A Story of Faith and Sacrifice

By JONATHAN GOMEZ

It was 12:55 a.m. on February 3, 1943, when the U.S.S. Dorchester, en route to Greenland from New York, was attacked and sunk by a German torpedo. At that moment four chaplains, went above and beyond to serve not just their country, but their fellow man.

George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clarke V. Poling and John P. Washington all gave their lives to help others survive. As the U.S.S. Dorchester sank the last memory anyone has of the four Chaplains is the sound of their prayers and hymns as they joined arms.

All four men, two Protestant ministers, a Catholic priest and a Rabbi, helped servicemen into lifeboats and gave up their life jackets to save others.

“Those four men of faith truly gave, selflessly, of themselves physically and spiritually in order to help those in need,” said Aurelia Greene, Deputy Bronx borough president, during the announcement Tuesday of a new chaplaincy healthcare Website. For veterans and their families. “They serve as a shining example to others showing true bravery, valor and most importantly how vital faith is in helping our fellow man.”

Although the story isn’t well-known to the average American, the “Four Chaplains” have been honored since 1951 when president Harry S. Truman founded a memorial chapel in Philadelphia.

“It is a privilege to share my impression of what the chapel is,” says Larry Herrmann who was an artillery officer and Spanish translator during his 14 years of service in the U.S. Marines. “The chapel embodies the concept of the unity of all faiths without uniformity.”

The story obviously resonated with Herrmann and other vets in the audience. The connection among these men in uniform seemed deep, as they shared triumphs and scars. Often, some said, the physical, pyschological and emotional damage, buttressed by how their sacrifices are forgotten at home, caused a loss of faith.

The Website, Chaplaincareforveterans.org, was designed to provide 24-hour support, emotional and spiritual, for all veterans and their families.

“Each group has a different set of needs and veterans are as different as the individuals whose faces they have,” said Richard Powers a psychiatrist for Veteran Affair (VA). “If you’re going to care for a veteran you’ve got to care for the complete person, not just a brain or spinal chord.”

Other participants echoed this sentiment.

“The challenge is whether or not veterans feel comfortable reaching out and asking certain questions,” said Rev. Eric J. Hall, the site’s CEO. . “Our hope is that we can help them and their families, because family members deal with emotional distress as well, and they can seek help as well.”

And perhaps regain religious faith.