My most "memorable person" was our chaplain, Father Richard Hodge, a member of the Franciscan Order, known as Franciscan Friars. In this Order, both Priests & Nuns can be distinguished by the initials "OFM" after their names. Most of them are found working in education, but still spend a lot of time in the spiritual care of people.

All Franciscans take vows of poverty, chastity & obedience. Hence, they never marry or have money of their own. More than one officer, I have been told, found this out when the bill was to be split, Father Hodge never had any money.

Father Hodge worked very hard and I'm sure the spiritual welfare of the SLC crew was always in the forefront of his mind. He was always around visiting the crew. He could always be seen roaming around the ship talking to the men & there also seemed to be a little laughter coming from the group.

Besides holding church services, both Catholic & Protestant, THE TASK of giving solace to the crew when death or serious sickness would touch his "family", had to be in itself a BIG JOB.

He always could be seen roaming around the ship talking to the men. There also seemed to be a little laughter coming from the group.

Years later at a reunion, I asked him if he ever taught school. He laughed a little and said that was all he ever worked as, a teacher. That was what he liked about being in the Navy. The opportunity to work with young men. He was in Chicago shortly after the war and came out to my parent's home for dinner. He regaled us with stories and laughter all evening. My mother loved him.

I remember one time in my own case that I was remiss in writing home and my mother got very worried. She did not know Father Hodge, so she just addressed her letter to the Chaplain of the USS SLC. We were in port and I was working around the fantail when he came into the gun tub, gave me a strong talking to and sent me below to write a letter and hand it to him.

At the Catholic Mass, Major R. D. Taplett, USMC was usually one of his Altar Boys. He always said a memorial mass at our reunions. His Altar Boy was usually one of our pilots. He was not a Catholic and one time Father Hodge said, "He was the best Protestant Altar Boy he ever had".

Father Hodge told me that he performed the marriage for Major Taplett and quite a few other men from the SLC.

Years later at a reunion, I asked him if he ever taught school. He laughed a little and said that was all he ever worked as, a teacher. That was what he liked about being in the Navy. The opportunity to work with young men. He was in Chicago shortly after the war and came out to my parent's home for dinner. He regaled us with stories and laughter all evening. My mother loved him.