The Story of the Four Immortal Chaplains

Four Chaplains Service Announced.

February 10th, 2008

Lisbon - American Legion, 3rd District Public Relations

Historian Paul R. Bernard, USN and retired USN Command Master Chief Roger Dumont, Commander of Post 171 Harpswell, is announcing a special Four Chaplains Service to be held in Lisbon.

Lisbon ~ The American Legion 3rd District Officers will meet at 1:00pm Sunday,

February 10th, at “Coombs-Mountford” Post 158, 10 Webster Road, when a special Four Chaplains Program will be presented followed by a district meeting at 2:00pm.

The Four Chaplains Service will honor the four chaplains aboard the USS Dorchester that was sunk by the U-223 German submarine as the Coast Guard cutter passed through “torpedo alley”.

The four Chaplains were Father John Washington, Rev. Clark Poling, Rabbi Alexander Goode and Rev. George Fox.

These four Chaplains handed out lifejackets and when they ran out, they took off their own and placed them on waiting soldiers. They were last seen by witnesses standing arm in arm on the hull of the ship, each praying in his own way for the care of the men. Nearly 700 men died, making it the third largest loss at sea during World War II.

All Legionnaires in the district are invited and encouraged to attend.

(1) 3rd District Commander Kenneth Bouchard and 3rd District Adjutant Wilford "Bill Barr prepare for the 3rd District meeting. (2) Department of Maine Commander Paul L'Heureux and 1st Vice Commander John Doyle were present for the 4 Chaplains service and the 3rd District monthly meeting. The State Commander presented an overview of the position and future growth of the Department of Maine. He called on every legionnaire to step up to the plate and fulfill their commitment to the office they hold. I for one was encouraged and challenged. I serve in a variety of positions but never want to over extend myself so as to not be able to fulfill any of my commitments to the American Legion Family. The veterans we represent deserve our undivided attention, service and commitment to the betterment of the future growth of the American Legion Family.(3) Commander David Wilson, post 158 reads the biography of George L. Fox. (4) Area 2 Representative, Tom Naragon reads the biography of Alexander D. Goode. (5) Troop Greeter, Randy Kluj, Milo post 41 read the biography of Clark V. Poling. (6) Commander John Schlaack, post 66 read the biography of Johnny P. Washington.(7) 3rd District Chaplain, Charles "Chuck" Berube, post 153 gave the invocation and benediction. Past State Commander Ramona Naragon, Adjutant post 158 served as moderator and presented the Four Chaplains Story. Commander David Wilson, post 158, Area 2 Representative Tom Naragon post 158, Troop Greeter, Randy Kluj, post 41 and Commander John Schlaack post 66 all participated in the Four Chaplains Memorial Service. 

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

A convoy of three ships and three escorting Coast Guard cutters passed through "torpedo alley" some 100 miles off the coast of Greenland at about 1 a.m. on February 3, 1943. The submarine U-223 fired three torpedoes, one of which hit the midsection of the USAT Dorchester, a U.S. Army troopship with more than 900 men on board. Ammonia and oil were everywhere in the fast-sinking vessel and upon the freezing sea.

The four Chaplains on board, two Protestant pastors, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi, were among the first on deck, calming the men and handing out life jackets. When they ran out, they took off their own and placed them on waiting soldiers without regard to faith or race. Approximately 18 minutes from the explosion, the ship went down. They were the last to be seen by witnesses; they were standing arm-in-arm on the hull of the ship, each praying in his own way for the care of the men. Almost 700 died, making it the third largest loss at sea of its kind for the United States during World War II. The Coast Guard Cutter Tampa was able to escort the other freighters to Greenland. Meanwhile the cutters Comanche and Escanaba, disobeying orders to continue the seach for the German U-Boat, stopped to rescue 230 men from the frigid waters that night.

The four Chaplains were Father John Washington (Catholic), Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish) and Rev. George Fox (Methodist). These four Chaplains were later honored by the Congress and Presidents. They were recognized for their selfless acts of courage, compassion and faith. According to the First Sergeant on the ship, "They were always together, they carried their faith together."  They demonstrated throughout the voyage and in their last moments, interfaith compassion in their relationship with the men and with each other. In 1960 Congress created a special Congressional Medal of Valor, never to be repeated again, and gave it to the next of kin of the "Immortal Chaplains."

Service to remember Dorchester sinking
Friday, February 1, 2008

LEWISTON - Area veterans organizations and the public are invited to memorial services commemorating the 45th anniversary of the sinking of the U.S. Army transport, USAT Dorchester, by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic on February 2, 1943.

The service will be held at noon Monday, Feb. 4, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Bates and Spruce streets.

The Four United States Army chaplains gave their life jackets to servicemen and went down with the ship, which sank in 27 minutes. Only 230 servicemen survived out of a total of 902 servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian workers who were aboard.
The program will open with the Pledge of Allegiance and "The Star Spangled Banner" by the assembly.

The Rev. Bennett Barnes, interim rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, will give the invocation. A special prayer will be offered by Post 22 American Legion Adjutant Jerry DerBoghosian.
 

The story of the four U.S. Army chaplains will be told by Post 111 American Legion Chaplain Paul Bernard.

Bugler Richard LeBlanc is scheduled to play "Taps". Everyone stood and held hands in a circle and sang; "God Bless America"

American Legion Historian, 3rd District, Department of Maine, Paul R. Bernard, rang the bell after each name was read and presented everyone with a business card souvenir of the 1948 Four Chaplain Stamp.

Four Chaplains recalled in service at church

Friday, February 8, 2008

LEWISTON - Area veterans recently commemorated the 45th anniversary of the sinking of the U.S. Army transport, S.S. Dorchester, by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic in February of 1943.
The service was held at the Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Bennett Barnes, interim rector, giving the invocation.
District 3 Historian Paul R. Bernard, American Legion Post 111, presented the story of the four U.S. Army chaplains.
Warren K. Clark, Marine Corps League, Detachment 810, Armand Bussiere, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9150, Jerry DerBoghosian, American Legion adjutant, and Barnes each read 10 names of the 40 veterans from Maine who died .
Clark also gave the biography of Chaplain George Fox; Bussiere presented the biography of Chaplain Alexander Goode; DerBoghosian gave the biography of Chaplain Clark Poling; and Barnes told of Chaplain Johnny Washington. Candles were lit.
A Four Chaplains Service will also be observed at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at the American Legion Post 158, Lisbon, and by the Marine Corps League, Central Maine Detachment 810. at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at the New Auburn American Legion Post 153
 

Honor four chaplains
Monday, May 14, 2007

Auburn - A memorial program honoring the four chaplains who gave their lives when the USAT Dorchester was sunk was held at the New Auburn American Legion Post 153 by the Central Maine Detachment, Marine Corps League. From the left are Chaplain Richard McGuinness, Sergeant-at-Arms Armand Blair, Junior Vice Commander Lucien Marcoux, Irma McGuinness and Edith Lemieux. Prior to the service, the Marine Corps Charter was draped in memorial of former Marine Carroll Hebert of Auburn.

Jesus Party kids hear Dorchester story
Monday, February 12, 2007

Jesus Party kids Katrina Jones and Hunter Knowlton are pictured with the ministry's patriotic mentor, Jerry DerBoghosian.

LEWISTON - Jerry DerBoghosian, adjutant, Post 22, American Legion, and patriotic mentor of the Jesus Party youth outreach, recently shared the story of the sinking of the USAT Dorchester on February 3rd, 1943.
The ship was sunk by a torpedo fired from a German U-2 submarine. The attack was decisive and deadly. The Dorchester was carrying 902 passengers made up of servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian workers. Within less than 27 minutes the Dorchester slipped beneath the Atlantic's icy waters.
On board were four United States Army chaplains - a Methodist clergyman, a Jewish Rabbi, Roman Catholic priest and a Reformed minister. Together through the pandemonium, they brought calmness to the frightened, tended to the wounded and guided the disoriented.
The ship had run out of life jackets and the four chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men. The chaplains joined arms and prayed as the boat disappeared in the waters. Out of the 902 aboard, 672 died, leaving 230 survivors.

Maurice A. BELANGER ~  PFC, USMC, Madison

Henry Allen BLACKIE ~  S2/C, USN, Topsham

Thomas Ernest CADDIGAN ~  S1/C, USN, Biddeford

Elden Howard CAIL ~  Corporal, USMC, Brownville Junction

Jules F. CHAMPAGNE ~  PFC, USMCR, Portland

Joseph Patrick CHASE ~  PFC. USMC, Northeast Harbor

James E. DAVIS ~ Ensign, USNR, Monett

William Vernon, DAVIS ~ Private, USMC Auburn

Richard Edward DAY ~ Fire2/C, USNR, Berwick

Arthur B. DOUCETTE ~ Private, USMC, Keegan

Lewis Homer ELDRIDGE Jr. ~  S2/C, USNR. South Portland

Richmond Hazen ELLIS ~ Lieutenant JG, USN, York Beach

Ralph William EMERSON ~  Staff Sergeant, USMC, Minot

Robert Eugene EMERSON ~  G.M.3/M, USNR, South Portland
Porter H. FRENCH ~ Ph.M.3/C, USN, South Paris

John Edward GALVIN Jr. ~  yeo.1/ C, USN, Milinocket

Francis W. GRANT ~ Fi.Cont.M.2/C. USNR, Wiscasset

Philip GUERRETTE ~ PFC, USMC, Augusta
Willard James HALL ~ Fire.2/C, USN, Brewer

Leon Winslow HARTFORD ~ Yeo,3/C, USN, Berwick

Melford PELLETIER ~  SSML3/C, USN, Allagash

James Laurence HATT ~ Ae.Rad.M.3/C, USN, Augusta

George W. HUNTLEY Coxswain, USN, Eastport

Charles Gilbert HUTCHINS ~ PFC, USMC, Bucksport

William Melvin JUDKINS ~ Private, USMC, Blue Hill

Donald F. LAWRENCE ~  Sig.M.1/C, USN, Portland

Raymond E. MERCIER ~ PFC, USMC, Skowhegan

Charles Albert MERRILL ~ Rad.M.3/C, USNR, Auburn

Ralph C. NICKERSON ~ Sig.Man., USN, Belfast

Wendal M. NIGHTINGALE ~ PFC, USMC, Skowhegan

Robert Tozier, NOYES ~ PFC, USMC, Augusta

Ralph E. OSGOOD ~ S1/C, USN, South Portland

Donald Willis RAMSAY ~ PFC, USMC, South Portland

Jerrold E. SHOREY Jr. ~ Fire.3/C, USNR, South Portland

Gilbert J. SOUCY ~ S1/C, USN, Portage

Gerald Decker STROUT ~  Ph.M 3/C, USNR, Bangor

Raymond C. TAYLOR ~ Sl/C, USN. Waterville

Howard Stanley TOBEY ~ M.M 3/C. USN, Bath

Ralph Frederick VICTOR ~ Fire 1/C. USN, Lisbon Falls

Irving Ralph WILLIAMS ~ Corporal, USMC. Freeport

Charles J. WALDRON ~ PFC, USA, Berwick

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