Military chaplain returns to Utah for second tour at Hill Air Force Base

Friday, Aug. 16, 2024

OGDEN — Father David V. McGuire, the new wing chaplain at 75th Air Base Wing, Hill Force Base, is no stranger to the Beehive State. He previously was stationed at the base from July 2007 to August 2009; during that time he served a six-month tour in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Fr. McGuire has long had an affinity for the military. In fact, he was enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Georgia when he discerned a calling to the priesthood.

“So, I went and talked to my master sergeant about it, and the first thing he said was, ‘Well, sir, you need to take that uniform off and go to seminary. That’s more important than being in the military,’” Fr. McGuire said. “He said, ‘Go to seminary. It’s long, years long. If you don’t like it, you can always come back. And if you do like it, who knows? Maybe you can come back to us as a chaplain.’”

Following the sergeant’s advice, Fr. McGuire transferred from the University of Georgia to Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C. After finishing his undergraduate degree in distribution management, Fr. McGuire entered the Benedictine Monastery in Belmont and was a monk for 10 years. Still, a military ministry called to him. During the Iraqi War, after consulting with his abbot, he left the monastery and joined the Diocese of Richmond, Va. to serve members of the military. After three years he began what he thought would be a transition to military service, but was called back to the diocese to help out in a crisis situation. 

After several years, his bishop encouraged him to look at the military again. Fr. McGuire, thinking he was too old for that service, initially declined. However, after his bishop informed him the military had recently raised the age limit for Catholic chaplains, he tried again.

“By that time, the Navy wouldn’t talk to me because the Navy didn’t take older people,” he recalled. “I called the Army, and the Army never returned my call. I called the Air Force, and they set me up in a program called Come and See, and I’ve been with the Air Force ever since.”

At HAFB, Fr. McGuire is responsible for all the religious programs for all denominations, including services at Christ Prince of Peace Chapel, which serves the Catholic population.

Although most of his time will be taken up with his responsibilities at the base, Fr. McGuire has already volunteered to help fill in for other priests in the diocese as his schedule allows. He has already begun to make connections with the clergy here in the diocese and recently attended the annual priests’ barbecue.

“It’s great having him back in Utah for his second tour, this time as a wing chaplain, who gets to oversee all the chaplains on base, on top of ministering to the spiritual needs of anyone and everyone at HAFB who seeks and requires his leadership, guidance and support as a Catholic priest, military chaplain or lieutenant colonel,” Father Kenneth Vialpando, vicar for clergy, said of Fr. McGuire. “When Chaplain McGuire was here the first time, he was very faithful in celebrating Masses and other sacraments for the Catholics on base, but his ministries did not stop there.  He went out of his way to help other priests in their parishes in the Northern Deanery and around the diocese whenever he could, and he is willing to offer the same to other priests this time around.”

An amateur radio fan, Fr. McGuire enjoys being surrounded by the mountains and being close to many state and national parks because he operates a ham radio channel that can be found at parksontheair.com. He is also looking to be mentored by other operators so he can participate in Summitsontheair.com. A passionate genealogist, Fr. McGuire is also delighted to be able to take advantage of the many resources available in that field in Utah.