Our Padre; The Inspiring Life and Stories of Fr. Kilian Dreiling, C.PP.S WWII Army Chaplain

Our Padre; The Inspiring Life and Stories of Fr. Kilian Dreiling, C.PP.S WWII Army Chaplain by Joseph S. Smith. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780972596039.

Our Padre is both a biographical portrait of a courageous and inspirational U.S. Army Chaplain during WW II, and a compilation of his most inspiring and heartwarming short stories. While most Americans have never heard of Fr. Kilian Dreiling, he was a true 20th century hero to thousands of American GIs who fought during General MacArthurs Pacific Campaigns, and to thousands more whose lives he touched during his 90 year lifespan. One of Fr. Kilians many gifts was his ability to capture the most significant events of his amazing life in concise, moving, yet entertaining stories. Fr. Kilians humor, wisdom and his keen understanding of human nature make these fascinating stories come to life, as he allows the reader to experience emotions triggered both by the horrors of war and the selfless acts of courage and compassion that he witnessed. These stories include fascinating accounts of the confession of a notorious Nazi war criminal, the liberation of over 500 American POWs from the infamous Japanese Camp Cabanatuan and many more. Our Padre is an engaging and compelling story of the life of one of Americas greatest warriors, who never fired a shot in anger. Fr. Kilian Dreiling instead, utilized more powerful weapons like love, compassion, courage and a deep conviction to the cause of freedom and to his faith. His true enemies were not Japanese or German soldiers. Rather, Fr. Kilians foe was the darker side of human nature, which manifests itself through many different forms including ignorance, intolerance, selfishness and greed. Both uplifting and engaging, Our Padre is a great read for students of history or anyone seeking relief from the barrage of negative news stories that litter our modern world.