Father, the Marine
(part
one)
"I was overwhelmed with the beauty of learning
scripture, it was like being a brand new Marine again"
- Fr. Rocheford to Cpl. Eric Schwartz, DOD interview, 2007.
On September 10, 2009 Father Dennis Rocheford, a former Marine and serving
Navy chaplain, jumped to his death off the Claiborne Pell (RI) bridge. He
was 60 years old. Many who were close to the father believe he suffered from
illnesses associated with trauma and stress, including another former
Marine, Sean P. Coyle who considered Fr. Rocheford his mentor.
Sean
is the story behind the story regarding the life of Father Dennis,
as he was known. The start of Sean's work began within hours of the father's
death, compiling photos, documents and testimonials of those touched by the
father's
life. Were it not for Sean, the last written words we'd read would be the
news of this fine Marine jumping to his death. Not on Sean's watch.
Consider this: online remembrances across many such websites total
thousands. Then realize that Marines are self-protective, not often trusting
creatures of war and peace. So when Marines by the
thousands trusted one particular Chaplain, he must be something amazing.
True; because he
was one of them. Sean Coyle's
FrDennisRocheford.org is the basis what Sean hopes to be a suicide
prevention mission within the Corps - to keep this devastating loss
from reoccurring.
Before he devoted his life to serving Jesus via his
Catholic faith, Father Dennis Rocheford
was a Marine.
A decade after attending the seminary, in 1987, he led Marines in faith by commissioning.
Chaplains for the Corps must be Naval officers, close enough.
During Vietnam Father Dennis danced with the devil to
God's symphony. God said when the music would start, and when it would stop.
And Father Dennis was leading the dance in each of three documented
go-rounds with the enemy. Alpha company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines.
In one case, during a bridge ambush he was shot
through and through with nothing but soft tissue damage; he kept marching.
The others - during the Tet Offensive - included his face being scarred by mortar shrapnel just before capturing hill 881 on the North Vietnamese Khe Sanh plateau.
Later he became a high-value target while sitting in
a bunker operating a radio. He left one of six survivors, more than 100
perished. He received two Purple Hearts, the Combat Action Ribbon and the
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal.
Father Dennis served in Iraq twice, where he received the Bronze Star and
Army Commendation medal, as he was not only assigned to 1 Marine
Expeditionary Force, but also 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Ramadi.
It was in his latter 20 years of Chaplain service to the Corps that he ran
spiritual interference for Marines. His faith was available and compelling
and often the only spiritual comfort some Marines found, whether in boot
camp - or in combat. As recently as this past August his Masses were
standing room only at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI,
where he was stationed.
Marines trusted him in the 40 years to follow those 13 months in southeast
Asia, because he turned those months around to honor God.
Possibly the best illustration of the profound impact on Marines is in a
letter Sean received via his site:
"Sir,
My name is Clint Weber and I am with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115,
currently on deployment in
Iwakuni, Japan. I have just been made aware of Fr Rocheford's death
and am beside myself with grief.
I first met Fr Rocheford in the summer of '97 at
Officer Candidate School and was so inspired just being around him.
Later, when I was a forward air controller with 1st Bn 6th Marines in Ar
Ramadi we spent a good deal of time together; and through that very
difficult deployment he always found a way to remind me of God's goodness.
His inspiration gave me the strength to serve to the best of my ability.
One of my most cherished memories is with Fr Rocheford when he celebrated
Christmas Mass with us at Hurricane Point in Dec of 2006. My daughter was
born two days later and the last conversation we had was a happy one with
him congratulating me and my family.
 I
feel a deep sense of loss, as well as guilt at not being there for him. I
would like to help in whatever way that I can with your work, and will
shortly submit a testimonial after I gather my thoughts and have written
something that will do justice to the impact that he had on my life during a
time that I could have very easily lost my
faith in God.
Semper Fidelis,
God Bless,
Clint Weber
Maj C. J. "Boo Boo" Weber"
Part of Sean's response to Maj. Weber completes the picture of faith-filled
bonds amongst warriors:
"People are praying for you, blessed to know yet another soul - a Marine
officer - who's life and faith were so touched by Father Dennis is saddened
with the rest of us."
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