Drizzling light rain fell as the SS Dorchester left New York harbor on the evening of Jan. 23, 1943, and sailed into the hearts and minds of those who choose to remember, including right here in Windham.
 |
| A special interfaith ceremony open to the public will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Windham Veterans Center to honor the Four Chaplains who died aboard the S.S. Dorchester during World War II saving the lives of American soldiers when that ship was struck by a German torpedo. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
At 12;55 a.m. Feb. 3, 1943, in the open Atlantic Ocean, the SS Dorchester was struck by a torpedo fired at it by German submarine U-223. Dorchester’s damage was catastrophic and all boiler power was lost and that prevented the crew from sending a radio distress signal, and no rockets or flares were launched to alert the escort ships. Because of severe listing, some port side lifeboats of the ship couldn’t be launched, and other lifeboats capsized from overcrowding.
The ship sank within 20 minutes, killing 674 of the 904 servicemen on board. Survivors thrown into the water were so stiff from the cold that they could not even grasp the cargo nets on rescue vessels. The crew of Escanaba employed a new "retriever" rescue technique with swimmers wearing wetsuits swam to victims in the water and secured a line to them so they could be hauled onto the ship. By this method, the Escanaba saved 133 soldiers, although one later died, and the Comanche crew saved 97 others.
Life jackets offered little protection from hypothermia though as the water temperature was just 34 degrees and the air temperature was 36 degrees.
The loss of the S.S. Dorchester was the worst single loss of American military members on any American naval convoy during World War II, but it’s remembered more today more for four incredible acts of heroism.
Four U.S. Army chaplains – a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and two Protestant ministers – remained calm during the sudden panic following the torpedo attack. They worked to distribute life preservers and assisted others abandoning the ship, and then unselfishly gave up their own life preservers and were observed praying as S.S. Dorchester disappeared beneath the waves.
Methodist minister George L. Fox, Reformed Church of America minister Clark V. Poling, Catholic priest Rev. John P. Washington and Jewish Rabbi Alexander B. Goode died that evening and were later honored when the U.S. Congress established Feb. 3 as "Four Chaplains Day" to commemorate this act of heroism. In 1948, the U.S. Post Office issued a commemorative stamp to pay tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of the chaplains. In 1960, Congress authorized the creation of the Chaplain’s Medal for Heroism, which was presented posthumously to the next of kin of each of the four chaplains by the Secretary of the Army.
To remember their brave sacrifice, a “Four Chaplains” ceremony has been offered by a number of American Legion posts in Maine and throughout the country on the date closest to the sinking of the S.S. Dorchester in February. Planning for the original ceremony three years ago was done by the Windham Legion Post 148’s 2nd Vice Commander Yvonne Johnson.
She says she was inspired by the story of the Four Chaplains and wanted to carry the tradition to Windham. Planning for this year’s event started a year ago following the 2025 ceremony.
This year’s Four Chaplains Interfaith Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham. and is free and open to the public. The story of the four Army chaplains onboard the S.S. Dorchester who solemnly gave up their life jackets and seats on the lifeboats so that others might survive will be told during the event.
Religious participation will be from four local churches representing the respective affiliations of each of the four chaplains and there will be refreshments and a social gathering following the ceremony.
Participating clergy this year are Heather Wiedeman, director of clergy support at Maine Medical Center; Chaplain Michelle Bernier of Mercy Hospital; Rabbi Chaim Wilansky of Chadbad of Maine from Portland; and the Rev. Lou Phillips of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Windham.
“The ceremony celebrates the Four Chaplains from very different denominations, a willingness to represent the core value of their respective faiths and to give their lives so that others might survive,” Johnson said. “The ceremony is an inspiration to all who attend.” <
