I've recently watched the movie USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage and there are a few scenes in which the ship's chaplain is called "waxman". The character is also referred to as "waxman" in the end credits. He is played by Brian Presley in the film.
Is this common naval jargon for a naval ship's chaplain? I can't seem to find any information online about it.
Speaking from my limited Naval Service.,:
In the USN ( 4 years active Duty with only a little over 2 years SeaDuty) I can definitely state that I had never heard a Navy Chaplain refered to as "Waxman" so the last name of Chaplain on the USS Indianapolis must have just been Waxman as explained in previous posts.
He might have been known as "Chaplain Waxman"aboard ship, which was the usual manner.
If he was a Roman Catholic or Protestant Episcopalian Priest he might have been called " Father Waxman"
I'm not sure about the Navy but I believe Chaplains in the other branches of the military are sometimes called "Padre".
This is bit "far out" but maybe "Waxman" might have been a nickname since he might have burned lighted candles at their religious services aboard the ship.
At any rate the name might have been changed to "Waxman" in the movie for some reason to avoid the real name as has been done in many movies.
For example :
"Maude Young" ( Thelma Ritter) in the 1953 movie "Titanic". The character is said to be "loosely based on" that of Mrs Margaret Brown.