The Commander shipped out for the last time and we pray Mary, Star of the Sea, guide the watch.

Richard Hodge, with Roger Agostinelli, entered St. Anthony's Seminary from St. Francis Boarding School "near Watsonville." St. Francis must have been a wonderful place for its time; it has been said the friars' generosity toward their charges made the place a warm home. So many stories are told, especially of the old Brothers. Apples were picked, a lake was to be fished, teachers taught well.

Richard entered the Order at St. Elizabeth's, Oakland, 1921. He was ordained priest by Archbishop Maestequi, exiled Archbishop of Guadalajara, June 11th, 1927, Mission Santa Barbara.

He was a leader in education, as early as 1929 he did post-graduate studies at Catholic U., very unusual in our Province history at that time. Richard taught at St. Anthony's Seminary. In 1938 he became the founding principal of St. Mary's Boys' High School, Phoenix.

World War II brought a call for chaplains and Richard was one of the first to sign up. During the war years he served principally on the heavy cruiser USS SALT LAKE CITY. He saw four campaigns, was awarded nine battle stars, Presidential Unit Citations and numerous area ribbons. He attained the rank of Commander.

After the war he teamed up with the very successful Province Mission Band giving missions, novenas, retreats up and down the coast. Richard's style of preaching was very effective in those pre-Vatican II parish missions. In 1954 he became the founding pastor of Holy Family Parish, Pueblo, CO. A year later it was back to the Mission Band.

Age caught up with him and in 1970 he lived in "active retirement" with old Navy friends at St. Nicholas, Laguna Hills, CA., then with his sister in Santa Cruz and in 1981 at Our Lady of Grace Parish, Encino. He lived from 1983 - 1991 at St. Anthony's, San Francisco, and then to Mission Santa Barbara.

The young friar of change found change difficult in his senior years. He was always "The Commander." Navy time was to be observed. For Richard, relationships were fairly uncomplicated: officers were officers enlisted men enlisted men, the clergy were clergy and laity laity, priests were priests and Brothers were Brothers.

Richard died in residence at the Serra Wing, Santa Barbara, 91 years old, a Franciscan 72 years and a priest 66 years. He remained a Navy Chaplain, active and reserve, twenty-two years. He is buried in the friars vault at Mission Santa Barbara.

Read the Eulogy of Father Richard W. Hodge

His words from the SLC Association Reunion Book
I am your war-time chaplain, Father Hodge. I am speaking from my retirement home at Old Mission, Santa Barbara, CA.

In the midst of the Komandorski battle I would patrol the ship, encouraging the men at their stations. This would lead to the bridge where I would attract the attention of Captain Bertram Rodgers. He had one message... only one---"Padre, keep that pipeline open." Who can tell what bearing that prayer had on our ultimate victory.

As we grow weary of the stresses and strains of every-day life, in the R & R of our retirement, we may well apply the exhortation of our esteemed skipper:
KEEP THAT PIPELINE OPEN!

Contributed by Bernard McMurray, WT1c
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