James Hugh O'Neill

'''Rt. Rev. Msgr. (BG) James Hugh O'Neill''' was a US Army Chaplain for twenty-six years, including World War II. He was perhaps best remembered as the Chaplain, then Colonel, who authored the Weather Prayer on December 8, 1944 at Caserne Molifor in Nancy, France, just before the Battle of the Bulge, for Gen. George S Patton, Jr., who at the time, was commanding the Third US Army.

Early life and education
James Hugh O'Neill was born on Jan 14, 1892, the son of William O’Neill and Catherine Enright O’Neill. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree (1911) and Master of Arts degree (1913) from Loyola University (Chicago), he entered Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained on May 20, 1915.

Early career
Father O'Neill was then assigned to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, Montana and appointed to the faculty of Carroll College in Helena in the fall of 1915. While at Carroll, he was Professor of Physics, Registrar, Dean of Men, and Vice President (1921–26).

Military career
In 1926, Father O'Neill entered the Chaplain Service of the US Army. He saw duty throughout the United States (1929–1934; 1936–1942) and the Philippine Islands (1927–1929; 1934–1936), and served on the staffs of General Jacob Devers (1942–44) and General George Patton (1944–46) in the European Theater of Operations.

During the Battle of the Bulge Patton desired good weather for his advance, which would permit close ground support by U.S. Army Air Forces tactical aircraft, and requested that O'Neill compose a suitable prayer. O'Neill complied, and his prayer was printed and distributed to unit members:

''"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had 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 victory and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen." ''

When the weather cleared soon after, Patton awarded O'Neill a Bronze Star Medal.

O'Neill later served on the staff of General Courtney Hodges (1946–1948) at Ft Jay, Governor’s Island, New York. He was promoted to Brigadier General and became Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army, at Ft Myer, Arlington, Virginia (1948–1952). His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from France, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from Belgium, the Croix de Guerre from the Duchy of Luxembourg, the American Theatre Medal, and the American Defense Medal. He also earned battle stars for the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.

Retirement
In 1952, Msgr. O’Neill retired from the US Army and continued his priestly ministry at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Diocese of Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado. He died on Apr 17, 1972, in Pueblo, Colorado in the 57th year of his priesthood and the 80th year of his life. He was buried in the Bishop’s Section of Roselawn Cemetery, Pueblo, Colorado.