John J. Veret

If you allow me, I would like to tell the story of a WW2 Catholic Chaplain, John J. Veret, who died living his faith in the Battle of the Bulge, 1945Jan9. I was inspired to tell about Father Veret after seeing your (Fr James Martin SJ) Tweet on Memorial Day, and your recognition of Chaplains who died in war. As far a I know, I am the only person to write the following account of the moments leading up to his death in an artillery barrage.

My father was a paratrooper in the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Normandy, D-Day, 1944Jun6. After the Normandy campaign the 507th was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division and fought in the Battle of the Ardennes Forest (Battle of the Bulge).

At one of the reunions of the 507th during the 1980s, my mother asked one of the veterans, "Did you know Father Veret? He married us in Alliance NE." Across the dinner table the vet replied, "Did I know Father Veret? Let me tell you about Father Veret. He saved my life!"

The vet told how he had been carrying wounded soldiers down a hill to an aid station and ambulances. Under a constant artillery barrage he carried his fellow soldiers one at a time, over his shoulders, and then went back up the hill for another wounded paratrooper. After a short time his uniform was soaked in the blood from the wounded that he carried. He was not injured himself.

On one of the vet's trips down to the ambulance, Father Veret saw him, ran up to intercept him, took the wounded soldier from him, and put him on his own shoulder to carry the rest of the way. Father Veret had seen the vet's blood soaked uniform and assumed he was wounded, also. Father Veret said, "I'll take him. You go and get yourself taken care of [at the aid station]." Of course, the vet turned and started back up the hill to get another wounded paratrooper. He turned around just in time to see Father Veret loading the wounded soldier into the ambulance. A direct hit from a German 88mm artillery shell destroyed the ambulance and killed Father Veret and all the wounded inside.

Father John J. Veret's name is on the memorial plaque at Arlington Cemetery on Chaplain's Hill, with the names of other Catholic Chaplains. Father Veret was killed in action - ministering to his soldiers and saving the life of one paratrooper in his flock who could tell the story of how he died.

- Norman Costa q.Americamagazine.org

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