By Jane Anderson, WPAOG Staff

On the lower level of Most Holy Trinity Church, the Catholic chapel on post at the U.S. Military Academy, cadets gather weekly in various faith-based and Bible-study groups. A renovated kitchen in memory of Father Emil Kapaun, adjacent to the gathering room that honors 1959 grad Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace, offers a newly refreshed and nourishing version of that fellowship.

“These are now Medal of Honor-worthy rooms, and appropriately so, as Father Emil and Rocky Versace each were awarded the Medal of Honor,” says Sergeant Major Jeremy Schlegel, a chapel volunteer and member of the Parish Advisory Council.

Located off the cloisters porch of the church is the heart of faith fellowship: About 100 Catholic cadets at a time gather during various days of the week. On Mondays, all the groups come together for “Monday Mass and Meals.”

“We try to make it faith-centered and fun,” Schlegel says. “We have grads come back to speak to the cadets, too.”

The cadets roll up their sleeves and do the cooking and cleanup, bringing to life the spirit of cooperation inherent in the values of both the Army and the Academy, according to Schlegel.

“Father Kapaun and Rocky Versace espoused the ‘Leaders of Character’ idea that we want to see in our cadets,” Schlegel says. The renovation of the kitchen—made possible with donors supporting the Margin of Excellence—is part of an overall revitalization of the parish, in light of the church’s 125th jubilee year.

Thanks to expanding into space once occupied by a closet and office, the formerly galley-style kitchen can comfortably fit up to six cooks and dish-scrubbers at a time. A double-door stainless-steel refrigerator replaced an apartment-sized fridge; a convection oven, a four-burner griddle, and an induction range handle the heat; two sinks (one for food prep, one for hand hygiene) provide cleanup help; and steel worktables handle all necessary food preparation.

Its purpose goes beyond cooking, eating, and cleaning, according to Schlegel. “Cadets don’t have a lot of time,” he says. “Time is a commodity here on post; the ability of cadets to eat a meal here before their faith study saves time that would otherwise be spent eating at the mess hall, then traveling here.”

Venerable Emil Kapaun, an Army chaplain, provided counsel and food to fellow prisoners of war at Pyoktong prison camp in North Korea during the Korean War before he died of pneumonia and malnutrition. The Catholic Church is examining Father Kapaun’s life to potentially consider him for sainthood.

Captain Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace ’59 was executed by the Viet Cong while a prisoner of war in 1965; his remains have never been recovered. Fellow prisoners have recounted Versace’s strength and fortitude in the face of extreme torture.

At the dedication of the renovated kitchen August 17, Father Matt Pawlikowski ’86, Honorary ’50, USCC chaplain and Catholic pastor, blessed the new space amid a group of worshippers. Tables were filled with food, including millet that represented the meager rations Father Kapaun and his fellow POWs experienced.