He is honored by Catholics and the secular world.
He is a legend in the U.S. Army.
His statue is on display in one of New York City’s most iconic locations.
Who was Fr. Francis Duffy, and why is he so famous?
The dedication of Fr. Duffy’s statue in 1937
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Fr. Duffy attended seminary in New York and was ordained in 1896. After a few years studying at the Catholic University of America and teaching in the seminary, he joined the Army as a chaplain. He first served during the Spanish-American War, where he was stationed at a hospital to greet injured soldiers returning from Cuba.
He is best known, however, for his service in World War I.
Fr. Duffy served as chaplain for the 69th Infantry Regiment. They were known as the “Fighting 69th” and fought on the Western Front of France during the war. This regiment was also nicknamed the “Fighting Irish” because most of the soldiers were Irish-American. As chaplain, Fr. Duffy said Mass for the soldiers and gave each of them absolution as they marched off into battle.
During the actual battles, Fr. Duffy would go out onto the battlefield to administer the sacraments and recover wounded soldiers. Because of this, he became known as the “Fighting Chaplain” who wasn’t afraid of gunfire.
Providing spiritual sustenance, strength, and consolation to his men, Fr. Duffy boosted the morale of the soldiers and even took on a role of leadership and authority, which the soldiers say was crucial to the success of the regiment.
Fr. Duffy received the Distinguished Service Cross when the Battle of Ourcq resulted in hundreds of casualties—and he had to bury every single one of them. These men had become spiritual sons to him, and he was deeply grieved, but did his priestly work out of love for them and their families.
Fr. Duffy also received the Army Distinguished Medal, Conspicuous Service Cross, and other honors during the war, and remains to this day the most highly-decorated cleric in U.S. Army history.
After the war, when the soldiers came home, Fr. Duffy’s home parish in the Bronx held a celebratory parade for the return of the “Fighting Chaplain” who had done God’s work and served his country. When he died in 1932, thousands turned out for his military funeral.
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