Catholic chaplain



From http://www.ulongbeach.com/B17_Crash_Sasser.html



'Chaplain (Captain) William J Zink made two unsuccessful attempts to rescue the man in the barracks. At first unable to reach him because of fumes and smoke, Chaplain Zink dashed out, grabbed a gas mask and helmet and re-entered the building. Falling beams and fire stopped him that time. Then he gave last rites for the victims and helped medical personnel extricate bodies from the wreckage of the bomber. He was presented the Soldier's Medal for his actions that day, becoming the first Eighth Air Force Chaplain to win that award.'



From Robert L. Gushwa's 'The Best and Worst of Times - The US Army Chaplaincy from 1920-1945:



'When a bomber crashed in flames in England, setting a fire to a two story brick barracks, Chaplain William J. Zink, a citation read, "with complete disregard for his own personal safety rushed into the building to search for trapped men. He was eventually forced to leave because of the dense smoke and fumes from the fire. Although his hands were burned he re-entered the building . . . with a gas mask and helmet in an attempt to reach a trapped man that he had located." He gave last rites to the men who were killed in the crash and assisted medical personnel in extricating bodies from the wreckage of the bomber.'