By Sarah Wolff
Tomahawk American Legion Auxiliary member
TOMAHAWK – For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Tomahawk’s American Legion Post 93 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2687 held a joint memorial ceremony to recognize Four Chaplains Day at the Legion Post, 327 W. Wisconsin Ave., Tomahawk.
The first Sunday of February serves as a designated day of remembrance for the four U.S. Army chaplains, who, early on Feb. 3, 1943, perished in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic Ocean aboard the sinking U.S. Army transport ship Dorchester after it had been torpedoed by a German submarine.
Who were the four chaplains and why do we remember them?
Among the 902 soldiers, Navy guard, ship’s crew and civilian passengers on board the Dorchester were a quartet of Army chaplains: Lt. George L. Fox, a Methodist minister; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, a Jewish rabbi; Lt. John P. Washington, a Roman Catholic priest; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister.
In the 18 minutes that elapsed between the ship being struck to going under, these four men spread out among the panicked passengers, calming the frightened, helping the wounded and directing the disoriented toward safety. They gave away their gloves, handed out life jackets until the supply ran out, then gave up their own life jackets to four soldiers otherwise certain to perish.
Survivors recalled last seeing the four chaplains at the ship’s stern, arms linked in prayer and singing hymns as the ship sank.
Of the 902 passengers aboard the Dorchester, many died in the initial blast and many more died of hypothermia in the 34°F water surrounding the ship. Only 230 survived.
For the chaplains’ support of others and bravery despite extreme danger, Congress authorized a posthumous Special Medal for Heroism—The Four Chaplains’ Medal. On Jan. 18, 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower awarded this medal posthumously to the chaplains.
This award, which carries the same integrity as the Medal of Honor, was never given before and will never be given again.
Significant events to be honored, even 80 years later
The Sunday, Feb. 5 ceremony, led by Phil Zipp, Tomahawk VFW member and Tomahawk Area Veterans’ Honor Guard member, commemorated this quartet of uncommon heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and fellow man.
Organization and Honor Guard members recounted the four chaplains’ individual biographies, then lit candles to honor each man. Ceremony participants included Robin Gray, Post 93 chaplain and senior officer; Tom Garrigan, Post 93 commander; Gerry Johnson, Wisconsin American Legion 11th district commander; and Terry Hagar, Post 93 sergeant at arms.
Tomahawk residents in attendance joined Legion and VFW members in reverence and song.
At the ceremony’s conclusion, individual candles were extinguished and replaced with a single lit candle representing the importance of unity and cooperation despite our differences—especially in the darkest of times.
Observances such as this serve to inspire people to help others in times of need and emphasize the importance of setting aside individual differences to achieve the best possible outcome in every circumstance.
Although Four Chaplains Day ceremonies are becoming less prevalent and frequent nationwide, the Tomahawk community and these service organizations are proud to commemorate the actions of these remarkable people, and plan to continue this ceremony as an annual tradition for years to come.
Learn more about the four chaplains at the American Legion website at www.legion.org/.
For information about joining the Tomahawk American Legion, email [email protected].
For information about joining Tomahawk VFW Post 2687, call 715-453-0854.