Father Dunne Suffers Broken Arms, Legs
In Jeep Accident Near Korean Front Lines

   Word has been received from Korea reporting that Major (the Rev.) Joseph A Dunne, formerly assistant pastor of St Peters church, suffered two broken arms and two broken legs In a Jeep mishap. The accident occurred soon after Father Dunne parachuted Into the combat area with members of the 187th Regimental combat team which he served as chaplain.
   Father Dunne, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Dunne, 63 First street, Yonkers was assistant pastor at St Peter's church here, from June 1942 to September 1944 when he entered the Army as a chaplain. While In Poughkeepsie Father Dunne was extremely active with youth groups, and was Instrumental In organizing the Downtown Athletic league and In setting up athletic teams In the area.
   ALTHOUGH DETAILS of the mishap In Korea are Incomplete, a spokesman at St Peter's rectory today said It Is understood that Father Dunne was Injured sometime early this month Through earlier1 reports, It was known that the former Poughkeepsie priest had made parachute drops with members of the paratroop unit to which he was assigned.
    On "'Holy Thursday" prior to last Easter, Father Dunne heard confessions of members of his airborne combat team Then on "Good Friday" he Jumped with the unit behind enemy lines In North Korea.
   But Indications are the priest was not Injured In this particular operation. From what ran be determined, It was after a later parachute Jump that Father Dunne, with several other paratroopers, were riding In a Jeep near the front lines.
   The report reaching Poughkeepsie Indicates that the Jeep hit a land mine and that the priest received two broken arms and two broken legs In the mishap.
   Father Dunne now is In a hospital in Tokyo Japan. It has been reported that he will be flown to the United States as soon as his Injuries permit the move.
   Formerly stationed In Kobe Japan Father Dunne was transferred to Korea last fall and was aligned as Catholic chaplain In Pusan, Korea, last October. While at Pusan. he arranged for 14 Masses every Sunday and had the extra duty of meeting all ships as they arrived In Pusan harbor.

[Poughkeepsie Journal, Poughkeepsie, NY, 25 Apr 1951, Wed, Page 1]