Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
George
Raphael
Carpentier
March 28, 1887

–

November 3, 1967

Cemetery:

Saint Thomas Aquinas Cemetery

Born in France, George Carpentier came to the United States at a very young age with his father who was a French Naval architect on loan to the U.S. Navy. He was educated at the College of Saint Louis de Gonzague, in Quebec, Canada; Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland; and then at Saint Charles College in Endicott City, Maryland. In 1907 he applied to enter the Dominican Order at Saint Rose’s Priority in Springfield Kentucky, and was sent to the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., where he attended the Catholic University of America and earned two master’s degrees. He was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1913 and was assigned as a professor at Aquinas College High School in Columbus, Ohio. He volunteered for military service in 1918, and was commissioned in February 1918. When the war ended he returned to teaching at Aquinas College in Columbus, and received a commission as a Chaplain in the 4th Ohio National Guard until 1923. He went on to pastor in Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. In his 54 years as a member of the Order of Preachers, Father Carpentier was an educator, a decorated soldier, a prison chaplain, a missionary, a pastor, and an apostle among the poor.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    166th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 26, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Order No. 71 (April 21, 1919)

    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) George Raphael Carpentier, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Carpentier distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving as Chaplain, 117th Sanitary Train, 42nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Chateau-Thierry, France, 26 July 1918. Chaplain Carpentier worked his way along our front lines under terrific enemy artillery and machinegun fire and in addition to administering to the wounded, located our own and the enemy lines and conveyed this important information to the Battalion Commander.

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    166th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    November 7, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 126 (1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) George Raphael Carpentier, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 166th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cheveuges, France, 7 November 1918. Volunteering for the service, Chaplain Carpentier accompanied a patrol as interpreter, and later, when our troops encountered stubborn resistance and sustained heavy casualties, he established a dressing station, and, under heavy shell fire, administered to the wounded and dying, continuing this service after he himself had been wounded twice.