Father Dan O’Connor, pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Sandy Springs, retired from the U.S. Army Reserve Feb. 25 after almost 35 years of service, first as an enlisted soldier and then as a commissioned officer.

Father Martin P. Fleming, chaplain at Fort McPherson for the past four years, has also retired.

Father O’Connor was senior chaplain of the 3297th Headquarters hospital in Chamblee, Ga., when he retired with the rank of colonel.

As a young man, O’Connor enlisted in the army in June, 1951, during the Korean War. At the time communism was considered a major threat to the free world and the priest explains he wanted to fight its spread. He was sent to Germany with the Army Security Agency as a radio operator.

After he returned to civilian life, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1961. In 1964, with the permission of Archbishop Paul Hallinan, he took a commission as a chaplain in the Army reserve.

The experience as a reserve chaplain “puts one in a very interesting position,” Father O’Connor said. As a priest and officer he answered to two bosses, his bishop and his commanding officer. The priest found serving with non-Catholic chaplains gave him “tremendous insight” into what is needed to be simultaneously a minister and a family man. He developed a greater appreciation for the rule of celibacy because of the freedom it gives the Catholic priest.

While he misses the camaraderie and dimension chaplaincy offered, Father O’Connor said he does not miss the strain of holding down two distinct jobs, pastor of a large urban parish and senior chaplain in the army.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve, however,” he concluded.

Father Fleming, 65, who served as Catholic chaplain at Fort McPherson for 52 months, has retired with the rank of colonel after 32 years as a U.S. Army chaplain.

The retirement ceremony took place Feb. 25 at the base. A reception to the archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis where he is assigned to the family life bureau. He will facilitate Cursillo, Marriage and Engaged Encounter, and the Charismatic Renewal.

He served at posts around the United States, in Europe and Vietnam.

Father Camillus Gott has been assigned as Catholic chaplain at Fort McPherson. He comes to this assignment from service in Germany and is a lieutenant colonel.