Archbishop does documentary on Father Kapaun
It was a cold, crisp, foggy morning as a group of parishioners from St. John Nepomucene Church, Pilsen, gathered Tuesday morning at the statue of Father Emil Kapaun and a wounded soldier.
They were there to listen and observe as Archbishop Philip M. Hannan of New Orleans conducted interviews with several men who served with Father Kapaun during the Korean War.
One man, Romain Menarski of Grafton, Wis., was a medic and was present at a Mass conducted by Father Kapaun the day before the priest was captured.
The other man, Herbert Miller of Pulaski, was the wounded POW whose likeness is depicted with Father Kapaun in the statue.
He told Archbishop Hannan about being wounded and lying in a ditch. He said he was about to be shot by Korean soldiers when Father Kapaun intervened to save his life. He assisted him for 30-40 miles to a POW camp.
A third person interviewed was Michael Dowe Jr., an ex-POW from San Diego, Calif.
Eugene Kapaun, Father Kapaun's younger brother, was present at the day-long filming. He was interviewed along with members of the congregation who grew up with or were acquainted with Father Kapaun.
According to Rose Mary Neuwirth of the Pilsen church, the archbishop hopes that a major network or PBS will air the documentary. She said he plans to give the church a copy.
