What do you think?
Rate this book
A Shepherd in Combat Boots: Chaplain Emil Kapaun of the 1st Cavalry Division
Early in the Korean War Chinese forces surrounded troops of the 1st Cavalry Division. Try to escape, the American soldiers warned catholic Chaplain Emil Kapaun. However, he refused to leave his wounded comrades and became a POW. His decision marked a turning point in the inspiring life of this young priest.
Kapaun's faith and courage on the battlefield and in prison set an example for hundreds of young American captives. When they were starving, he stole food for them. If the men needed encouragement, he defied prison rules and prayed with them. When the communist guards mocked his faith in God, the chaplain publicly defended his heliefs.
When Kapaun became sick, the communists denied him medicine and watched him die in their vermin-infested "hospital." However, they could not extinguish the memories of how he served other prisoners. The Army awarded the chaplain the Distinguished Service Cross and the Vatican named him "Servant of God." This book is a well-documented biography of an extraordinary person.
Kapaun's faith and courage on the battlefield and in prison set an example for hundreds of young American captives. When they were starving, he stole food for them. If the men needed encouragement, he defied prison rules and prayed with them. When the communist guards mocked his faith in God, the chaplain publicly defended his heliefs.
When Kapaun became sick, the communists denied him medicine and watched him die in their vermin-infested "hospital." However, they could not extinguish the memories of how he served other prisoners. The Army awarded the chaplain the Distinguished Service Cross and the Vatican named him "Servant of God." This book is a well-documented biography of an extraordinary person.
- GenresBiography
199 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1997
5 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 11, 2021
Looked for books on Father Kapaun after his remains were returned to Kansas and found this one in a Google search. There are a lot of historical details about the Korean War mentioned in this book I was not aware of. The book does an excellent good job in recalling the life and good works of this Holy Man.
September 13, 2016
I do not read a lot of physical books any more. In fact in the range of 30 or 40 eBooks to every physical book. But this book came highly recommended to me and I am very grateful I took the risk. I did not know much about the book, the author or even the subject. But I respected the friend who recommended it enough to take the risk.
This was a very powerful story. My own grandfather served in Korea with the Canadian Forces, and though he was Scotch Presbyterian, and did not like to tell stories about his time in service, we had heard a few over the years. Nothing like the stories in this book. The description of the book is:
"Early in the Korean War Chinese forces surrounded troops of the 1st Cavalry Division. Trying to escape-the American soldiers warned Catholic Chaplain Emil Kapaun. However, he refused to leave his wounded comrades and became a POW. His decision marked a turning point in the inspiring life of this young catholic priest.
Raised on a farm in Kansas, Kapaun served as pastor in his hometown until he became an army chaplain during World War II. The book describes the beginning of the Korean conflict and how Chinese forces surrounded Kapaun and other Cavalrymen in the freezing hills of North Korea.
Kapaun's faith and courage on the battlefield and in prison set an example for hundreds of young American captives. When they were starving he stole food for them. If the men needed encouragement he defied prison rules and prayed with them. When the communist guards mocked his faith in God, the chaplain publicly defended his beliefs.
When Kapaun became sick, the communists denied him medicine and watched him die in their vermin-infested "hospital." However, they could not extinguish the memories of how he served other prisoners. The army awarded the chaplain the Distinguished Service Cross and the Vatican named him "Servant of God." This book is a well-documented biography of an extraordinary person."
This book does more than that though. Through reading the life story of this farm boy from Kansas, who became a priest and twice volunteered for active service as a military Chaplin is inspiration. This book is a challenge. It will challenge our simple life, and our faith. While reading this book and looking at Emil's example I have found myself praying more, trying harder to be an example each and every day. Giving 100% to my work, my co-worker's and my friends and family.
The first three quarters of the book is the back story. Emil's life up and including Capture by the Chinese army in North Korea. The last part of the book is life in prison camps and as a POW.
Emil was a man's man, he was kind, generous, caring and he lived to serve. This story has so inspired me I have already picked up another biography to read. His canonization process is underway. And I hope to see it completed. The words others spoke of him, other Christians, Jews, even Muslims and of course Catholics attest to his influence on all he met. And based on the samples of his writings in this book, I can only hope that someday we will see published volumes of his letters, sermons or academic work.
This book was an incredible read. To witness someone living such character in the face of the terrible conditions can give hope to all of us who strive to live and be more for God.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books abut Father Kapaun.
(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)
This was a very powerful story. My own grandfather served in Korea with the Canadian Forces, and though he was Scotch Presbyterian, and did not like to tell stories about his time in service, we had heard a few over the years. Nothing like the stories in this book. The description of the book is:
"Early in the Korean War Chinese forces surrounded troops of the 1st Cavalry Division. Trying to escape-the American soldiers warned Catholic Chaplain Emil Kapaun. However, he refused to leave his wounded comrades and became a POW. His decision marked a turning point in the inspiring life of this young catholic priest.
Raised on a farm in Kansas, Kapaun served as pastor in his hometown until he became an army chaplain during World War II. The book describes the beginning of the Korean conflict and how Chinese forces surrounded Kapaun and other Cavalrymen in the freezing hills of North Korea.
Kapaun's faith and courage on the battlefield and in prison set an example for hundreds of young American captives. When they were starving he stole food for them. If the men needed encouragement he defied prison rules and prayed with them. When the communist guards mocked his faith in God, the chaplain publicly defended his beliefs.
When Kapaun became sick, the communists denied him medicine and watched him die in their vermin-infested "hospital." However, they could not extinguish the memories of how he served other prisoners. The army awarded the chaplain the Distinguished Service Cross and the Vatican named him "Servant of God." This book is a well-documented biography of an extraordinary person."
This book does more than that though. Through reading the life story of this farm boy from Kansas, who became a priest and twice volunteered for active service as a military Chaplin is inspiration. This book is a challenge. It will challenge our simple life, and our faith. While reading this book and looking at Emil's example I have found myself praying more, trying harder to be an example each and every day. Giving 100% to my work, my co-worker's and my friends and family.
The first three quarters of the book is the back story. Emil's life up and including Capture by the Chinese army in North Korea. The last part of the book is life in prison camps and as a POW.
Emil was a man's man, he was kind, generous, caring and he lived to serve. This story has so inspired me I have already picked up another biography to read. His canonization process is underway. And I hope to see it completed. The words others spoke of him, other Christians, Jews, even Muslims and of course Catholics attest to his influence on all he met. And based on the samples of his writings in this book, I can only hope that someday we will see published volumes of his letters, sermons or academic work.
This book was an incredible read. To witness someone living such character in the face of the terrible conditions can give hope to all of us who strive to live and be more for God.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books abut Father Kapaun.
(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)
Read
August 14, 2015Good book - as long as you skip the entire first chapter! It's an overview, and skips around (chronologically and topically) to try to say too many things. It is convoluted and grueling.
The rest of the book is good, though. An inspiring true story of a small town farm boy who becomes a POW in the Korean War.
The rest of the book is good, though. An inspiring true story of a small town farm boy who becomes a POW in the Korean War.
August 18, 2013
Wonderful story about a military chaplain in a North Korean POW camp. His selflessness and his commitment to serve his fellow man is awe inspiring!
October 3, 2025
The five stars aren’t because A Shepherd in Combat Boots is a literary masterpiece. I give it five stars for the story it tells. Venerable Emil Kapaun led nothing short of an exemplary life, and this book captures it with clarity and respect.
Unlike other celebrated champions of the Catholic faith, Fr. Kapaun’s life feels deeply relatable. He wasn’t a towering theologian or a converter of nations. Instead, he lived his Catholic faith by faithfully doing his duty day after day, even when that duty demanded more than what was expected.
This book doesn’t just recount the events of his life; it shows the quiet heroism of a man who embodied service, sacrifice, and steadfastness. For anyone seeking inspiration in ordinary faith lived out under extraordinary circumstances, this is a story worth reading.
I almost cried a bit towards the end.
Unlike other celebrated champions of the Catholic faith, Fr. Kapaun’s life feels deeply relatable. He wasn’t a towering theologian or a converter of nations. Instead, he lived his Catholic faith by faithfully doing his duty day after day, even when that duty demanded more than what was expected.
This book doesn’t just recount the events of his life; it shows the quiet heroism of a man who embodied service, sacrifice, and steadfastness. For anyone seeking inspiration in ordinary faith lived out under extraordinary circumstances, this is a story worth reading.
I almost cried a bit towards the end.
November 25, 2021
Wow, what an inspiration. This book is well written, but, most importantly it shares a story about an incredible servant of God. This is what a saint is made of! If Fr Kaupaun isn't a saint then there is no hope for the rest of us!
September 17, 2018
Having just read another book about Father Emil, I found this one not quite as engaging, but every bit as interesting. Stories like that of Father Emil Kapaun make us all better human beings.
November 22, 2023
This is a moving story. I just wish that the author had said something about Fr. Kapaun's prayer life and also included longer excerpts from his letters.
September 8, 2011
Since my son has transferred to Kapaun high school, I felt I needed to read
a liitle bit of history of father Kapaun's life.
This brave, young spiritual leader kept many soldiers alive even in the darkest
days and nights during the korean war. Many testimonies and stories of his
heroic efforts to keep hope amongst all of them who were suffering so badly,
including himself, were told with true belief, reverence, and respect for this
wonderful man.
I like to read books about the lives of saints but wanted to share this book as it
was easy to read and very humbling. A must-read for many of our youth today.
a liitle bit of history of father Kapaun's life.
This brave, young spiritual leader kept many soldiers alive even in the darkest
days and nights during the korean war. Many testimonies and stories of his
heroic efforts to keep hope amongst all of them who were suffering so badly,
including himself, were told with true belief, reverence, and respect for this
wonderful man.
I like to read books about the lives of saints but wanted to share this book as it
was easy to read and very humbling. A must-read for many of our youth today.
May 25, 2022
Couldn’t put it down. Any man will greatly admire Fr. Kapaun and this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews