Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Legion of Merit group of eight named to Major James H. O’Neill, Senior Chaplain to General Patton’s 3rd Army - who was awarded the Bronze Star for the ‘Patton Prayer’, composed at a critical time during the ‘Battle of the Bulge’

Legion of Merit, Legionnaire’s breast badge, with oak leaf cluster, enamelled, crimp brooch; Bronze Star, reverse privately inscribed, ‘J. H. O’Neill’, slot brooch; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Victory Medal 1945; National Defense Service Medal; Korea Service Medal; U.N. Korea Medal, good very fine and better (8) £200-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Named and Attributable American Medal Groups.

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Note: the Bronze Star is probably unofficially engraved - normally, officially engraved Bronze Stars bear the recipient’s full first name; therefore the group is probably a representative assemblage of medals awarded to Major O’Neill.

The Germans launched their Ardennes Offensive on 16 December 1944. Under the cover of fog, rain and snow which hampered allied aerial observation, the German attack achieved both strategic and tactical surprise and their forces pushed deeply into allied held territory. Patton’s 3rd Army found itself positioned on the southern flank of German attack. On 18 December, Patton disengaged his forward units advancing in the Saar and began an amazing 90 degree shift in direction so as to hit the German flank.

The popular story is that Patton, a devout Episcopalian, called his chaplain, Major James H. O’Neill, and asked him to find or draft a prayer for good weather. O’Neill, not able to find one suitable, drafted the following:

‘Almighty and most merciful Father we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory, to crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.’

The prayer was praised and approved by Patton and copies were distributed to the troops under his command. The weather duly improved and with it, the allied air superiority, and the German advance was rolled back.

In a later article by Msgr. (late Brigadier-General) James O’Neill, he clarified that the prayer for good weather was requested by Patton on 8 December. Duly composed and authorised it was distributed to the troops under Patton’s command on 12 December, prior to the German attack. Notwithstanding the dates, the prayer still worked. O’Neill records that in late January 1945,

‘He (Patton) stood directly in front of me, smiled: “Well, Padre, our prayers worked. I knew they would.” Then he cracked me on the side of my steel helmet with his riding crop. That was his way of saying “Well done.”’

With copied research. Together with seven metal pieces of insignia and a devotional card for display purposes.

This lot is sold as seen and is not subject to return. Please see saleroom notice on lot 280 for fuller details.