Fredrick Eckhardt

Reverend Fredrick Pitts Eckhardt was reappointed as Department of Maryland Chaplin by Department Commander Gordon Browning at the 82nd Department Convention in Ocean City in July 2000.

Chaplain Eckhardt served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, completing his basic training at Bainbridge. He completed Radar School in Virginia Beach VA, at the Cavalier Hotel and Amphibious Training at Little Creek. Serving aboard the L.S.M 370, L.S.M. 20 & L.S.T. 935 in the Pacific Theater he was discharged in 1946 at Bainbridge. Following the war he returned to Western Maryland College, graduating in 1948, He then attended Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, graduating in 1952, after which he accepted a position as a pastor to a New York City congregation.

In addition to pastoring a Greenwich Village church, he pursued graduate studies, became the Chaplain of the New York City Fire Department, and established a rescue operation serving runaways and the homeless.

Eckhardt joined the American Legion Post 930 in New York, serving one year as Post Chaplain in addition to his service as Post Commander. In 1975 he and his family returned to Maryland to serve a Westminster church. He transferred his Legion membership to Carroll Post 31 where he served until his retirement as Chaplain.

In 1993 after 41 years of active ministry Fredrick retired and remained busy with his work as an instructor at Boys State, organizing and training Post Chaplains and as a Department Chaplain.

He and his family share a strong bond of mutual pride.