John Karlovec Published 2/4/2016 in the Geauga County Maple Leaf
On Feb. 3, 1943, the United States Army Transport Dorchester — a converted luxury liner
was crossing the North Atlantic, transporting more than 900 troops to an American base in Greenland.
Aboard the ship were four chaplains: Methodist minister The Reverend George L. Fox, Reform-Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Reformed Church in America minister The Reverend Clark V. Poling and Roman Catholic priest Father John Washington. Their backgrounds, personalities and faith were different. They had met as Army chaplains at Harvard University, where they became friends as they prepared for service in the European theater. They were sailing together on board USAT Dorchester to report to their new assignments.
Around 12:55 a.m., a German U-boat fired a torpedo that struck the Dorchester’s starboard side, below the water line and near the engine room. The explosion instantly killed 100 men and knocked out power and radio communication with Dorchester’s three escort ships. Within 20 minutes, the transport sank and more than 670 men died.
For the past five years, American Legion Atwood-Mauck Post 459 in Burton has conducted a memorial service on the first Sunday in February to reflect on that World War II tragedy, one now well-documented for the valor and heroism of the four chaplains, who strived to calm and direct frightened comrades to life boats, even surrendering their own life jackets after emptying the lifejacket bins, to save others.
Post 459 member Charles “Skip” Boehnlein, who chairs the local program with the help of his wife, Cindi, said on this 73rd anniversary of the tragedy the post once again extends an invitation to fellow veterans and members of the public who might wish to pay homage to this poignant moment so that these deeds are not forgotten.
Boehnlein said this is a bow to America’s military history, a way to appreciate those who may have seen themselves as ordinary people serving their country yet performed extraordinary deeds that resonate to this day.
The Feb. 7 ceremony, expected to last about 45 minutes, will begin at 3 p.m. at Post 459’s headquarters at 14052 Goodwin St. Short biographies of the four chaplains will be read and the story of the USAT Dorchester shared. Candles will be lit for each chaplain.
Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.
Boehnlein said the story of the Four Chaplains provides an important history lesson for elementary and high school students.
“They’re not getting that information in school at all anymore which is a shame,” Boehnlein said. “This specific program can show kids what can take place when you put someone else ahead of yourself. We need a lot of kids to learn that.”
Boehnlein, who was post commander when Post 459 began the Four Chaplains program, said there numerous stories and eye-witness accounts from the survivors of the Dorchester.
“One of the young men who survived was trying to go below deck to get his gloves and Rabbi Goode stopped him, and took his gloves off and gave them to the young man, telling him, ‘Don’t worry I have another pair,'” Boehnlein said. “So, the young man gets off the ship and into a lifeboat, and is rowing away from the ship and it dawned on him, ‘Where would he have an extra pair of gloves?’ He didn’t have an extra pair.”
Added Boehnlein, “There are just multiple little things that these chaplains did that, at the moment, they didn’t realize that they were being totally selfless, just totally selfless. They were thinking only of getting as many men off that ship as they could.”
As Dorchester sank, the chaplains were seen linked arm in arm, praying.
Fox, Goode, Poling and Washington, known as “The Immortal Chaplains,” were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart, and in 1988, Congress declared Feb. 3 to be Four Chaplains Day.
They also were also honored posthumously in 1948 with a commemorative U.S. postage stamp.