Neighbors

Legion honors the four chaplains

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The U.S. Army Transport ship Dorchester was attacked by a German U-boat along a strip of the Atlantic Ocean commonly referred to as “Torpedo Junction” on the morning of Feb. 3, 1943. As the American transport ship sank, four chaplains with different ideological and spiritual beliefs sang hymns, and provided hope and life jackets offering their own to others in need to the crew and passengers of the doomed vessel. 

As the ship went under, the chaplains linked arms and said prayers. Wantagh American Legion Post No. 1273 paid tribute to the men — Lt. George L. Fox (Methodist), Lt. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), Lt. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed) and Lt. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic) — at the annual four chaplains memorial service. 

The ceremony was held at the post on Feb. 5 at noon. Locally elected officials, firefighters and veterans gathered to pay homage to the men who legion leaders said heroically gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel.  

Post Commander Ken Kelly and Chaplain Jack Bergersen led the service. The program included a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace,” a presentation of wreaths by community organizations like the Wantagh Fire Department and a rifle salute. 

Hempstead Town Supervisor Anthony Santino presented Kelly with a citation. State Sen. John Brooks, Assemblyman David McDonough and Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads also spoke about patriotism and the importance of being grateful to the nation’s veterans at the ceremony. 

Of the 902 passengers aboard the ship, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued only 230. The last survivor of the attack, longtime Baldwin resident Joseph Archer, died in 2009. Every year, Baldwin American Legion Post Co. 246 honors his widow, Terry Archer, with a folded American flag.