Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Dominic
Ternan
KIA (WWII)
1902-11-08

–

1944-06-19

Born:

Brooklyn

, 

New York

Home:

Brooklyn

, 

New York

Buried: 

Totowa

, 

New Jersey

Cemetery:

Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

Dominic Ternan graduated from Fordham University, where he was on both the football and basketball teams. He entered the Franciscan Novitiate at Patterson, New Jersey, in 1934, and pronounced his simple vows as a Franciscan on 27 August 1934. He then studied theology at Holy Name College, and in 1937 was ordained a Catholic Priest of the Archdiocese of New York. His first and only appointment was to the Monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, New York City, in July 1938. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Chaplain’s Corps, and was subsequently assigned to the 79th Infantry Division, sailing with them to participate in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, where he was killed in action two weeks after D-Day.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    315th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    79th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    June 19, 1945
    Headquarters, 79th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 30 (1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Dominic Ternan (ASN: 0-442928), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with as a Chaplain with the 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 19 June 1945, northeast of Cherbourg, France. A battalion commander and four enlisted men, accompanied by Chaplain Ternan, were attacked by a superior enemy force. The battalion commander and one of the enlisted men were wounded, and the latter asked Chaplain Ternan to say a prayer for him. With complete disregard for his own safety, Chaplain Ternan knelt beside the wounded man and was thus engaged when a burst of enemy machine gun fire struck him in the back, killing him instantly. Ternan, 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.