William R. Arnold Papers

William Richard Arnold (1881-1965) was Chief of Chaplains, U.S. Army, from 1937-1945. He was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in 1908 and entered the army as chaplain in 1913. He was promoted to the rank of major in April, 1927; to lieutenant colonel in April, 1933 and to colonel when appointed Chief of Chaplains December 23, 1937. He was promoted to brigadier general on November 21, 1941, and to major general on November 17, 1944. Arnold retired from the military in June 1945 and was consecrated Bishop of Phocaea, Military Vicariat on October 11, 1945. He died on January 7, 1965 in New York.