Local cadets honor the ‘four chaplains’ during ceremony

North Marion High School Air Force JROTC cadets, from left, Maj. Savannah Ramsdell, Lt. Alexia Gosein, Lt. Christian Reese and TSgt. Ashlyn Watson presented the biographies of the four chaplains, with keynote speaker Rev. Donald Curran in the background. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

The Four Chaplains Remembrance Service held Feb.1 at the Marion County Commissioners Auditorium paid tribute to four military clergymen who perished on a sinking ship in World War II after calming and assisting those on board and giving up their lifejackets to save shipmates.

The service included four local high school Air Force JROTC cadets representing the four chaplains. The cadets, Maj. Savannah Ramsdell, 17; Lt. Alexia Goisein, 16; Lt. Christian Reese, 18; and TSgt. Ashlyn Watson, 16; presented the biographies of U.S. Army chaplains Lt. G.L. Fox, Lt. A.D. Goode, Lt. C.V. Poling and Lt. J.P. Washington, respectively, giving personal details about each man.

“They wanted to do it,” said Jennifer Richardson, NMHS AFJROTC leader, who has served 20 plus years with the U. S. Air Force, of the cadets.

After the remembrance service, Savannah commented on “how courageous the four chaplains really were” and Alexia spoke about the “amount of selflessness” shown. Christian said it was “God’s grace” to represent one of the four chaplains and Ashlyn said she took away an awareness of the chaplains’ sacrifice.

According to fourchaplains.org, Fox, a Methodist; Goode, of the Jewish faith; Poling, of the Dutch Reformed faith; and Washington, a Roman Catholic; were aboard the troop ship USAT Dorchester, which carried 902 soldiers, merchant marine sailors and civilians. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine at 12:55 a.m. on Feb. 3, 1943, and began to sink. The website states that 672 people died and 230 survived.

“Quickly and quietly, the four chaplains spread out among the soldiers. There they tried to calm the frightened, tend the wounded and guide the disoriented toward safety. When there were no more lifejackets in the storage room, the chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men,” the website notes. “As the ship went down, survivors in nearby rafts could see the four chaplains–arms linked and braced against the slanting deck. Their voices could also be heard offering prayers.”

“It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven,” said John Ladd, a survivor who saw the chaplains’ selfless act, according to the site.

The remembrance ceremony included a ceremonial wreath laying for each of the four chaplains by Marion County Memorial Honor Guard members Steve Petty, retired Army; and Army veterans Don Poulin, Ed Sobolewski and Kathy Henderson.

The honor guard also posted and retired the colors, and provided a rifle salute and taps. John Earl provided a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Carolyn Smith, Marion County Veterans Council chaplain, offered an invocation and benediction while Mary Proctor sang the national anthem.

The keynote speaker, the Rev. Donald Curran of Christ the King Anglican Church, spoke of the sacrifice of the four chaplains.

Curran said they were “other centered” and selflessly gave their lifejackets away without concern for the recipient’s religious denomination.

“The four chaplains passed the ultimate test,” he said, adding that they were seen with “linked arms” and “knew they had eternity ahead of them.”

Curran referred to a scriptural passage at John 15:13, which also was printed in the program: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

To learn more, go to fourchaplains.org

North Marion High School Air Force JROTC Cadet TSgt. Ashlyn Watson is seen as Marion County Memorial Honor Guard member Ed Sobolewski prepares to place a ceremonial wreath. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]