After graduating high school in Kansas City, Missouri, Louis Tiernan attended Saint Mary’s College in Saint Mary’s, Kansas. He graduated from Saint Louis University in 1906, and in 1910 he studied at the North American College in Rome, Italy. On May 21, 1910, he was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest at Saint John Basilica in Rome. From 1917 to 1919 he served as a U.S. Army Chaplain with the 129th Field Artillery, where he became a close, lifetime friend of Major Harry S Truman. He re-entered military service in 1929, and during World War II as a Colonel, he was the Chief Chaplain in the European Theater, earning the Army Distinguished Service Medal. In 1945, he was a personal guest of President Harry Truman at the Potsdam Conference, and retied as a U. S. Army colonel in 1948.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)Regiment:
129th Field Artillery RegimentDivision:
35th Division, American Expeditionary ForcesAction Date:
October 1, 1918
Headquarters, 35th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 100 (November 15, 1918)By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Louis Curtis Tiernan, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 35th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Tiernan showed exceptional bravery while serving with the 129th Field Artillery Regiment, 35th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, working for two days and nights among the wounded at the dressing station at Charpentry. On 1 October 1918, under heavy shell fire, he worked all day in the open with a burial squad, with utter disregard for his personal safety.
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Chaplain) Louis Curtis Tiernan (ASN: 0-17377), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Chief Chaplain in the European Theater of Operations from July 1942 to May 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Chaplain Tiernan culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army. [This award supersedes the awards of the Legion of Merit, for services from 12 July 1942 to 6 June 1944, and the Bronze Star Medal, for services from 6 June to 1 September 1944, as published in GN 75, Headquarters European Theater, 23 July 1944, and General Orders No. 99, Communications Zone, European Theater, 8 June 1945, respectively.