Soldiers Chapel
Encyclopedia
Soldiers Chapel is a non-denominational Christian memorial chapel in Big Sky
, Montana dedicated in 1955 by the Nelson Story
family in tribute to a fallen family member of the 163rd Infantry Regiment. The regiment was part of the Montana National Guard
during World War II. Open daily from Memorial Day
through Labor Day, with services at 11 a.m. on Sundays, the chapel is popular for special events such as weddings. The chapel is at an elevation of 6017 feet (1,834 m).
in early 1942 to help prevent the Japanese from invading Australia. One of of the regiment's major combat actions was the Battle of Buna-Gona
. In addition to deaths and wounds from combat, diseases such as malaria
, dengue fever
, scrub typhus
, and blackwater fever
were a major concern. Virtually every member of the unit eventually caught a jungle disease, was wounded, or died.
One of the officers in the regiment was Colonel Nelson Story, III, a resident of Bozeman, Montana, and descendant of Nelson Story, a noted Montana pioneer and land benefactor of Montana State University – Bozeman. The colonel's son, Nelson Story, IV, died in combat early in the war. The colonel donated the land, drew the basic design, wrote the charter, and donated most of the money for the chapel. Soldiers Chapel is dedicated to both the regiment and to Nelson Story, IV. About twenty veterans of the regiment attended 50th anniversary celebrations of the chapel on 29 May 2005. A memorial plaque near the front door lists all the members of the regiment who died in the war. The plaque cites "Those immortal soldiers of the 163rd Infantry who, with courage and devotion, died in pain defending their country and the cause of freedom for all men." The stained glass in the front door shows the hand of God reaching down to a wounded soldier on a tropical beach. The motif was designed by regimental veteran Sergeant Jack C. Gunter.
Pastors from many denominations provide services at the church. In a 1955 letter about the chapel, Colonel Story wrote: "splinter sects, itinerant prophets, hillbilly Bible thumpers and the self-anointed" were to be avoided and that "groups which harbor conscientious objectors or refuse to salute the flag" should be excluded because giving them access "would be a grave affront to the memory of those to whom the chapel will be dedicated." The first baby baptized in the chapel was Mikel Kallestad, a grandson of the colonel. This occurred on January 6, 1956, with 4 feet (1.2 m) of snow on the ground. Dozens of regimental veterans and locals are buried in the graveyard, which is adorned by a buffalo skull painted with the regimental crest. Now full, the cemetery includes the grave of Chet Huntley
, the NBC
newscaster who was instrumental in founding the nearby Big Sky Resort
. Story/Kallestad family members still own the land between the chapel and Lone Mountain, which will not be developed. Lone Mountain is viewable through the window behind the altar.
The chapel is one of the oldest structures in Big Sky but has no membership roll. Montana artist Jim Dick used the chapel as the subject for a Thanksgiving
2002 lithograph which was part of his "Montana Series".
Big Sky, Montana
Big Sky is a census-designated place in Gallatin and Madison counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana. This unincorporated community straddles the two counties, is not considered a town, and has no town government. The primary industry of the area is tourism.Big Sky is...
, Montana dedicated in 1955 by the Nelson Story
Nelson Story
Nelson Story, Sr. was a pioneer Montana entrepreneur, cattle rancher, miner and vigilante, who was a notable resident of Bozeman, Montana. He was best-known for his 1866 cattle drive from Texas with approximately 1000 head of Texas Longhorns to Montana along the Bozeman Trail—the first major...
family in tribute to a fallen family member of the 163rd Infantry Regiment. The regiment was part of the Montana National Guard
Montana National Guard
The Montana National Guard consists of the:* Montana Army National Guard* Montana Air National Guard ** 120th Fighter Wing ** 219th RED HORSE Squadron When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief...
during World War II. Open daily from Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
through Labor Day, with services at 11 a.m. on Sundays, the chapel is popular for special events such as weddings. The chapel is at an elevation of 6017 feet (1,834 m).
History
The 163rd Infantry Regiment was sent to New GuineaNew Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
in early 1942 to help prevent the Japanese from invading Australia. One of of the regiment's major combat actions was the Battle of Buna-Gona
Battle of Buna-Gona
The Battle of Buna–Gona was a battle in the New Guinea campaign, a major part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. On 16 November 1942, Australian and United States forces attacked the main Japanese beachheads in New Guinea, at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. Both forces were riddled by disease and...
. In addition to deaths and wounds from combat, diseases such as malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, dengue fever
Dengue fever
Dengue fever , also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles...
, scrub typhus
Scrub typhus
Scrub typhus or Bush typhus is a form of typhus caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi first isolated and identified in 1930 in Japan., accessdate: 16 October 2011...
, and blackwater fever
Blackwater fever
Blackwater fever is a complication of malaria in which red blood cells burst in the bloodstream , releasing hemoglobin directly into the blood vessels and into the urine, frequently leading to kidney failure...
were a major concern. Virtually every member of the unit eventually caught a jungle disease, was wounded, or died.
One of the officers in the regiment was Colonel Nelson Story, III, a resident of Bozeman, Montana, and descendant of Nelson Story, a noted Montana pioneer and land benefactor of Montana State University – Bozeman. The colonel's son, Nelson Story, IV, died in combat early in the war. The colonel donated the land, drew the basic design, wrote the charter, and donated most of the money for the chapel. Soldiers Chapel is dedicated to both the regiment and to Nelson Story, IV. About twenty veterans of the regiment attended 50th anniversary celebrations of the chapel on 29 May 2005. A memorial plaque near the front door lists all the members of the regiment who died in the war. The plaque cites "Those immortal soldiers of the 163rd Infantry who, with courage and devotion, died in pain defending their country and the cause of freedom for all men." The stained glass in the front door shows the hand of God reaching down to a wounded soldier on a tropical beach. The motif was designed by regimental veteran Sergeant Jack C. Gunter.
Pastors from many denominations provide services at the church. In a 1955 letter about the chapel, Colonel Story wrote: "splinter sects, itinerant prophets, hillbilly Bible thumpers and the self-anointed" were to be avoided and that "groups which harbor conscientious objectors or refuse to salute the flag" should be excluded because giving them access "would be a grave affront to the memory of those to whom the chapel will be dedicated." The first baby baptized in the chapel was Mikel Kallestad, a grandson of the colonel. This occurred on January 6, 1956, with 4 feet (1.2 m) of snow on the ground. Dozens of regimental veterans and locals are buried in the graveyard, which is adorned by a buffalo skull painted with the regimental crest. Now full, the cemetery includes the grave of Chet Huntley
Chet Huntley
Chester Robert "Chet" Huntley was an American television newscaster, best known for co-anchoring NBC's evening news program, The Huntley-Brinkley Report, for 14 years beginning in 1956.-Early life:...
, the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
newscaster who was instrumental in founding the nearby Big Sky Resort
Big Sky Resort
Big Sky Resort is a ski resort located in southwestern Montana in Madison County, an hour south of Bozeman via U.S. Highway 191 in Big Sky.Opened in late 1973, Big Sky has grown over the last 35 years. Trademarked as the "Biggest Skiing in America" through the Biggest Skiing in America Pass,...
. Story/Kallestad family members still own the land between the chapel and Lone Mountain, which will not be developed. Lone Mountain is viewable through the window behind the altar.
The chapel is one of the oldest structures in Big Sky but has no membership roll. Montana artist Jim Dick used the chapel as the subject for a Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
2002 lithograph which was part of his "Montana Series".