Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 21st


America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor. - Paul Tsongas 


137 years later, Memorial Day remains one of America's most cherished patriotic observances. The spirit of this day has not changed - it remains a day to honor those who died defending our freedom and democracy. - Doc Hastings 


I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism. - Bob Riley 


On February 3, 1943, the U.S.A.T. (United States Army Transport) Dorchester had 902 service men, merchant seamen and civilian workers on board.  The 5,649-ton vessel had been a luxury coastal liner before being converted into an Army transport ship.  As the Dorchester crossed the icy waters toward Greenland from Newfoundland, the ship’s captain, Hans J. Danielsen, knew to be cautious of German U-boats in the icy waters.  Danielsen had ordered the men on the ship to sleep in their clothes and life jackets; however, many soldiers ignored the order due to the heat from the engine or because they were uncomfortable.  


At 12:55am, a German submarine spotted the Dorchester.  After identifying and targeting the ship, a German officer gave the order to fire 3 torpedoes.  One torpedo had a direct hit and struck the starboard side.  After taking on water, the Dorchester began to quickly sink and within less than 20 minutes the boat slipped beneath the Atlantic Ocean.  


Before the ship sank, some soldiers were rescued by other boats nearby, some made it to lifeboats and some made it on rafts.  During the mayhem, four chaplains spread out among the soldiers trying to provide a calming affect and assist the wounded.  The four chaplains also preached courage to the soldiers as they were trying to find safety.  When most men had made it topside, the chaplains started disbursing life jackets from a storage locker.  As the final jackets were distributed and more soldiers needed life jackets, the four chaplains removed their life jackets and gave them to four frightened soldiers.  


John Ladd who witnessed the chaplains removing their life jackets and giving them to other soldiers said, “It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven”.  Other survivors saw the four chaplains arms linked together, braced against the deck of the sinking ship and heard them offering prayers. 


When the ship began to sink, those four chaplains did not look for someone from their own religious faith to give their life jacket to.  They gave it to the next soldier in line.  Those four amazing chaplains were: 
  • Reverend George Fox was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania and was a Methodist.
  • Rabbi Alexander Goode was from Brooklyn, New York.
  • Reverend Clark Poling from Columbus, Ohio was ordained in the Reformed Church in America.
  • Reverend John Washington was born in Newark, New Jersey and was a Catholic Priest. 


Carl Sandburg said:


Valor is a gift.  Those having it never know for sure whether they have it until the test comes.


That night, those four chaplains showed their valor. 



CHALLENGE: Next Monday, take time to remember and honor the men and women who have died while serving our great country.  We can truly learn a lot from the sacrifices they made. 



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