Father David Gwinner, a diocesan priest in residence at Westerville St. Paul Church, was honored last month for his service as a military chaplain at a flagpole dedication ceremony at the parish school.
Cmdr. Erik Moss, the commanding officer at the Navy Talent Acquisition Group Ohio River Valley, presented Father Gwinner with a commendation from Rear Adm. Gregory Todd, the Chief of Navy Chaplains, with children and from the school and parish in attendance.
“I think we can all agree that there is no higher honor than answering God’s call into the priesthood or religious life,” Cmdr. Moss said. “Father Dave faithfully answered that call and has fulfilled that role for many decades. Additionally, Father Dave also answered the call of his country, when he dawned the cloth of our nation, raised his right hand, and swore an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States as a chaplain in the world’s greatest Navy.”
Father Gwinner, 75, was ordained to the priesthood in 1984 by Bishop James Griffin. He had served in the Armed Forces after being drafted during the Vietnam War and after several years as a priest felt called to return to the U.S. Navy as a chaplain.
In the 1990s, Father Gwinner carried out various assignments with the Navy while also supporting the 3rd Marine Division during the Gulf War. His service included duty in Okinawa, Japan; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Naval Air Station, Agana, Guam; Beijing, China; Mount Fuki, Japan; Pohang, South Korea; USS St. Louis and USS Dubuque.
He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal and Commendation Award, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense medal as a veteran of the Desert Storm War. In a recommendation letter for the Navy Achievement Medal, Father Gwinner was called “one of the most impressive Navy chaplains I have known.”
“I feel deeply honored to receive this,” Father Gwinner said at the ceremony. “It puts a crescendo on my service with the military and the parish.”
In 38 years as a priest in the diocese, Father Gwinner has served as a associate pastor, pastor and chaplain for a variety of parishes and ministries. He has spent the past 16 years at St. Paul.
“We are all aware of the contributions Father Dave has had in the St. Paul community and the blessing he has been to each and every one of us,” Cmdr. Moss said. “What you might not know are the contributions Father Dave has had to thousands of sailors and marines during his military service.
“This flagpole will stand as a lasting reminder of Father Dave’s service to both his country and to the St. Paul community.”