They overcame fear with their faith

On the morning of Feb. 3, 1943, the transport ship Dorchester was attacked by a German U-boat in an area of the Atlantic Ocean commonly referred to as Torpedo Junction. As the American ship sank beneath the waves, four chaplains with significantly different backgrounds provided lifejackets, prayers and hope to the crew and passengers of the doomed vessel.

Amid the chaos, these four men gave their lives in the service of their fellow men, singing hymns arm in arm and offering their own lifejackets to others in need. The four chaplains — the Rev. George L. Fox, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, the Rev. Clarke V. Poling and the Rev. John P. Washington — were honored at ceremonies nationally, and locally at the annual Four Chaplains Memorial Service, on Feb. 3, at the Baldwin American Legion Post No. 246.

“All of the soldiers shared the same level of misery and fear, whether Protestant, Catholic or Jew,” said Cmdr. Alfred Ficalora, of Oceanside. “The title rabbi, father or reverend was of little consequence when a man needed a chaplain.”

A chaplain is a member of the clergy attached to a private chapel, institution, ship or branch of the armed forces. Despite having opposing ideological and spiritual beliefs, the four men forged an unlikely brotherhood that overcame religious differences. “They became ‘brothers,’ for they had one unseen characteristic in common that overshadowed everything else,” Ficalora said. “They all four shared the same Father.”

Only 230 of the Dorchester’s 904 passengers were rescued by the Coast Guard after the ship sank. The last survivor of the attack, longtime Baldwin resident Joseph Archer, died in 2009.

“This is a great honor that they give to these men,” said his widow, Terry Archer. “It’s the greatest honor they could give to those who survived, and to all those who didn’t.”

In remembrance of her husband, Archer was presented with an award of recognition and two folded American flags.

The service, attended by about 50 people, celebrated the memories of the chaplains with a candle-lighting ceremony and a ringing of bells, punctuated by prayers and dedications. Four seats in the room were reserved with life vests.

Presiding Chaplain John Atkin recounted the story of the sinking of the Dorchester and the chaplains to the gathering. “The four ministers of different faiths learned to find strength in their diversity by focusing on the Father they shared …,” Atkin said. “On that day, they made their Father very proud.”

In the evening’s benediction, Monsignor Steven Camp, of St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin, said that the men stood as “shining examples of service to your fellow man.”