Tim Vakoc
Encyclopedia
Henry Timothy "Tim" Vakoc ("VAH-kitch") (January 8, 1960–June 20, 2009) was a Roman
Catholic priest
and a United States Army chaplain
during the Iraq War, attaining the rank of major
. Vakoc was the first U.S. military chaplain
to die from wounds received in the Iraq War. He died on June 20, 2009, from wounds received in the Iraq War in 2004, when his Humvee was struck by an IED (improvised explosive device
) as he was returning from celebrating Mass
for soldiers. He was also the first documented U.S. Army chaplain seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
. He graduated in 1978 from Benilde-St. Margaret's School, Minneapolis. He graduated from St. Cloud State University
, St. Cloud, Minnesota and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon
fraternity.
, at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. On May 29, 1992, he was ordained
a Roman
Catholic priest
, for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
.
Vakoc's first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Charles Borromeo Church, in St. Anthony, Minn.
(1992–1993). He later served as associate pastor of St. John Neumann Church, in Eagan, Minn.
(1993–1996). He left that post to join the Army.
. He was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo., where he served for three and a half years. He was then assigned as chaplain for the 44th Corps Support Battalion from Fort Lewis
, Wash. The 44th provided logistical support to the Fort Lewis-based units in northern Iraq, including the Task Force Olympia headquarters and the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the Army's first Stryker
vehicle brigade. The 44th was sent to Iraq in November 2003.
While in Iraq Vakoc endeavored to celebrate Mass for all Catholic soldiers in the 296th Brigade Support Battalion
— stationed in Mosul
— no matter where they were located, in an area the size of Connecticut
, sometimes for only two or three soldiers in remote outposts. In a letter to his sister, Vakoc said, "The safest place for me to be is in the center of God's will, and if that is in the line of fire, that is where I will be."
Vakoc was injured on Saturday, May 29, 2004 — the twelfth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood — while returning from saying Mass for soldiers in the field in Iraq when his Humvee struck a roadside bomb (IED). He sustained a severe brain injury. He was treated
at an Army field hospital
in Baghdad
and was then evacuated
to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
in Germany. On June 2, 2004, he was transported to Walter Reed Army Medical Center
, Washington, D.C.
, who presented the medal. Due to the seriousness of Vakoc's injuries and his unstable condition, Coleman was able to expedite the granting of the award.
After several months, he was transferred to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center
, where he lay in a coma for six months. In the late spring of 2005, he began to show signs of improvement. With the help of the Yellow Ribbon Fund
, a special computer was donated so that he could communicate with others. On June 1, 2005, a flag — signed by Vakoc and his unit — was given to him. His first message to the visitors who presented the flag was "TIM 4F" (the military code for unfit for duty) and then "OK".
, Minneapolis.
In spring 2011, the Father H. Timothy Vakoc Council 15269 received its charter from the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus
. The council is located at Fort Carson, Colorado, and is one of more than sixty K of C military councils in the world.
Roman Catholic (term)
The term Roman Catholic appeared in the English language at the beginning of the 17th century, to differentiate specific groups of Christians in communion with the Pope from others; comparable terms in other languages already existed...
Catholic priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
and a United States Army chaplain
Chaplain Corps (United States Army)
The Chaplain Corps of the United States Army consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned Army officers as well as enlisted soldiers who serve as assistants. Their purpose is to offer religious services, counseling, and moral support to the armed forces, whether in peacetime or at war.-Army...
during the Iraq War, attaining the rank of major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
. Vakoc was the first U.S. military chaplain
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
to die from wounds received in the Iraq War. He died on June 20, 2009, from wounds received in the Iraq War in 2004, when his Humvee was struck by an IED (improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
) as he was returning from celebrating Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
for soldiers. He was also the first documented U.S. Army chaplain seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Early years
Vakoc was born on January 8, 1960 in Robbinsdale, MinnesotaRobbinsdale, Minnesota
Robbinsdale is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,953 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. He graduated in 1978 from Benilde-St. Margaret's School, Minneapolis. He graduated from St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
, St. Cloud, Minnesota and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
fraternity.
Seminary and priesthood
He attended Saint Paul Seminary School of DivinitySaint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was founded by Archbishop John Ireland in 1894, to provide ordained priests for the ever-increasing Catholic population of the Upper Midwest. The seminary now sits on the south campus of the University of St. Thomas,...
, at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. On May 29, 1992, he was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a Roman
Roman Catholic (term)
The term Roman Catholic appeared in the English language at the beginning of the 17th century, to differentiate specific groups of Christians in communion with the Pope from others; comparable terms in other languages already existed...
Catholic priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
, for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by the prelature of an archbishop which administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis...
.
Vakoc's first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Charles Borromeo Church, in St. Anthony, Minn.
St. Anthony, Minnesota
St. Anthony is the name of more than one place in the U.S. state of Minnesota:*St. Anthony, Stearns County, Minnesota*St. Anthony, Hennepin County, Minnesota-See also:*Saint Anthony Park , a neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota...
(1992–1993). He later served as associate pastor of St. John Neumann Church, in Eagan, Minn.
Eagan, Minnesota
Eagan is a city south of Saint Paul in Dakota County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River. Eagan and nearby suburbs form the southern portion of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the fifteenth largest...
(1993–1996). He left that post to join the Army.
Military service
Vakoc became an Army chaplain in 1996, receiving his commission as a lieutenant in the Army chaplain corpsChaplain Corps (United States Army)
The Chaplain Corps of the United States Army consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned Army officers as well as enlisted soldiers who serve as assistants. Their purpose is to offer religious services, counseling, and moral support to the armed forces, whether in peacetime or at war.-Army...
. He was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo., where he served for three and a half years. He was then assigned as chaplain for the 44th Corps Support Battalion from Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
, Wash. The 44th provided logistical support to the Fort Lewis-based units in northern Iraq, including the Task Force Olympia headquarters and the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the Army's first Stryker
Stryker
The IAV Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled, 4-wheel-drive , armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III and produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, in use by the United States Army. The vehicle is named for two American servicemen who posthumously received the Medal of Honor:...
vehicle brigade. The 44th was sent to Iraq in November 2003.
While in Iraq Vakoc endeavored to celebrate Mass for all Catholic soldiers in the 296th Brigade Support Battalion
296th Brigade Support Battalion
The 296th Brigade Support Battalion is a battalion of the United States Army is composed of four companies that support the operations of the 3/2 ID SBCT1...
— stationed in Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
— no matter where they were located, in an area the size of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, sometimes for only two or three soldiers in remote outposts. In a letter to his sister, Vakoc said, "The safest place for me to be is in the center of God's will, and if that is in the line of fire, that is where I will be."
Vakoc was injured on Saturday, May 29, 2004 — the twelfth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood — while returning from saying Mass for soldiers in the field in Iraq when his Humvee struck a roadside bomb (IED). He sustained a severe brain injury. He was treated
Battlefield medicine
Battlefield medicine, also called field surgery and later combat casualty care, is the treatment of wounded soldiers in or near an area of combat. Civilian medicine has been greatly advanced by procedures that were first developed to treat the wounds inflicted during combat...
at an Army field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and was then evacuated
Aeromedical evacuation
Aeromedical Evacuation usually refers to specialized medical transportation units in the United States Air Force. Within the U.S. Air Force, AE is coordinated by Air Mobility Command located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois...
to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is an overseas military hospital operated by the United States Army and the Department of Defense. LRMC is the largest military hospital outside of the continental United States. It is located near Landstuhl, Germany, and serves as the nearest treatment center...
in Germany. On June 2, 2004, he was transported to Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was the United States Army's flagship medical center until 2011. Located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military...
, Washington, D.C.
Post-injury
Vakoc received the Purple Heart in his room at Walter Reed Army Medical Center during a private ceremony limited to immediate family members, Army personnel, and then-U.S. Senator Norm ColemanNorm Coleman
Norman Bertram Coleman, Jr. is an American attorney and politician. He was a United States senator from Minnesota from 2003 to 2009. Coleman was elected in 2002 and served in the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses. Before becoming a senator, he was mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1994 to 2002...
, who presented the medal. Due to the seriousness of Vakoc's injuries and his unstable condition, Coleman was able to expedite the granting of the award.
After several months, he was transferred to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through the administration and operation of numerous VA outpatient clinics,...
, where he lay in a coma for six months. In the late spring of 2005, he began to show signs of improvement. With the help of the Yellow Ribbon Fund
Yellow Ribbon Fund
The Yellow Ribbon Fund is a charity that primarily helps returning American service men & women, injured during active service, who are recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital...
, a special computer was donated so that he could communicate with others. On June 1, 2005, a flag — signed by Vakoc and his unit — was given to him. His first message to the visitors who presented the flag was "TIM 4F" (the military code for unfit for duty) and then "OK".
Death
Vakoc died on June 20, 2009. His body was interred in Fort Snelling National CemeteryFort Snelling National Cemetery
Fort Snelling National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It encompasses , and as of April 24, 2007 had 172,001 interments.- History :...
, Minneapolis.
Awards and decorations
Vakoc was awarded the following medals:-
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the... -
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York... - Combat Action BadgeCombat Action BadgeThe Combat Action Badge is a military badge worn in the U.S. Army. The emblem features both an M9 bayonet and M67 grenade. The Combat Action Badge may be awarded to any soldier after the date of September 18, 2001 performing duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is...
Honors
On June 1, 2007, Vakoc received the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity.In spring 2011, the Father H. Timothy Vakoc Council 15269 received its charter from the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
. The council is located at Fort Carson, Colorado, and is one of more than sixty K of C military councils in the world.
See also
- Northwood Gratitude and Honor MemorialNorthwood Gratitude and Honor MemorialThe Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial is a memorial to those American troops that have lost their lives in the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The names on the memorial come from US DoD casualty records for Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn...
- Four ChaplainsFour ChaplainsThe Four Chaplains, also sometimes referred to as the "Immortal Chaplains," were four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel during the sinking of the troop ship USAT Dorchester during World War II. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats...
-- four U.S. Army Chaplains killed during World War II - Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
External links
- Pronechen, Joseph, "In Iraq, Soldiers Find Their Greatest Allies in Chaplains", NCRegister.com, May 30, 2004. Circle Media, Inc. (National Catholic Register). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Humor and Guts: Stories abound about injured priest hero", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 20, 2004. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Minnesota Army Chaplain Timothy Vakoc receives Purple Heart", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), July 5, 2004. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Updated on Chaplain Timothy Vakoc", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), September 2, 2004. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Flag Presented to Fr. Vakoc", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 1, 2005 (posted June 6, 2007). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Archbishop O'Brien Prays for Chaplain Timothy Vakoc at Mass for Military Chaplains", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), December 16, 2005. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Wounded Chaplain Vakoc Awarded Bronze Star, Retired From Army", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), January 15, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Priest, injured in Iraq, utters first words in over 2 years", Catholic News Agency, November 9, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Lerner, Maura, "December 17, 2006: A prayer for Father Tim: Drawn to the Minnesota priest who was gravely wounded in Iraq, a devoted circle of supporters has seen small miracles in his slow healing", Star Tribune, December 18, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Wounded Chaplain's Friends Keep Vigil", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), February 10, 2007 (posted March 9, 2008). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Army Priest Accepts His Cross", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), February 28, 2007 (posted March 1, 2007). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Chaplain Injured in Iraq Receives Seminary's Distinguished Alumnus Award", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), May 30, 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Chao Xiong, "Priest gravely wounded in Iraq in 2004 dies: Five years after being gravely wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq, the Rev. Tim Vakoc, a well-known and much-loved Roman Catholic priest from Minnesota, has died", Star Tribune , June 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Chaplain Dies From Iraq War Injuries, Priest Embraced God's Will in Line of Fire", ZENIT.org, June 22, 2009 (posted on EWTNews, EWTN.com, June 23, 2009). ZENIT.org News AgencyZenit News AgencyZENIT is a non-profit news agency that reports on the Catholic Church and issues important to it from the perspective of Church doctrine. ZENIT's motto is, "The world seen from Rome."...
. Retrieved 2009-09-13. - "Henry Timothy Vakoc / New Hope, Minnesota / June 20, 2009", Iraq/Afghanistan War Heroes, June 22, 2009. Q Madp, Portland, Ore. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Brave Catholic Army chaplain dies from injuries suffered in Iraq", Catholic News AgencyCatholic News AgencyThe Catholic News Agency is a provider of news related to Catholicism to an English speaking audience worldwide. It is headquartered in Denver, Colorado....
, June 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13. - "Father Tim Vakoc dies; remembered as 'a man of peace' ", CatholicMil.org (Catholics in the Military), June 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- Lerner, Maura, "Hundreds paid respects to the Rev. Timothy Vakoc at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Gravely injured in Iraq in 2004, he died last Saturday at 49", Star TribuneStar TribuneThe Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
, June 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13. - "Audio Slide Show: A prayer for Father Tim", StarTribune.com, June 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "Chaplain (Major) Henry T. Vakoc, Retired", caringbridge.com, August 21, 2009. CaringBridgeCaringBridgeCaringBridge is a charitable 501 nonprofit organization offering free personalized websites to people facing a serious medical condition or hospitalization, undergoing medical treatment and/or recovering from a significant accident, illness, injury or procedure. Its functionality is similar to a blog...
, Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-13.