Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
James
Arthur
DeWeerd
1916-05-23

–

1972-03-28

Born:

Olivet

, 

Illinois

Home:

Fairmount

, 

Indiana

Buried: 

Fairmount

, 

Indiana

Cemetery:

Park Cemetery

James DeWeerd was the son of former missionaries to China. He received his A.B. degree from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, an M.A. from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and a D.D. from Taylor University. He was ordained a Wesleyan Methodist minister. During World War II he entered military service and was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain. After the war he was pastor of Gaston Wesleyan Methodist Church in Fairmount, Indiana, where he became very close to one of his young parishioners, James Dean, who would go on to become a Hollywood icon, and was by many accounts romantically linked to the young man. DeWeerd went on to become pastor-administrator of Cadle Tabernacle in Indianapolis, reportedly the largest church in America at that time. He was serving there when James Dean died in 1955, and flew by private airplane to Fairmount’s Park Cemetery to deliver Dean’s eulogy. When DeWeerd died in 1972, he was also buried in that same cemetery.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    120th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    30th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    July 25, 1944
    Headquarters, 30th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 86 (October 25, 1944)

    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) James Arthur DeWeerd (ASN: 0-52-0591), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Chaplain with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action near St. Lo, France, on 25 July 1944. Captain DeWeerd was serving with an Infantry organization poised for an offensive against the enemy. Part of the preparation for the attack consisted of an aerial bombardment by friendly planes on the hostile positions. Some of the bombs fell short, and two officers were buried alive in the area near Captain DeWeerd. Captain DeWeerd ran to the location where his comrades had been stricken, and despite the bombs still falling in the area, worked frantically until he, himself, became a casualty. Although he was seriously wounded in this action, Captain DeWeerd undoubtedly saved the life of one of his comrades by his quick thinking, initiative, for the work he began was completed by others who had been inspired to gallantry as a result of his daring action. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain DeWeerd, 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.