Brother Donlon, a retired US Army chaplain, returns for a rare visit

By Ira Philip

The Mouchette Clan from near and far gathered this week to pay last respects to an elder, Osmond (Ossie”) John Mouchette of West Side, Somerset.

He passed away last week in his 90th year, and was remembered on Monday at St James Anglican Church.

Ossie, like his father Brownlow Mouchette was an old soldier. He served in the Second World War, and had the distinction of being cited as one of Bermuda’s War Veterans. Also he was a professional musician, avid sportsman, considered one of Bermuda’s best dressed men.

Father Brownlow, who had migrated to Bermuda around 1900, from St Kitts, was one of the early members of the Bermuda Militia Artillery, He was one of the BMAs who volunteered for service in the Bermuda Contingent of Royal Garrison Artillery that was sent to France soon after the outbreak of the First World War.

Having been heavily hit by poison gas at the war front, Brownlow returned to Bermuda, married into one of the first families of Sandys. His wife was the former Blanche Durrant. Ossie was their second child, born, September 24, 1924.

He had three brothers, Sidney (Slim), Donley and Raymond. Their grandparents were Tommy and Annie Durrant. He was one of the founding fathers of both Somerset Cricket Club and Sandys Secondary School.

The central personality throughout this week of gathering of the clan has been without doubt soldier, doctor, brother, Edward Donley Mouchette.

His official title is Chaplain (Col) Retired US Army.

He spent 30 years in the Army, was highly decorated for service in combat in Vietnam, on the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, in Germany and all over the US.

Now in his 84th year, Donley is blessed with good health, wife Anna, the mother of his highly educated two daughters, and a son making his mark in international banking in London, England.

He took time out to voice gratitude for what he termed the ‘good grounding’ he got at West End Primary School and at Sandys Secondary School.

He was particular in mentioning the inspiration gained at Sandys under Louisa Richards; and West End under teacher Louella Pauline Douglas, whose funeral by coincidence, took place at St James Church two days after Ossie’s.

What really put Donley on the right trek was his involvement in the young people’s programmes at Allen Temple AME Church, Sound View Road.

Among contemporaries there were Vinton Anderson, later Bishop and President of the World Council of Churches; his wife Vivian (a niece of teacher Louella Douglas), (Rev) Howard Philip, now a retired AME Minister in Dayton, Ohio and Leroy Dowling (the only Bermudian killed in the Korean War).

Donley had revealed to his Allen Temple pastor, the Rev L Sylvester Odom his ambition to be a minister.

Before long Rev Odom had Donley on the way to Wilberforce University, Ohio, where he graduated with a BA (cum laude), followed by Master of Divinity (cum laude) at Payne Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Psychology.

Returning home in 1956, with his American-born bride, Donley was appointed pastor of Bethel AME Church, Shelly Bay. It was there his daughter Francine was born. Later moving to an AME Church, New York.

It was there and largely because of initiatives taken by his wife, unbeknown to him, he was summoned to train for the Chaplaincy at Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California. His appointment followed, as the first black chaplain for the US Army’s First Infantry Division, and assignment to Vietnam.

Ebony Magazine and other media kept full coverage of his distinctive service.

He was only able to visit the land of is birth two or three times since he left Bethel for New York. Once was when invited by Sandys Secondary to be the special guest during one of its jubilee celebrations.

Donley makes his home in Arizona, where he is Chaplain for Veterans of Foreign Wars.