Identified WWII Catholic Military Chaplain’s Cased Field Altar and Communion Service Set

The suitcase sized set is approximately 22 inches wide by 14-1/2 inches deep by 7 inches tall. The case contains the implements needed to conduct a religious service in the field and the offer communion to the personnel, including velvet altar drapes; a Bible stand and a crucifix; serving plates, small pitchers for holy wine of holy water; and candlestick holders. There is also a box of German baking wafers which were presumably blessed for a service and offered as communion wafers. The case itself is marked “U.S.”, as is the Bible stand, crucifix, candle holders and 2 of the plates. The set exhibits signs of age and use, one of the glass pitchers has chips on its spout and a melted candle is stuck on the case lining. This set was used by Chaplain Harry F Coder during WWII and during the Korean War when he was called back to duty.