Lieutenant Olin Mayfield, a military chaplain and local priest, received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in a surprise ceremony attended by archdiocesan officials Nov. 9.

Recently returned from serving with the 3D Battalion, 12th Marines unit based in Okinawa, Japan, Father Mayfield was presented with the award at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in front of a welcoming committee including Cardinal Roger Mahony, and Auxiliary Bishops Thomas Curry, Alexander Salazar and Oscar Solis.

Msgr. Craig Cox, vicar for clergy, read the commendation, which praised Father Mayfield for making "a profound impact on the Marines and Sailors of the battalion." As noted on the award signed by U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel S.T. Studdard, Father Mayfield's "superior performance of his duties" included overseeing a comprehensive religious program, organizing and conducting four international community relation projects benefiting handicapped and under-privileged Japanese citizens and developing a battalion library.

"It was an amazing experience," Father Mayfield told The Tidings in an interview after the award presentation. As a chaplain ministering to over 1,000 Marines and Sailors in Japan from October 2004 to this past August, he enjoyed serving the spiritual needs of the battalion in port for artillery practice.

Before that assignment, he was stationed for two years on the USS Wasp, a flagship amphibious assault carrier. As a flagship chaplain, Father Mayfield was responsible for celebrating Mass on six different ships. According to Father Mayfield's unofficial observations, Catholic servicemen and women, while representing approximately one-quarter of the military population, account for approximately 50 percent of total religious practice in the armed forces.

If troops were being deployed, Father Mayfield celebrated Mass for them, no matter the day of the week. He did a lot of counseling for battalion members concerned about their loved ones. One of his duties as chaplain was to deliver messages from home, including news of children's births and family members' deaths. As a chaplain, he could also act as a liaison between a battalion member and superior officers.

"I learned to speak the [military] language," said Father Mayfield. While he may serve as a chaplain again someday, he is looking forward to re-entering parish ministry as an associate priest at St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley. He plans to report for duty the first Sunday of Advent.