By ROGER BULL, The Times-Union
The photos of the four men, forever frozen in time and in their uniforms, sat on the table. Candles stood beside them, a single yellow rose resting in front of each one.
The men have been gone for decades. But a small crowd gathered Sunday afternoon at American Legion Post 129 in Jacksonville Beach and elsewhere around the country to honor the men who have become known as the Four Chaplains.
Sixty-five years ago, as World War II raged, the ship Dorchester made its way across the North Atlantic. The former luxury liner had been converted to a troop transport and carried more than 900 men, mostly U.S. Army, from Newfoundland to an American base in Greenland. About 1 a.m. Feb. 3, 1943, with the ship only 150 miles from its destination, a German U-boat fired three torpedoes.
One struck the Dorchester's starboard side, well below the water line, and the ship quickly began to take on water. The soldiers who survived the explosion frantically scrambled out of their bunks and toward the lifeboats.
Witnesses said the four Army chaplains - one Methodist, one Jewish, one Roman Catholic and one Dutch Reformed - not only offered the men prayers and solace, but they stood on the deck of the ship, handing out life jackets. When there were no more, the four took off their own and gave them to men who didn't have one.
In less than 20 minutes, the Dorchester disappeared beneath the dark water. Of the 902 men aboard, 230 survived. The other 672, including the Rev. George Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, the Rev. Clark Poling and the Rev. John Washington, died that night.
Each year at this time, the men are honored across the country for their unity and sacrifice.
About 100 people gathered Sunday at Post 129 in memory of the four. The colors were presented, candles were lighted, songs were sung and a rifle salute was given.
Robert E. Young, retired Navy captain and commanding officer of the Nease High School Naval Junior ROTC program, was the guest speaker.
"May the example of servant leadership portrayed for us by the Four Chaplains 65 year ago today inspire us to get beyond ourselves and make our world a better place by placing the needs of others and our country above our own selfish desires," he said.
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The photos of the four men, forever frozen in time and in their uniforms, sat on the table. Candles stood beside them, a single yellow rose resting in front of each one.
The men have been gone for decades. But a small crowd gathered Sunday afternoon at American Legion Post 129 in Jacksonville Beach and elsewhere around the country to honor the men who have become known as the Four Chaplains.
Sixty-five years ago, as World War II raged, the ship Dorchester made its way across the North Atlantic. The former luxury liner had been converted to a troop transport and carried more than 900 men, mostly U.S. Army, from Newfoundland to an American base in Greenland. About 1 a.m. Feb. 3, 1943, with the ship only 150 miles from its destination, a German U-boat fired three torpedoes.
One struck the Dorchester's starboard side, well below the water line, and the ship quickly began to take on water. The soldiers who survived the explosion frantically scrambled out of their bunks and toward the lifeboats.
Witnesses said the four Army chaplains - one Methodist, one Jewish, one Roman Catholic and one Dutch Reformed - not only offered the men prayers and solace, but they stood on the deck of the ship, handing out life jackets. When there were no more, the four took off their own and gave them to men who didn't have one.
In less than 20 minutes, the Dorchester disappeared beneath the dark water. Of the 902 men aboard, 230 survived. The other 672, including the Rev. George Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, the Rev. Clark Poling and the Rev. John Washington, died that night.
Each year at this time, the men are honored across the country for their unity and sacrifice.
About 100 people gathered Sunday at Post 129 in memory of the four. The colors were presented, candles were lighted, songs were sung and a rifle salute was given.
Robert E. Young, retired Navy captain and commanding officer of the Nease High School Naval Junior ROTC program, was the guest speaker.
"May the example of servant leadership portrayed for us by the Four Chaplains 65 year ago today inspire us to get beyond ourselves and make our world a better place by placing the needs of others and our country above our own selfish desires," he said.
