[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE FOUR CHAPLAINS WHO SERVED ON THE U.S.S. ``DORCHESTER''

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2006

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the memory of the 
four chaplains who gave their lives in service of our nation while 
serving on the U.S.S. Dorchester during the Second World War. The 
Dorchester, known as the `Grey Ghost' by U-boat crews, carried nearly 1 
million U.S. troops to Europe during her tenure, which came to a tragic 
end 63 years ago today.
  At 12:55 a.m. February 3, 1943, a German U-boat launched a torpedo 
that struck the Dorchester, killing many of the 902 aboard instantly, 
injuring hundreds of others, and creating chaos as the ship took on 
water.
  Captain Hans J. Danielsen gave the order to abandon ship. As men 
struggled amid the turmoil to board life boats, the ship's four 
chaplains, Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, 
Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. 
Poling, Dutch Reformed, offered solace and counseled courage.
  As the supply of life vests dwindled, each chaplain removed his own 
life vest and handed it to a soldier. ``It was the finest thing I have 
seen or hope to see this side of heaven,'' said John Ladd, one of the 
230 survivors.
  Survivors recount their last glimpse of the U.S.S. Dorchester in the 
icy waters off the Newfoundland coast: The four chaplains linked arms 
in prayer and went down with the ship. We mark their heroism today, 
February 3, as ``Four Chaplains Day.''
  I want to thank Commander of the Combined Veterans Association of 
Illinois Victor Cibelli and event chairman John Bigwood for arranging a 
tribute to the four chaplains at the Northwest Suburban Jewish 
Congregation in Morton Grove, Illinois.
  Mr. Speaker, this tribute provides us with an opportunity to reflect 
on the spiritual strength, patriotism, and dedication to their fellow 
sailors exhibited by these four chaplains as they made ultimate 
sacrifice. I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the memory 
of the four chaplains of the U.S.S. Dorchester.

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