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Remembering “The Four Chaplains” aboard the U.S.A.T. Dorchester

 (Editor’s Note: Saugus Veterans’ Service Officer Paul Cancelliere issued the following press release this week to publicize a tragic, but inspiring story from World War II on its 82nd anniversary.)

 

Annually The American Legion shares the tragic story that occurred early on Feb. 3, 1943, when an enemy torpedo struck the Army transport Dorchester as it carried 902 officers and enlisted men, Navy armed guard, merchant seamen and civilian workers in the North Atlantic. The Coast Guard cutter escorts Comanche and Escanaba rescued 230 men.

As the Dorchester took on water, four Army chaplains – Lt. George L. Fox (Methodist), Lt. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), Lt. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic), and Lt. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed) – calmed frightened soldiers, aided the wounded and guided the disoriented toward safety. The Coast Guard cutter escorts Comanche and Escanaba rescued 230 men.

On deck, they opened a storage locker and began distributing life jackets. When there were no more available, the chaplains removed their life jackets and gave them to four young men. “It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven,” said John Ladd, a survivor.

As the ship went down, men in rafts saw the four chaplains, arms linked and braced against the slanting deck, singing hymns and praying. Congress attempted to confer the Medal of Honor on the chaplains but was prevented by strict requirements of heroism under fire. It authorized a one-time posthumous Special Medal for Heroism, awarded by President Eisenhower in 1961; it was intended to have the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a black 3-cent stamp on May 28, 1948, to honor “The Four Chaplains” who sacrificed their lives in the sinking of the S. S. Dorchester. The Dorchester, an aging luxury liner that had been converted for troop transport, was sailing from New York to Greenland. This stamp is a part of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in the historic City Post Office Building, Washington, D.C.

There are two ceremonies to recall the tragic incident of the sinking of the Army Transport the USS Dorchester, eighty-two years ago. Veterans gather to reflect on the events that occurred that evening in the North Atlantic. These memorial events offer us an opportunity to reflect and remember examples of integrity, selfless service, and personal courage.

  • A 2025 Memorial Anniversary for “The Four Chaplains” – Sunday, Feb. 2, at 9 a.m. at the Four Chaplains Memorial at Temple Emanuel, 120 Chestnut St., Wakefield.
  • “Four Chaplains,” a dramatic presentation of the heroic Four Chaplains of the Dorchester, will be presented Feb. 26 at Hanscom Primary School, 4 Ent Road, at Hanscom Air Force Base. Guests must be accompanied by a military ID card holder who can get on base. At 5 p.m. there will be free food and a social hour. At 6 p.m. the play, “The Four Chaplains” and afterwards an opportunity to meet the actors. Please call for a reservation at 781-225-5501 (HAFB Chapel).

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