Veteran shares story of military chaplaincy during Vietnam War

Local resident and former U.S. Army chaplain Jim Carter explains the unique role filled by military chaplains during the Vietnam War.
Local resident and former U.S. Army chaplain Jim Carter explains the unique role filled by military chaplains during the Vietnam War.

In a war that claimed the lives of more than 58,000 American troops, one could mistakenly assume the majority of those who served in Vietnam were directly involved in combat operations.

Yet often overlooked is the sacrifice of the brave men and women who invested their time and faith in serving the spiritual needs of their fellow servicemembers.

For Jefferson City resident Jim Carter, the call to military ministry came while he was attending Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City.

"I had visited with an Air Force veteran about becoming a military chaplain and thought, "This is something I'd really like to be involved in,'" Carter said.