Four Chaplains service recalls ‘cost of war’ By Mary Garrigan, Journal staff Every time Chaplain Moe Greiner tells the story of the four World War II chaplains who gave up their lifejackets, and their lives, when their ship was torpedoed by a German submarine in the North Atlantic in 1943, he feels a little unworthy of his title. Greiner, a chaplain with the VA Black Hills Health Care System, may never be called on to make that kind of sacrifice, but he prayed Sunday at the annual Four Chaplains Service in Sturgis that God would “help us each to pass a hand to those in need, just as the four chaplains passed on their life jackets.” About 100 people, many of them wearing the garrison caps and jackets of area VFW and American Legion posts, attended the afternoon service at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Among them were Verle and Regina Whipple of Martin. The Whipples knew the story of the four chaplains well but were moved by the emotion of their first Four Chaplains service. They listened as Greiner, two other VA chaplains and a representative from the Synagogue of the Hills spoke about the four clergymen — two Protestant ministers, a Catholic priest and Jewish rabbi — who died on the S.S. Dorcester, a transport ship loaded with new troops that went down in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic on Feb. 2, 1943. The four chaplains are remembered 64 years after their deaths as heroes who represent all veterans who have “gone in harm’s way in service to their country.” By the end of the service, about 20 wreaths, decorated in red, white and blue flowers, had been presented and laid at the altar in their memory. Chaplain Paul Lupkes spoke about the life and death of Chaplain Clark Poling of the Reformed Church of America, while reminding the audience of the “true cost of war” by passing around a photograph of a soldier who recently died in Iraq. Chaplain Paul Dahms recognized the sacrifice of Chaplain John P. Washington, a Catholic priest, and D.L. Emerick spoke of Chaplain Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi. Greiner recounted the life story of Chaplain George Fox, a Methodist minister who was decorated as a 17-year-old war hero in World War I and then earned a divinity degree from Harvard. “If George Fox were here today, he would say, ‘Don’t talk about me. Talk about what we stand for. Walk the walk,’” Greiner said. “They gave up their life jackets to soldiers who came on deck without one. They didn’t ask, are you Lutheran or Catholic or Jewish or Dutch Reformed? They could easily have made it to the lifeboats, but they chose to stay and offer comfort and consolation to frightened soldiers.” The Four Chaplains service is ecumenical to highlight God’s love for all people, Greiner said. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God,” he said. “The reason we’re fighting in the world today is because people have not learned that fact.” Greiner also prayed for today’s wounded veterans who “come home without arms and legs, without limbs” and he asked people to pray daily, by name, for active-duty military personnel. Peter Henry, director of the VA Black Hills Health Care System, which includes Fort Meade and Hot Springs, said those facilities were treating increasing numbers of a new generation of returning veterans. Henry thanked people for attending the service and encouraged them to become VA volunteers to help meet the needs of those veterans and “to offer a genuine connection with friends, family and community” for all veterans hospitalized at VA facilities during the 29th annual Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, which runs Feb. 11-17. >>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rapid Reply mollymalone wrote on February 13, 2007 12:35 AM:"Thanks for telling this story and bringing it to our attention. Many of us had heard it so many years ago, it was just a joy to have our memories refreshed. Thanks from our families to yours." Joseph wrote on February 12, 2007 1:21 AM:"This was an awe-inspiring story, when I read it as a kid, and still to this day, it's something else...From what I remember, here were these soldiers, kids just out of boot camp, getting sent to Europe, both to train, and as well, participate in D-day, eventually. As it would have it, a Uboat started to follow them, waiting for the right moment to strike. Down in the hold, where it was quite warm, a lot of the soldiers were in bunks, in shorts and tanktops, trying to get a little sleep. The Chaplins, made their rounds, one guy even asking a minister to bless his hand, to which he replied, me, bless a pair of deuces? After the torpedo hit the ship, confusion ranked high, as people stumbled out onto the decks, scared at what happened, and several looked at the waters, knowing with the cold water, there wasn't a lot to be done, except get on life jackets. The Chaplins, lined up, and calmly started to pass theirs out. Then, when they ran out, they took off theirs...and handed them away. A number of soldiers will verify, seeing the 4, standing at the side of the ship, arms locked, praying for the safety of the men....each to their own, all in the name of God. It was quite a statement, for these 4 men to put faith ahead of their own safety." http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/02/13/news/top/news001b chaplains.txt
