By Mike Russo
A.J. "Tony" Massaro, Past Commander of the Baldwin American Legion, said the event has been done every year for the past 18 years of his membership, but that it probably has gone on longer than that. Massaro said the event seems to get bigger and better every year.
"We're honoring the Four Chaplains and their heroic contribution at the time," said Massaro. "When a German sub sank the U.S.A.T. Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943, [the Four Chaplains] gave their life jackets to others and did not survive the sinking. Their selflessness and their action shows a true patriotism to God and country.”
In early February 1943, the USAT Dorchester was transporting over 900 men to an army base in Greenland. Not only were most of the troops young and inexperienced, with many going into battle for the first time, but the ship was passing through what Americans had come to appropriately call "Torpedo Junction" — an area where German submarines were sinking 100 Allied ships per month.
The Dorchester had received warnings of German subs in the area all day on Feb. 2, and in the wee hours of the next morning, the soldiers, most of them sleeping, were jolted awake by the impact of a torpedo striking the ship. Almost immediately, the ship began sinking.
With the ship sinking fast, the men scrambled to find the lifeboats, and many were afraid to jump into the frigid water, then only a couple degrees above freezing. The Four Chaplains — Rabbi Alexander Goode, the Rev. George L. Fox, the Rev. Clark V. Poling, and Father John P. Washington — quickly sprang into action, calming the frightened soldiers and leading them to lifeboats. Every man on board who had not been killed by the impact of the torpedoes was struggling to find a life jacket and get to safety, but not the Four Chaplains. They stayed behind to make sure all the life vests were handed out, and when there were none left, they gave up their own. By the time the four men had done all they could to help rescue others, the lifeboats were off in the distance. Survivors recall watching the ship sink into the abyss, while the Four Chaplains remained on board, arms interlocked and praying for the well-being of all the men.
On Dec. 19, 1944, all four chaplains were posthumously awarded the Purple Award and the Distinguished Service Cross. In 1948, Congress declared Feb. 3 "Four Chaplains Day." In 1961, the Chaplain's Medal for Heroism was created, and later presented to the families of the chaplains.
Rabbi Abraham Garmaize of the Baldwin Jewish Center attributed the survival of the 230 men to the selflessness and good spirit of the Four Chaplains. With the nation currently in such turmoil, Garmaize continued, Americans need to recall the spirit of men like the Four Chaplains to get them through.
"We are a free nation because of [the Four Chaplains] and others like them," said Garmaize, going on to describe how greed, as seen recently on Wall Street, can take the nation in the wrong direction. "The country is like a boat in the ocean, and can be sunk like by material life. It may take a group of four chaplains to get us back where we need to be. We need this spirit again for the USA."
The Rev. Kimberly Wilson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, whose husband fought with the Fighting 69th in Iraq, recalled that local chaplains have been extremely helpful to her and that her family has always felt welcome and supported by the Baldwin American Legion.
"We thank you for men like Rev. Poling," Wilson said in a prayer at the ceremony. "We ask that you inspire their example in all
of us."
Many other members of community were present for the ceremony, as were Nassau County legislators Joe Scannell, of Baldwin; Dave Denenberg, of Merrick; and Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony Santino.
Santino honored the spirit not only of the Four Chaplains, but of all Americans serving in the Armed Forces, who have inspired hope and freedom around the world, most recently with the success of the Iraqi provincial elections, which were conducted without violence.
"It really does make you proud to be an American," said Santino. "[The troops] have given so much for freedom around the world."
Scannell reiterated the appreciation for the chaplains and troops of past and present, and commended the Baldwin American Legion — whom he referred to as the "heart and soul of the Baldwin community" — for recognizing them year after year.
"It's about that ultimate sacrifice," Scannell said of the Four Chaplains. "We wouldn't be here in America if it wasn't for their sacrifice."
The American Legion also honored Joe Archer, resident and a survivor of the Dorchester tragedy, though Archer himself could not make it to the event; Sally Profetta, an active member of the Baldwin community who sang God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner at the ceremony; and resident Jeff Keating, an Iraq veteran and member of the Baldwin American Legion, who recently helped to save a man's life who was hit by a car on Grand Avenue.
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
