On Sunday, Feb. 3, 1943, the Dorchester, a cruise ship designed for 300 guests, was loaded with 904 soldiers when torpedoed by a German submarine during World War II. Within 20 minutes 675 men were lost in the icy waters less than 100 miles from Greenland, their destination.
The orders to sleep with their clothes on and have life jackets nearby were disregarded by many because of the stifling heat and crowded space below deck.
Shortly after 1 a.m. the ship shuddered as the torpedo exploded. Loss of power prevented sounding an alarm to abandon ship or sending distress signals. Half-clothed blast survivors panicked when they were struck by the frigid arctic air as they scrambled on deck.
Amidst the chaos, survivors recalled how the calm action and courage of the four army chaplains saved many lives. They guided the frightened men to lifeboat stations, distributed available life jackets and when the supply ran out they took off theirs, giving them to soldiers who had none.
As the ship sank beneath the icy water, survivors saw the agonizing sight of four men on the deck with arms linked and heads bowed in prayer.
In 1948 Congress designated Feb. 3 as Four Chaplains’ Day and later voted to present the Special Medal of Heroism – the only such medal ever given posthumously – to the four chaplains: Protestants George Fox and Clark Poling, Jewish Alex Goode, and Catholic John Washington.
Today we live in the land of the free because of the brave sacrifices by service personnel like the four volunteer chaplains.
Gene Gauerke
Wauapca