  Chaplains, though, are often first associated with chapels (at least one chapel was, for a couple of years, dedicated to its chaplain) — so they aren’t often honored with dedications of other military facilities.  A recent dedication changed that.

A reserve unit from New York recently moved to Fort Benning, and honored Chaplain (LtCol) Elmer Heindl by naming the Armed Forces Reserve Center for him.

The new Armed Forces Reserve Center at Fort Benning was named Saturday in honor of Lt. Col. Elmer W. Heindl, a Catholic chaplain who served during World War II.

Chaplain Heindl is described as “one of the most decorated chaplains to serve” in World War II.

Although he was only armed with his faith and never carried a gun, Heindl was one of the most decorated chaplains to serve during the conflict. He was in Guadalcanal, the Solomons and the Philippines. For his actions under fire, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star…

Chaplain Heindl died in 2006 at the age of 96; 22 members of his family were on hand at the ceremony.

While unarmed chaplains are often overlooked, despite their sacrifices and the equal threat to their own lives, it is fitting that Chaplain Heindl should be honored in this way.  Naming the reserve center after him does not make it Catholic, nor religious.  It is simply a means to remember a man who served — in every meaning of the word — with honor.