Going down with the ship

PALMER -- A story of tragedy and self-sacrifice from the second World War inspired a moving service of remembrance at the Palmer American Legion post last week.

Just after midnight on Feb. 3, 1943, the U.S.S. Dorchester, transporting American troops to Greenland, was struck by a German torpedo, which exploded in its boiler room. After a mere 27 minutes, the ship had sunk completely beneath the waves of the Atlantic. Of the 902 young men on board, only 203 survived.

The heroes of this tragic night were John P. Washington, George L. Fox, Clark P. Poling and Alexander Goode, all chaplains in the United States Armed Forces. Unlike their fellow soldiers, chaplains are forbidden to carry weapons, and cater to the religious and psychological needs of their brothers in war.

As the Dorchester sunk, the four chaplains gave away their own life jackets to save the needy, and stayed on board the ship as it went down, arms linked, praying together. John Ladd, a survivor who observed these selfless acts, said, "It was the finest thing I have ever seen, or hope to see, this side of heaven."

For many years after the event, pilots who flew over the spot where the Dorchester sank would make a circle around the area and dip their wings in remembrance.

Last Sunday, American Legion Post No. 15, based in Palmer, gathered to perform a ceremony of remembrance for the departed chaplains, following a tradition that was begun more than 50 years ago.

"This service today is a tribute to those courageous Chaplains, and the 672 brave young men who lost their lives in that darkest of nights. This service also honors all those who have served and whose courage, faith and bravery have sustained our country," said Barry Perkins, commander of the Legion chapter, in his introduction.

The bulk of the ceremony was comprised of four local church leaders reading accounts written from the standpoints of the four departed Chaplains. One of the most striking characteristics of the Four Chaplains was their attachment to four separate faiths; Washington was a Roman Catholic priest, Fox was a Methodist minister, Poling was a Dutch Reformed minister, and Goode was a Jewish rabbi. For this reason, four community members from different Valley churches were chosen to perform the readings. Brother Craig Bonham, Reverend Bruce Case, Reverend Gerald "Stoney" Stoneking, and Rabbi Abraham Garmaize adopted the personas of Washington, Fox, Poling and Goode respectively. Four memorial candles were also lit during the service, and each one extinguished after its respective Chaplain's story was told.

The last thing that surviving witnesses heard upon the ship's sinking was two rings of its bell. In remembrance of this event, a small brass bell near the podium was rung twice on occasions throughout the service.

Attendees expressed appreciation for the spirit behind the service. "It's a good way to learn from history," said Bonham, who portrayed Chaplain Washington. "These men were following Jesus' example of self-sacrifice."

Legion post No. 15 has been observing the Four Chaplains' Service regularly for four years. Chuck Kaucic, who helped preside at the event, said the service is usually held on the first Sunday in February owing to the fact that the original incident took place on Feb. 3, but this year that date was foregone due to the Super Bowl.

Also speaking at the service was Jim Grizzell, veteran of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Grizzell was on board the U.S.S. Lexington when the carrier sunk on May 8, 1942. This similarity of experience gave Grizzell a bond with the sailors on board the Dorchester, though he admits that the South Pacific is a far cry from Greenlandic waters. "We were fortunate that it was daylight and warm," he said, recalling the event.

While reading Red Skelton's commentary of the Pledge of Allegiance, Grizzell's voice grew thick with emotion, and he paused several times to collect his thoughts and memories.

According to Perkins, such displays are only natural when veterans remember the war's dead. "Some of our members have been prisoners of war and distinguished cross winners," Perkins said. "So sometimes it will get pretty emotional."

Grizzell believes that remembering the dead is an honorable practice, but it would be better still for remembered tragedies to have never happened. "It's a way of remembering, but we'd just as soon not have to," he said.