Rev. James C. Maloney, III, B.A., M.TH.


The Intent of the Patton Prayer Memorial

Rev. James C. Maloney, III, BA, M.Th.
Master Sergeant, E-8
Master Unit Ministry Team NCO
HHC 38th Infantry Division (Mechanized)
Indianapolis, Indiana 46226

             


THE PATTON PRAYER MEMORIAL

In July 1994, while attending the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course for chaplain's assistants at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Reverend(Master Sergeant) James C. Maloney, III, read The True Story of the Patton Prayer by Chaplain(Brigadier General) James H. O'Neill, published in 1950. MSG Maloney had seen the movie Patton with George C. Scott, read several biographies and short stories of Patton's exploits but never knew The True Story.

Amazed at General Patton's philosophy on prayer and his trust in God MSG Maloney immediately thought of the disservice humanistic biographers and historians have done, discrediting God's role in Patton's life and our dependence upon Him for our overall well being as individuals and as a nation at war. Therefore, when CH(COL) Emmett M. Ade suggested a project for our Unit Ministry Team, MSG Maloney recommended a memorial to commemorate this milestone in American military history because:


"WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE"

(Matthew 19:26)


* Moses prayed when the charging Egyptian army was about to overrun his position and the Red Sea opened.

* Joshua prayed when he needed more daylight to defeat his enemies, "So the sun stood still and the moon stopped till the people had revenge upon their enemies."

* Gideon prayed when an occupying force oppressed his land and God used three hundred (300) men to defeat an army of one hundred and thirty five thousand (135,000). Ratio: 450 to 1.

MSG Maloney contacted the Patton Museum, Ft. Knox, Kentucky and the United States Chaplains Center and School, Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, and obtained photographs of generals Patton and O'Neill. Several months passed as he searched for an artist. Then SFC Scott Wiley walked into the chaplain's office and displayed a free hand pencil drawing of Abraham Lincoln he had sketched. MSG Maloney said, "That is our man. God has provided."

The intent of this project is to put this memorial on display in all military facilities, chapels, churches, chaplain's and pastor's offices, Sunday School rooms, libraries, homes, and wherever appropriate. It is to remind us and keep alive in our hearts the principle of the power of prayer.

THE PATTON PRAYER MEMORIAL NOW ADORNS:

* The Office of the Chief of Chaplains United States Army, Pentagon Building, Washington, D. C.

* The United States Army Chaplain's School and Center, Fort Jackson, South Carolina

* The Patton and Armor Museum, Fort Knox, Kentucky

* The O'Neill Chapel, 1st Armor Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky

* The Patton Chapel, 1st Armor Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky

* The Indiana Military Academy, Camp Atterbury, Indiana

* The 38th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana

* The General Headquarters Building United Pentecostal Church International, Saint Louis, Missouri

* United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
Letter from US Military Academy




For his work on The Patton Prayer Memorial MSG Maloney was awarded  the Meritorious Service Medal by Major General L. Cecil Dortin, Commanding General, 38th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING: THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, 16 JANUARY 1969 HAS AWARDED

THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL

TO       SERGEANT FIRST CLASS JAMES CHARLES MALONEY III

FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS THE DIVISION MASTER UNIT MINISTRY TEAM NCO, DURING THE PERIOD 1 APRIL 1997 TO 5 APRIL 1998. DURING THIS PERIOD SERGEANT FIRST CLASS MALONEY RESEARCHED, DEVELOPED, SUPERVISED PREPARATION AND PRESENTED THE GENERAL PATTON/CHAPLAIN O'NEILL, 3RD ARMY PRAYER MEMORIAL, LITHOGRAPH TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY. HIS INTEGRITY, DEVOTION TO DUTY, AND SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT IN THIS ASSIGNMENT ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND REFLECTS DISTINCT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE MILITARY SERVICE, AND THE INDIANA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
THIS 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1998

PERMANENT ORDER 15-04  
Headquarters 38th Infantry Division
Indianapolis, Indiana    

 CECIL L. DORTIN, MAJOR GENERAL
38TH INFANTRY DIVISION, COMMANDING

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