Navy Federal Credit Union

Duncan Naylor was a Presbyterian minister who entered military service as a U.S. Army chaplain during World War II. He served with the 148th Infantry Regiment in the Philippine Islands and earned a Silver Star. After the war he remained in military service, including duty during the Korean War, serving as the Berlin Brigade chaplain in Germany, and subsequently as command Chaplain of the SEVENTH Army at Stuttgart, West Germany. He retired as a U.S. Army colonel. In 1984 he served as Protestant chaplain at Nasugbu Beach Chapel, in Yokohama, Japan.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    148th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    37th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    February 2, 7, & 9, 1945

    Headquarters, 37th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 146 (June 7, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Duncan Norwood Naylor (ASN: 0-475767), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 2, 7 and 9 February 1945. When a battalion of his regiment engaged the enemy, and many were wounded, Captain Naylor, the Regimental Chaplain, crawled forward to within twenty five yards of Japanese positions to help evacuate the casualties. Chaplain Naylor assisted in carrying two men back to the aid station, traveling a distance of five hundred yards under heavy mortar and machine gun fire. At a later date, during an intense enemy mortar shelling of the Regimental Command Post building and vicinity, many men were wounded outside the building. Chaplain Naylor and another man ran one hundred yards across an area receiving mortar and artillery fire, brought in a casualty, and then returned to search for more. On another occasion when Chaplain Naylor was with the aid station of a battalion which was engaging the enemy in Manila, and the need for more litter bearers became acute, he went forward under heavy fire, and organized litter teams to carry in the wounded. Chaplain Naylor’s courage was a constant source of inspiration to all and was responsible for saving the lives of many men. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.