Catholics Who Served in US Navy

On October 13th 1775, the U.S Navy was established by the Continental Congress. For 250 years, countless Catholics have answered the call to serve in the branch that sails the seven seas from the Revolution to the War on Terror.

As we look back at 250 years of history, here are some famous Catholics who served in the United States Navy.

Commodore John Barry

Known as the father of the United States Navy, John Barry would be the first commissioned officer of the Continental Navy (original name for the modern-day US Navy).

Hyman Rickover

Known as the Father of Nuclear Navy, Admiral Rickover played a key role in the development of nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.

From 1952 to 1986, Rickover directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of the U.S. Naval Reactors office.

In addition, he oversaw the development of the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor used for generating electricity.

Ron DeSantis

The 46th Governor of Florida makes the list. Yes, he is Catholic. He is a die-hard Catholic, and he canceled his inauguration in January 2019 for his son’s Baptism.

Nicknamed, Florida’s Governor DeSantis served in the Navy SEALs in Afghanistan in the late 2000s. He played baseball from Little League up to Division I for the Florida State Seminoles.

John F Kennedy

Yes, he is a bit controversial. The first Catholic president of the United States served in the Navy. Kennedy inspired a nation with his inauguration speech when he asked his fellow citizens to forge new frontiers and ask what they could do for their country.

Kennedy served in the Navy during World War II. He survived the wreckage of his boat, PT 109.

Admiral Jermiah Denton

Jeremiah Denton was the longest tenure POW and was known for blinking in Morse code the word “Torture” to describe his experience at Hanoi Hilton, the notorious POW camp in Northern Vietnam. He became the first POW to exit the plane after his release during Operation Homecoming in 1973.

After leaving the Navy, he went on to serve one term in the U.S. Senate for his home state of Alabama from 1981 to 1987. He was the first Catholic from the state to do so. During his time, he focused on protecting national security and the family in a short political career.

Notably, he passed the Adolescent Family Life Act in 1981, which promoted abstinence. Like Ronald Reagan, he too was an opponent of communism and worked to take down the Soviet Union. Denton died in 2014. 

Ed “Butch” O’Hare

The son of a former attorney to Al Capone, Butch O’Hare was a naval aviator during World War II and an ace.

He would be the first American awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in February 1942 as he downed five Japanese bombers.

In November 1943, he was shot down and likely killed during a night raid. His body was never recovered.

Chicago named one of their airports in his honor, while St. Louis held his funeral at St. Louis Cathedral.

Edward Byers

The most recent Medal of Honor recipient to this day and Navy SEAL Byers, helped rescue a hostage on December 8th, 2012. He credited the intercession of St. Michael for the success of the mission.

Michael Monsoor

On September 29, 2006 (the feast day of St. Michael), Monsoor was on a rooftop in Ramadi, Iraq, providing sniper overwatch. An insurgent's grenade bounced onto the rooftop, and Monsoor jumped on it to shield his fellow SEALs and Iraqi soldiers from the explosion, saving their lives. 

Monsoor's Catholic faith was a core aspect of his life; he was known to attend Mass devotionally before missions. His self-sacrificing act on the feast of his patron saint led some to consider him a "martyr of charity".

Dom Raso

Raso served in SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU) and is also known for his work in military research and development. 

Raso served in the Navy for twelve years and is now a husband and father of five. He was spared in 2011 when his teammates of Seal Team Six were killed in a helicopter crash just months after killing Osama Bin Laden.

Today, Raso is an entrepreneur and the founder of Crush Everything.

Victoria Selkirk

A consecrated virgin in the Navy, that’s right. Lieutenant Commander Victoria Selkirk serves not only as a dietician in the U.S. Navy but also a consecrated virgin in the Catholic Church. 

Learn about her story here

Chaplains

Father Adam Marshall

The first Catholic priest to serve on a Naval ship was Father Adam Marshall in 1824, who served on the USS North Carolina not as a Chaplain, but as a Schoolmaster.

The religious services and preaching on board the ship were officiated by an Episcopalian Priest, so Fr. Adam instead spent his time teaching reading and writing to the midshipmen as well as providing spiritual direction and Confession.

Father Joseph T. O'Callahan

A WWII chaplain who received the Medal of Honor for his actions aboard the USS Franklin after it was attacked by the Japanese. He also received the Purple Heart.

Father Vincent R. Capodanno

A Navy chaplain during the Vietnam War, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. A ship, the USS Capodanno, has been named in his honor. He currently has an active cause of canonization for sainthood.

Father John Cardinal O'Connor

Served as a Navy chaplain during the Korean War, on multiple ships, and later served as Chief of Chaplains for four years. He would go on to establish the Sisters of Life while leading the Archdiocese of New York until he died in 2000.

Father Charles H Park

The first Catholic chaplain ever commissioned by the U.S. Navy.

Happy Birthday U.S Navy, and many more