Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing William J. Muhm Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Service Unit/Ship: 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 (RCT)
- Location of Service: Anbar Province, Iraq
- Highest Rank: Commander
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/70708
William Muhm first enlisted in the Navy out of college. He left the service for a career in accounting but soon heeded a call to enroll in the seminary. A Navy chaplain since 1998, Muhm served in Iraq's Anbar Province from January 2008 to January 2009. He had to cover a huge area of the province and was on the road every week he was deployed. His biggest challenge was avoiding discouragement when the men were too preoccupied to attend Mass. At the time of his interview, Father Muhm was at Annapolis as Catholic Chaplain of the Naval Academy, also dealing with a large work load but under less trying circumstances.
Interview / Recording
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PlayDeployment after 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks, in Mediterranean on USS Wasp; stuck to normal deployment schedule; no liberty ports, difficult for crew, because they were confined to ship but weren't deployed into any kind of action. 00:08:00.2 - 00:09:03.2
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PlayTo Anbar Province, headquarters in Camp Fallujah; job of battalions to provide oversight and security and transition security to Iraqi police; losses in that battle space dropped from 100 in 2007 to 12 in 2008; he was constantly traveling either in a helicopter or a vehicle; traveling around providing mass during the week, back to his home base on weekends; spent one year on the road and was never IED'ed. 00:18:18.4 - 00:20:30.0
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PlayBiggest challenge not to be discouraged saying mass for small groups; many Marines on duty or sleeping during his visit, so the pool of available men was small to start with. 00:23:37.4 - 00:24:55.9
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PlayNon-Catholic people coming to him for religious services; drew from KBR contract workers and third country nationals, many of whom were Catholic; as war became less dangerous, people getting complacent and not feeling the need for church. 00:28:11.3 - 00:29:55.1
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PlayMemorial service for 12 killed during deployment under their command; knowing two personally; how they died, saving their fellow Marines; posthumously awarded the Navy Cross; battalion commander killed by suicide bomber during a meeting with local officials. 00:34:17.3 - 00:37:17.5
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PlayFew Marines under his care were subject to combat stress; easy transition coming home; was with unit for only two months after they came home; some divorces, alcohol-related incidents; counseling that did not save any marriages. 00:40:48.9 - 00:42:43.1
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PlayNeeds of midshipmen at Naval Academy compared to enlisted Marines and sailors, duties at Annapolis: marriages (and prep work), baptisms, funerals for alumni. 00:46:17.8 - 00:48:21.8
About this Item
Title
- William J. Muhm Collection
Names
- Muhm, William J.
- Emma, Daniel
- Hudson, Christopher
Home State
- Maryland
Headings
- - Muhm, William J.
- - Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Form
- DVD
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Service Unit/Ship: 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 (RCT)
- Location of Service: Anbar Province, Iraq
- Highest Rank: Commander
- Dates of Service: 1998
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a regimental chaplain.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2009-10-17)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/70708
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Battles & Campaigns
Service Unit/Ship
Highest Rank
Service Entrance
Discharge Status
Gender
Home State
Interviewee
Interviewer
Featured in
- Chaplains: On a Divine Mission | Occupations and Specialties in Service | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections
- 20 Years of Service: Post-9/11 Veterans | Wars in Iraq (2003 to 2011) and Afghanistan (2001 to 2021) | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections