Honoring Captain Linzey on his 106th birthday and the U.S. Navy’s 251st anniversary.
Honoring a Historic Naval Legacy and the Three-Generation Tradition of Military Chaplaincy Known as “The Five Legacy Chaplains”
WASHINGTON — On the 251st anniversary of the founding of the United States Navy, the Military Bible Association commemorates the 106th anniversary of the birth of Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.) (1920–2010). A survivor of the Battle of Midway and a distinguished Navy chaplain, Captain Linzey’s military service helped establish an extraordinary family tradition of faith, spiritual leadership, and ministry to America’s Armed Forces.
Born on October 13, 1920—exactly 145 years after the founding of the United States Navy—Captain Linzey entered naval service in 1939, prior to America’s entry into World War II. Serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5), he participated in two of the Pacific War’s most consequential naval engagements: the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 and the Battle of Midway in June 1942.
During the Battle of Midway, the Yorktown sustained devastating attacks by Japanese aircraft on June 4, 1942. Although her crew struggled valiantly to save the carrier, she was subsequently torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sank on June 7. Captain Linzey survived the battle and the loss of his ship, joining the generation of American sailors whose courage and sacrifice altered the course of the Pacific War.
From World War II Sailor to Navy Chaplain
Musician First Class Linzey’s military service did not end with World War II. A profound subsequent calling to Christian ministry led him into the United States Navy Chaplain Corps in 1955, where he devoted his career to the spiritual welfare of sailors, Marines, and their families.
Commissioned as a Navy chaplain, he paired his firsthand experience of wartime service with pastoral leadership and a deep commitment to the religious needs of military personnel. He attained the rank of Captain on July 1, 1972, and continued serving with distinction in the Navy Chaplain Corps until his retirement in October 1974. His experiences as both an enlisted sailor and a senior chaplain reflected two complementary dimensions of a lifetime of duty: participation in one of America’s defining naval victories and a vocational legacy providing spiritual care to those serving their country.
Commander Manuel A. “Don” Biadog, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.), a recipient of the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, stated, “Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr. represents a remarkable tradition of service to our nation. Having survived the Battle of Midway aboard USS Yorktown, he went on to dedicate his life to the spiritual care of our service members. His journey from the dangers of naval warfare to a lifetime of ministry reflects the courage, faith, and commitment that define military chaplaincy. That his legacy continued through three generations of military chaplains makes his story especially worthy of remembrance.”
Preserving the History of USS Yorktown and the Battle of Midway
Captain Linzey’s wartime experiences are preserved in two separate firsthand accounts of World War II and service in the Pacific: Dead in the Water (formerly USS Yorktown at Midway) and Manchuria to Midway. The former volume has been edited by his son, Chaplain (Colonel) Paul E. Linzey, U.S. Army (Ret.), and features an introduction by Captain Linzey’s eldest son, S. Eugene Linzey, III; the latter volume, to be released, was edited by his son, Chaplain (Major) James F. Linzey, U.S. Army (Ret.), and features a foreword by renowned naval historian Jonathan Parshall.
The texts provide invaluable personal perspectives on the Pacific War and the daily lives of the sailors who served aboard the USS Yorktown. The preservation of such firsthand accounts remains critical as the United States approaches the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Midway in June 2027. For military historians, naval veterans, and future generations, the experiences of those who witnessed the battle offer an irreplaceable personal dimension to American naval history.
This profound historical significance is uniquely underscored by a rare piece of correspondence sent to Captain Linzey upon his honorable discharge in 1947 by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who was then serving as Chief of Naval Operations. Writing directly to the young veteran, Fleet Admiral Nimitz stated:
Your role in the Battle of Midway, while serving aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5), stands as a testament to the valor and resolve that defined our Navy during the darkest hours of World War II. In that fateful engagement, you and your fellow sailors helped turn the tide of the war in the Pacific, delivering a decisive blow to enemy forces and shifting the momentum toward ultimate victory… The discipline, loyalty, and sacrifice you demonstrated will always be remembered by a grateful nation.
A Legacy Extending Across Three Generations
Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr.’s legacy extended far beyond his own distinguished military career. Three of his sons followed him into military chaplaincy: Captain George W. Linzey, CHC, USN (Ret.); Chaplain (Colonel) Paul E. Linzey, U.S. Army (Ret.); and Chaplain (Major) James F. Linzey, U.S. Army (Ret.), who also served in the United States Air Force. A third generation continued the family tradition through his grandson, Lieutenant Commander Christopher J. Linzey, CHC, USN.
Together, these five chaplains have contributed about 112 years of combined military service across three generations in the United States Navy, Air Force, and Army. Their collective history illustrates an unbroken continuity of faith, pastoral leadership, and commitment to the spiritual care of American military personnel.
Special Veterans Day Announcement Scheduled for November 11
In recognition of this historic family legacy, the Military Bible Association will formally introduce The Five Legacy Chaplains: Three Generations of Faith and Service in a special Veterans Day announcement on November 11, 2026.
The commemoration will recognize Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., his three sons, and his grandson for their collective contributions to American military chaplaincy. The announcement will also unveil a proposed stained-glass memorial and a proposed cast bronze plaque honoring The Five Legacy Chaplains, featuring a historical depiction of the USS Yorktown to commemorate Captain Linzey’s survival at the Battle of Midway. This project is intended to permanently preserve and communicate the family’s historic military chaplaincy heritage for future generations of service members, historians, and the American public.
On the 106th anniversary of his birth, the Military Bible Association honors Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr. for his valor during World War II, his ministry as a United States Navy chaplain, and the enduring tradition of spiritual leadership carried forward by his descendants.
In a timeless testament to personal faith, Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr. once stated to Chaplain (Major) James F. Linzey, then a student at Fuller Theological Seminary in 1982, “The voice of God is self-authenticating. No one can authenticate the voice of God in your life.” This profound truth transcends the boundaries of Christian denominations and global world religions alike. It stands as a universal maxim, instilling within every service member—and indeed every human being—the profound confidence that they can directly hear, trust, and receive divine guidance from the Almighty which no one can refute.
About the Military Bible Association
The Military Bible Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military personnel through biblical resources, spiritual encouragement, and the preservation of military chaplaincy heritage.
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Websites
- The Five Legacy Chaplains
- Dead in the Water by Stanford E. Linzey, Jr.
- Manchuria to Midway by Stanford E. Linzey, Jr.
- Pearls of Gold by Verna May Hall Linzey
- VernaLinzey.com
- PaulLinzey.com
- ChrisLinzey.com
- ChaplainLinzey.com
