"Troops don't seem to be returning from a war, but rather getting over a terrific hang-over…quite a diff. from Pacific Vets. No Respect whatever for Officers...even Chaplains." (Journal, February 25, 1946, page 40)

Jacob Wendell Beck

War: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953 Branch: Army Unit: SS Mormacsea; SS Sheepshead Bay Victory; SS General William M. Black; 3rd Infantry Division Service Location: Pacific Theater; European Theater; also: Korea Rank: Captain Place of Birth: NE

Jacob Beck's assignments as a chaplain all took place in the year following the end of World War II. In his journal, he discusses six round-trip voyages involving troop exchanges: replacements headed off to serve in the Occupation and weary soldiers coming home from the long war. He was at sea a total of 168 days and kept detailed records of his activities and the numbers of men attending services and requesting counseling. It was grueling work, nothing as dramatic as wartime service, and on top of that, Beck was often hamstrung by petty politics among the ship's officers. He also observed on land in both Europe and the Pacific the terrible destruction wrought by years of war.