REMEMBRANCE
American Legion hosts Four Chaplains - MICHAEL ROSS/E-T
Posted: Monday, February 2, 2015 11:00 am - American Legion hosts Four Chaplains Ceremony By J. Michael Ross
As is traditional, American Legion posts around the country, including local Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240, held the annual Four Chaplains Ceremony on Sunday to commemorate the sacrifice of four U.S. military chaplains who gave their lives to save others in 1943.
The ceremony was hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary Post 240 and the Stephenville High School Patriotic Committee, with Post Adjutant Roger Easter presiding over the event.
“On February 3, 1943 the troop transport ship, the USAT Dorchester – carrying approximately 900 troops for duty in World War II in Europe – was hit by three torpedoes from a German submarine and subsequently sunk in about 20 minutes off the coast of Greenland. “The troops had been sleeping and while they had been ordered to keep their lifejackets on, many had removed them due to heat in the hold from the engines. When the torpedoes struck, the electrical system went down and the troops panicked,” Easter said.
“The four chaplains, George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Charles V. Poling and John P. Washington helped calm the men and organize the evacuation to lifeboats. When the ship began to sink, the four chaplains removed their life jackets and gave them to the next four men in line."
As the ship was sinking the four were heard singing an old church hymn and praying until the ship went under.
Of the 902 on board, 672 lost their lives including the four chaplains.
During the ceremony, auxiliary members Joanna Lay and Francine Pratt read The Story of the Four Chaplains and biographies of each of the chaplains were read and a candle lit for each by members of the Stephenville High School Patriotic Committee.
They are: Stetson Carlisle, Rieken Douglas, Austin Wayland, Riley McKinsey, Lucy Tackett, Isaac Barreras, MayCee Decker and Codi Bettis. Stacy Roeming is faculty advisor to the Student Council.
