Memorial Service honors sacrifice of four chaplains

Four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives that others might live were honored at a memorial service presented by Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) Command Religious Program at Bluejacket Memorial Chapel on Feb. 25.
    When the supply of life jackets ran out during an attack on their troop ship U.S.A.T. (U.S. Army Transport) Dorchester, on Feb. 3, 1943, the chaplains removed their own life jackets and gave them to four young soldiers. They calmed the frightened servicemen, assisted the wounded, and helped them board the lifeboats.
    As the Dorchester began to sink, the chaplains joined arms, prayed, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship. The four, all lieutenants, were Methodist Reverend George L. Fox,  Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Roman Catholic Priest John P. Washington, and Reformed Church in America Reverend Clark V. Poling.
    "The courage exhibited by these four chaplains created a unique legacy of brotherhood," said Naval Station  Great Lakes (NSGL) Chaplain Waldemar A. Kilian. "We pay tribute to them at this event. Theirs is a sacrifice to remember."
    Reading from the "History of Four Chaplains," Navy Region Midwest Chaplain Bryan Finch noted that witnesses said, when the ship was stricken their only hope came from those chaplains.
    "We honor the memory of their heroic act," Finch said.
    "The was a very important and appropriate commemoration," explained Capt. John Malfitano, commanding officer, NSGL. "The faith and dedication displayed by these four chaplains on that fateful day in February 1943, as they paid the ultimate sacrifice so their shipmates would have a better chance of survival, are an inspiration to us all."
    During the memorial service candles were lit in tribute to the four chaplains, by Chaplain Ralph "Mickey" Weikel, NSGL; Aaron Kleinman, NSGL; Chaplain Jerrilyn Calvert, Recruit Training Command (RTC); and Chaplain Alexander Borzych, Training Support Center (TSC),
    Also participating in the service were Chaplain James Dance, TSC and Chaplain Jason Chambers, RTC.