Navy Chaplain Makes Ultimate Sacrifice For Shipmate

Rentz Is Only Chaplain To Win The Navy Cross During World War II

By JIM PURCELL

In the Book of John (15:13), we are taught, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

 

Commander George Rentz

   On March 1, 1942, U.S. Navy (Chaplain) Commander George S. Rentz gave evidence of his love for his shipmates. Rentz was in the waters of the Pacific Ocean with other sailors, holding onto a float from a destroyed airplane for their very lives.

   Rentz’s ship, the USS Houston, was sunk by a Japanese Navy convoy. The USS Houston and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth had just lost the Battle of SundaStrait while the two ships were en route on a mission to Ceylon.

   The battle took place between the islands of Java and Sumatra. After a fierce exchange of fire between the Houston and Perth with superior Japanese forces, the Houston and Perth were responsible for sinking five Japanese ships.

   Rentz was among those wearing a lifejacket. And, the float provided some safety as survivors of the Houston waited for rescue. However, a pontoon for the float was being swamped by overcrowding of survivors.

   Rentz estimated the situation and said, “You men are young. I have lived the major part of my life and I am willing to go.” Ultimately, Rentz gave his lifejacket to Seaman First Class Walter L. Beeson. Beeson would not, initially, take the lifejacket from the chaplain. But, Rentz told Beeson that his heart was failing and he could not last much longer. He then kicked away from the float, into the night, never to be seen again.

   For his actions, Rentz was awarded the Navy Cross Medal, albeit posthumously. Rentz was the only chaplain to win the Navy Cross during World War II.

Rentz Was A Career Naval Officer

   Rentz had served as a naval officer in both World War I and II. He was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania on July 25, 1882. Like his father before him and his son after him, Rentz graduated from Gettysburg College, with the Class of 1903. He then went on to earn his Master’s of Divinity degree from the PrincetonTheological Seminary, in New Jersey.

   With his classroom education complete, Rentz was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1909. Subsequently, he went on to serve in the Presbytery of Northumberland. He also ministered churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

   Rentz married in 1911 and the couple had at least two children.

 

The USS Houston

   However, with the advent of World War I, Rentz felt the call to service. So, in 1917, Rentz was commissioned with the rank of lieutenant junior grade and assigned to the 11th Marine Regiment, which served in France.

   With the conclusion of hostilities, in November, 1918, Rentz remained in the Navy. He went on to serve aboard the USS Florida, USS Wright, USS West Virginia and, finally, the USS Houston. He also served at the Marine Barracks in Port Royal, South Carolina; Naval Air Station Pensacola, in Florida; and Naval Air Station, San Diego, California.

 

The Navy Cross Medal

   Rentz was transferred from the USS Augusta to the USS Houston in 1940, when the Houston became the flagship for the U.S. Asiatic Fleet. By all accounts, Rentz was popular among the crew.

   The USS Houston was a Northampton class cruiser commissioned in 1930. Its armament included: nine 8-inch guns, eight 5-inch guns, two 47mm guns, six quad 40mm guns and twenty 20mm guns. The USS Houston also carried four floatplanes used for observation and reconnaissance. It carried a crew of 109 officers and 676 enlisted.

   At the time of its sinking, the ship’s captain was Captain Albert H. Rooks. Of the crew of the USS Houston, only 368 Navy and Marine personnel survived the sinking, only to be taken prisoner by the Japanese Navy. Sadly, 77 of those POWs died during captivity.

   During the Battle of Makassar Strait in February, 1942, the chaplain moved from position to position on the ship, which was taking fire from the Japanese Navy, encouraging gun crews defending the ship.

   To honor the memory of this fearless man of God, the U.S. Navy commissioned an Oliver Perry class frigate named the USS Rentz (FFG-46). The ship was built and christened during the early 1980s. After 22 years of service, the USS Rentz was decommissioned by the Navy.

 

The USS Rentz

   In his final address as the captain of the USS Rentz, Commander Lance Lantier said, “There is a requirement for ever CO, XO and CMC that comes into a ship to do the absolute best by the ship and by the crew that they can.”

At Gettysburg College

   Another place the memory of George Rentz is remembered fondly is at Gettysburg College, his Alma Mater. During his student days at Gettysburg, he was an Alpha Tau Omega brother, as well as the business manager for The Gettysburgian. In addition, he was the assistant business manager for another college publication, called The Spectrum. Rentz was also on the college’s debate team and was a member of the Philosophy Club.

   Rentz and other graduates of the college who made the ultimate sacrifice are remembered annually in Memorial Day services at the school.