The first official U.S. Army chaplain doctrine appeared in 1926 and contained this guidance: "The duty of the chaplain lies with the men of his command who are on the fighting line." This guidance reflected a principle of proximity--that is, chaplains minister wherever their soldiers are found, up to and including during direct ground combat. The primary argument of this thesis is that this "proximity principle"--both in chaplain history and chaplain doctrine--has been a dominant theme of the Army chaplain's ministry. The 1926 "fighting line" verbiage and concept codified what chaplains had habitually practiced up to that time. Indeed, a broad analysis of literature written by chaplains prior to 1926 and lessons learned by chaplains during the First World War demonstrates that the 1926 doctrine accurately codified a timeless and enduring principle. In addition, a survey of chaplain doctrine since 1926 shows that the proximity principle has consistently remained a part of official Army chaplain ministry. Furthermore, a historical survey of select chaplains in ground combat since 1926 demonstrates that the proximity principle remains a timeless and highly effective form of Army chaplain ministry, whose most ardent practitioners are held up as exemplars for current and future chaplains.

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