Our Lady’s Chapel in the Meadow
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Title
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Our Lady’s Chapel in the Meadow
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Short summary / description
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'The story of the modest cement brick chapel at Camp Atterbury is a compelling chapter in the history of World War
II, illuminating themes of compassion, reconciliation, and faith amid global conflict. This chapel’s origins trace
back to Italian soldiers who, having been captured by Allied forces in North Africa, were transported to the United
States as prisoners of war. [...] The living conditions of the Italian POWs were notably humane. [...] However, lingering anxieties about the fate of their families in war-torn Italy deeply affected many of the prisoners.
Some became so distressed that their physical and emotional health deteriorated. In response, Colonel Welton M.
Modisett, the Post Commander, and Lieutenant Colonel John Gammel, the Internment Camp Commander, sought
a means to restore morale among the Italians under their care. After a request from the Italian POWs, they
authorized a special, voluntary project, the construction of a new chapel. The prisoners were provided with the
liberty, materials, and time necessary to create a sacred space where they could seek solace and pray for loved
ones abroad.
The resulting chapel became a tangible link to their homeland, a sanctuary for spiritual reflection and a poignant
emblem of their enduring ties to family and faith. Completed and formally dedicated in September 1943, the
chapel embodied both the resilience and hopes of its builders.
Following Italy’s surrender in early 1944, Italian POWs were extended the opportunity to enlist in the U.S. Army, a
path that many chose to pursue. In the decades since, the chapel’s legacy has been diligently preserved by the
Indiana National Guard, the U.S. Army, and dedicated members of the local community. Description written by the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana.
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Creative Work type
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Places of worship
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Date of creation
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September 1, 1943
