Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Edwin
Lankford
Kirtley
1909-01-29

–

1997-04-20

Born:

Marlow

, 

Oklahoma

Home:

Marlow

, 

Oklahoma

Buried: 

San Antonio

, 

Texas

Cemetery:

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Born and raised in Marlow, Oklahoma, Edwin Kirtley was ordained a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on March 19, 1929. After studies at Phillips University at Enid, Oklahoma, he served churches in Oklahoma as a student minister and as a located minister. From 1935 to 1937 he was pastor of Boulevard Christian Church in Fort Worth, Texas, and then entered active duty as a U.S. Army chaplain, first with the Civilian Conservation Corps, and then on active duty with the Army at Fort Ord, California, in 1940. He was commissioned into the Regular Army in 1941, serving through four World War II campaigns in the Territory of Alaska and the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations. After the war he continued in service for a total of 27 years of military ministry in Japan, the Territory of Hawaii, Germany, Korea, and Italy, as well as nine U.S. States and the District of Columbia. While serving in post-war Germany he founded the Armed Forces Religious Retreat Center at Berchtesgaden, a program of one-day retreats; and two Armed Forces-wide laity movements called the Protestant Men of the Chapel and the Protestant Women of the Chapel.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Division:

    7th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    February 1944
    Headquarters, 7th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 32 (April 12, 1944)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Chaplain’s Corps) Edwin Lankford Kirtley (ASN: 0-24355), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Assistant Division Chaplain of the 7th Infantry Division, in action in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in February 1944. While accompanying U.S. Marines in their attack on Kwajalein, Chaplain Kirtley saved the lives of eighteen natives who possessed vital information of the enemy positions and were under sniper fire. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Kirtley, 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.