GENEVA —
The story of the Four Chaplains is a solemn narrative of courage, sacrifice and selflessness.
Members of the Geneva American Legion Post 124 relived the story of the Four Chaplains — George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clark V. Poling, and John P. Washington — Wednesday evening.
“Every year we come together to honor the supreme sacrifice of these four brave men who gave their lives for men in service,” American Legion Commander Bob Endress said. “This is a program we are very proud of, and it is hard to describe how important it is to us.”
The story of the chaplains begins on Feb. 3, 1943, as the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester was crossing the North Atlantic, transporting more than 900 troops to an American base in Greenland.
Aboard the ship were four chaplains of different faiths: Fox, Goode, Poling and Washington.
At 12:55 a.m., a German U-boat fired a torpedo that struck 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.
The soldiers rushed to lifeboats as Dorchester sank, but the chaplains, who had each given their life jackets to men doomed to die without them, were seen linked arm in arm, praying.
Local pastors Matt Thompson of the Geneva Church of Christ; Aaron Drews of the Unionville United Church; Mel Rusnak of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and Andy Grimes of the Geneva Church of the Nazarene read the stories of each of the “immortal chaplains.”
“It is quite an honor to remember these men who gave up their lives for others,” Thompson said. “It is humbling to be asked to read in this program because we know how much it means to the veterans and how much the sacrifice of the four chaplains means to our country.”
Grimes said he was honored to read Fox’s story on Four Chaplains Day.
“This is my fourth year participating in this program and each year I am more honored, more struck by the bravery of these four men,” he said. “I appreciate all our veterans and anything I can do to honor our veterans, I will do it.”
Endress said the American Legion hosts the event each year and every year it means more to the people who attend.
“Every year we leave this program thinking of those four chaplains giving up their life vests for servicemen and every year the feeling is profound. I think each year when we take the time to remember, we get a deeper understanding of the chaplains, of the men they saved and of the many, many men who died on the Dorchester that night,” Endress said.
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Related Photos
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MARGIE NETZEL / Star Beacon PASTORS MATT THOMPSON, Aaron Drews, Mel Rusnak and Andy Grimes pray before the annual reading of the Four Chaplains at the Geneva American Legion Post on Wednesday.
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MARGIE NETZEL / Star Beacon GENEVA AMERICAN LEGION POST Don Micco prays during the annual reading of the Four Chaplains at the Geneva American Legion Post on Wednesday.
Discussion
Geneva American Legion remembers Four Chaplains
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